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Post by Brenda on Jan 30, 2005 11:12:43 GMT -5
Does the teacher have a certain amount of time to turn in her paperwork requesting an evaluation?Steph's teacher talked to me over a month ago to have her evaluated by the school for LD's,etc.I told her sure and signed the permission slip to have it done.I went to eat lunch with Stephanie last week and asked her teacher about it.She said she hasn't turned in her paperwork yet.We just stopped the ritalin la due to side effects so I feel like she needs to be evaluated before her grades start slipping(she got A's & B's on her last report card).How much time should I allow before I start complaining?Once her teacher does turn in the papers,how long does the school have to evaluate her?Thanks alot. P.S.I just checked and it has been almost 2 months (Dec.7.) |
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Post by lovemykids on Jan 30, 2005 13:08:19 GMT -5
Here in NY it's 30 SCHOOL days for the evaluation to be completed. Unfortunatly, that could be as long as 3 months because of the weekends and the holiday/winter breaks.
the districts are also re-evaluating all the students from the previous year as mandated so this time of year seems to be quite busy for them.
Again, here in NY you do not need the teacher to request an evaluation, you may do so on your own through the Special Services department. They usually only need your request and for your consent. With that you will receive a guide to your rights which I strongly suggest you read a few times so you know what they are.
Sometimes your state will have alot of this info online for you to read.
HTHs.
Lovemykids
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Post by Mayleng on Jan 30, 2005 13:48:43 GMT -5
Brenda, It depends on your state but it ranges between 30 to 45 days from when you sign the Consent to COMPLETION OF THE EVALUATION. You need to write a letter to the Director of Special Education, and tell them that you have signed the permission slip and the date, and you have not been advised when the evaluations are to take place. That it is your understanding that the evaluations have to be completed by (the number of days for your state) and an IEP meeting to be scheduled to discuss the results. That they are out of compliance if it has been two months and they haven't even started the eval, much less be in the position to give you the results. That you would appreciate being advised as to when the evals will take place, you would like a copy of the results to digest the information before the IEP meeting takes place. Here are a few good sites to go and read up on you rights and requests for evals etc. www.listen-up.org/rights/rights.htm#compwww.concordspedpac.org/www.wrightslaw.com/www.reedmartin.com/What the teacher is doing is plain wrong and is out of compliance of the Sped Ed laws. Brenda, Pls document all your requests etc, so that you have a paper trail. Do not assume that the school will always do what is best for our child. Most times they are looking not to provide the services needed. |
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Post by dmom32002 on Jan 30, 2005 19:24:16 GMT -5
Mayleng has it correct.
Please get this done immediately in writing with
the date today. Also if you have a copy of the
original send it too. Here in my area one of the
favorites of especially the middle schools is to
tell the parent .
That it doesn't have to be in writing. They will
get it done. THis is wrong. It does have to
be in writing and it has to be dated. The time
starts from the date you requested in writing
the evaluation.
If you would like a advocate, email me I'll
give you your states advocacy group.
droberts1@walla.com or dmom32002@yahoo.com
donna
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Post by Brenda on Jan 31, 2005 9:27:25 GMT -5
Thanks everyone.I'm new at this and need all the help I can get.I called the district office and they said once they receive the paperwork from the teacher it usually just takes a week to get things started. I emailed the teacher and asked her if she needed any help and told her I hate to keep bugging her but I'm really concerned about my daughter.Maybe she will hurry up. A weird thing is she's behaving much better since we stopped the ritalin.She was on it 2 days and off 3 days last week and her behavior chart from school was better while she was off.I gave her haldol for a few days but felt so bad that I got it changed to clonidine.The tics are almost gone. Donna,what is an advocate? |
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Post by jwm on Jan 31, 2005 9:37:43 GMT -5
Hi Brenda, my son was evaluated and tested to get a 504 plan in place. When we sent a letter in to the teacher and guidance counselor, we got a call the same day to set up a meeting to arrange for the tests. I think you did the right thing by emailing the teacher. I would also type up a letter and address it to the principal and guidance counselor. That way you are covered. Make sure you keep copies for yourself. An advocate is someone who you bring with you to say a school meeting and they work for you and speak for you basically if I understand it correctly. They know the laws and guidelines and get the schools or whoever to get things going very quickly.
I think that I got that right. Let me know if I am off on it though ok. Thanks
Please keep us posted on what happens. You shouldnt have to wait so long. The teacher should atleast send you a note to let you know she is working on it.
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Post by d on Jan 31, 2005 9:43:08 GMT -5
Brenda, put your request in writing to the teacher and cc someone else like the principal. Something to the effect of...
"As discussed early Dec., we requested full psychoeducational for dd. Our concerns are X, X and X." Keep it short, sweet, to the point - maybe 2-3 sentences.
The clock doesn't start ticking for the school until the paperwork request is documented. A letter from you will do that as opposed to the alternative of waiting for the teacher to drag her heels further in submitting paperwork.
