ADHD student flunking classes; parent takes action

Parent asked public school for months to test the student for an IEP.  Student receiving flunking grades since homework not turned in. Student eventually admits to a teacher that it’s his own fault for not getting homework turned in, so the school believes testing for the IEP not needed.  Outside evaluations indicated ADHD.

Congress knew that there would be issues between parents and public schools, so Congress put into place several mechanisms for us to pursue.  Often we (parents) don’t know how or where to start to use them!

Some students get so frustrated that they choose to drop out of school.  Parents can take a role in ensuring the student’ program is appropriate at the school to prevent the dropout scenario.  If parents don’t do so, the consequences for the student can follow the student for life.

Advocates at TheIEPCenter.com™  providing information to parents so they can advocate for the child with special needs. Schools often don’t put plans into place legitimately unless a parent pursues action. Action can involve systems outside of the school district.   It’s what a parent doesn’t know that can deprive children of needed services.  Our advocate is available to go with parents to  school meetings after consultations.

Don’t be bamboozled!  Waiting and hoping for problems to go away allows our children to regress.  Hoping the problem will go away will only delay getting the problem addressed.  Waiting too long to address concerns eliminates opportunities for correction.

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We support parents at low-cost.  We can review the school recods over the phone with you  and also go to school meetings with parents, including manifestation determination meetings. 

Call:      816 865 6262     MO, KS, OK

Special Education Parent’s Advocacy Link LLC dba The IEP Center™ provides information to parents regarding the problems of children with disabilities. We are civil rights advocates.   We are not attorneys and do not give advice. We are not licensed to practice law in any state. We do not represent anyone.  Consult an attorney.

who to take to an IEP meeting in Missouri

Parents can invite people to attend the child’s IEP meeting.  We know of no regulation that requires parents  to inform the public school whom the parent brings.

If the public school district in Missouri is uncooperative, contact the civil rights advocates at The IEPCenter.com™  We are available to go to IEP meetings when invited by the parent, in Missouri and Kansas*.

The more information a parent has before entering an IEP meeting, the better they can make informed decisions.  A parent’s failure to ask the right questions in an IEP meeting may result in the child getting “left behind”.

One of the most overlooked people to invite is the paraprofessional(s) who work with the child.  Parents can notify the special ed administrator in advance that the parent is inviting the para.  Often the para is the person at the school who knows the child the best.

Some districts disallow paras to go to IEP meetings; contact our advocate to learn strategies to overcome this obstacle.

Districts’ sometimes place a heavy burden on paras, especially when the para has no skills related to the disability.  Paras usually go through a “training”, however it is often unrelated to our child’s special need(s). Often paras never see the IEP document.

Many times the para is not a good match for a student and problems arise.  Parents can find ways to privately talk to a para about what’s going on at school.

In Missouri call 816 865 6262

The more information a parent has before entering an IEP meeting, the better they can make informed decisions.  A parent’s failure to ask the right questions in an IEP meeting may result in the child getting “left behind”.

 

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©2018 Special Education Parent’s Advocacy Link LLC dba The IEP Center™ are  civil rights advocates. Special Education Parent’s Advocacy Link LLC advocates have special knowledge related to the problems of children with disabilities. We are not attorneys and do not give legal advice.  We do not represent parents or children.  We are not licensed to practice law in any state. Consult an attorney.  Nothing in this blog is to be considered legal advice.

We offer low-cost advocate (non-attorney) services.

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student sent home since no behavior program at public school Missouri

Student with behaviors that the public school doesn’t appropriately address is sent home. The parent has no idea that the school has a duty to provide programming for this student to the same extent that typical student benefit from schooling (such as a full day). In some instances the public school completes paperwork called “homebound“.

Public school staff often don’t understand the importance of proactively implementing positive behavior supports.   Advocates at TheIEPCenter.com™ help parents solve IEP problems by providing information so they can advocate for the child with special needs.    Schools often don’t put plans into place legitimately unless a parent pursues action.  Educational “systems” move slowly.  It’s what a parent doesn’t know that can deprive children of needed services.

Don’t be bamboozled!  Waiting and hoping for problems to go away allows our children to regress.  Hoping the problem will go away will only delay getting the problem addressed.  Waiting too long to address concerns eliminates opportunities for correction.

FYI:  The Missouri legislature is currently considering Senator Eigels’s bill titled Empowering Missouri Parents Act. It would potentially assist in streamlining information parents could acquire from the public school.

We help parents at low-cost.  We help parents prepare for school meetings and also go to school meetings with parents.

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Special Education Parent’s Advocacy Link LLC dba The IEP Center provide information to parents regarding the problems of children with special needs. We are civil rights advocates.

Thankfully, we are not affiliated with any government agency. This website is for information only.  We do not give legal advice.  We do not represent anyone. Consult an attorney.

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Student in IEP meeting? Missouri Kansas

Often meetings at the school to develop educational plans for special needs’ students involve discussions that may be hurtful for the child.   Not knowing that this may occur, a student in the meeting can make for an awkward position for the child.

Students who do not have the capacity to advocate for themselves may feel emotionally beaten. Other students may not understand the power dynamic in these meetings and withdraw. The adults in the room may use the opportunity to “motivate” the child to “work harder” or “apply yourself”.  Examine the motivation of a school that insists a student be present in multiple school meetings; if it’s just a control or power issue, it’s okay to say that the student wasn’t invited. There are a few exceptions to when a student must be present (planning for life after high school (aka “transition”), if the student is already age 18, etc.

It is a risky scenario to have a child in IEP or 504 meetings. Advocates at The IEP Center™ know strategies parents can use to