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Post by Mayleng on Jan 31, 2005 9:45:24 GMT -5
Brenda, jwm is right. An advocate is some one who is familiar with sped ed laws and goes to meetings with you (especially the IEP meetings) and looks after your interest. Some are free, some you have to pay.
I would also second jwm's suggestion that you send a copy of the email (that you sent to the teacher) to the principal. Having gotten your consent and sitting on it, is seriously out of compliance with the LAW. She should know better. There is no excuse for sitting on it for 2 months.
While Stephanie's behavior may be better, is she learning. Behavior problem is one thing, finding out if she has an LD is also important because LDs can cause behavior problems. So an evaluation is important.
I forget, but did Steph get an SI evaluation and is she getting OT services for SI?
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Post by Mayleng on Jan 31, 2005 9:48:05 GMT -5
d, I think Brenda already signed the "permission/consent slip". Thus the timeline should have started then (Dec 7,2004). This teacher is going to cause the district some problems if she sits on the paperwork.
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Post by Brenda on Jan 31, 2005 10:14:31 GMT -5
While Stephanie's behavior may be better, is she learning. Behavior problem is one thing, finding out if she has an LD is also important because LDs can cause behavior problems. So an evaluation is important. I forget, but did Steph get an SI evaluation and is she getting OT services for SI? I'm hoping she is learning.She wasn't on ritalin friday and told me she made 100 on her spelling test that day.I hope she wasn't lying to me.I hope it wasn't the haldol helping her.It seemed to make her "nicer".She keeps telling me she loves me and that "I'm the best mom she's ever had".(I'm the only mom she's ever had, lol).She has even been nice to her brother.If it was the haldol helping ,I wonder if she could have bipolar?She does have the symptoms of bipolar.I just stopped it friday night so I guess I'll see how she does in school today. Yes Mayleng.She does go to OT for SI Integration and it is helping her.Brandon goes too because he has sensory issues also.His are with feeding and not liking movement. |
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Post by Mayleng on Jan 31, 2005 11:17:45 GMT -5
Brenda, you might want to take a closer look at Bipolar . Stimulants can make bpkids more manic (rages etc). So you need to get her mood disorder taken care of before you take care of the ADHD, which she might not have in the first place.
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Post by Brenda on Jan 31, 2005 13:06:50 GMT -5
I think I've got the teacher worried now.  I told her in my email that I called the district office and they're waiting on her and once they get her papers it only takes a week to get the testing started.She has already emailed me back letting me know she's turning the papers in today.She said she lost the permission form I signed almost 2 months ago and needs me to sign another one.She knows it's took her to long and really wants an updated one.I wish I'd made a copy of the one I signed in December.At least she's turning it in now and we can get Steph the help she needs.What type of tests do they do? |
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Post by Mayleng on Jan 31, 2005 15:00:52 GMT -5
I think I've got the teacher worried now. I told her in my email that I called the district office and they're waiting on her and once they get her papers it only takes a week to get the testing started.She has already emailed me back letting me know she's turning the papers in today.She said she lost the permission form I signed almost 2 months ago and needs me to sign another one.She knows it's took her to long and really wants an updated one.I wish I'd made a copy of the one I signed in December.At least she's turning it in now and we can get Steph the help she needs.What type of tests do they do? Keep a copy of her email admitting that she lost the permission slip. This could be just a ploy to cover herself. Now it is time to start keeping all your correspondence with the school in a binder so that you have all the hard copy and paper trail. Do not do things verbally, always put it on paper. If it was a phone conversation, write back to the person, saying this is to confirm our conversation of (whatever the date is) blah blah blah. Also keep a copy in our file. |
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Post by Mayleng on Jan 31, 2005 15:03:32 GMT -5
They should do an IQ test, academic evaluation, OT (if necessary) and Speed & Language. If you go to www.concordspedpac.org you can see explanations of all the various "tests". |
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Post by dmom32002 on Jan 31, 2005 17:35:36 GMT -5
Please send a written request from yourself
too. Asking for the evaluation. Also when
you date this form, put on the original date if
you know it. Then also todays date.
Stating that the teacher has lost the original,
but you want them to know when it was requested.
I agree the teacher is covering herself. If you would
like to have the state agency for Advocates, I have
a list, I don't know for sure which are free, as I'm told
the ones on my list are supposed to be.
If you were to call me I would be in Indiana.
donna
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Post by Brenda on Mar 17, 2005 20:02:08 GMT -5
Steph came home today with 2 stickers on her shirt that said she had her eyes and ears checked.I asked her if all the kids had them checked and she said it was only her.I'm guessing they have finally started testing her.Her teacher didn't send me a note home so I'm not really sure.  |
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I told her in my email that I called the district office and they're waiting on her and once they get her papers it only takes a week to get the testing started.She has already emailed me back letting me know she's turning the papers in today.She said she lost the permission form I signed almost 2 months ago and needs me to sign another one.She knows it's took her to long and really wants an updated one.I wish I'd made a copy of the one I signed in December.At least she's turning it in now and we can get Steph the help she needs.What type of tests do they do?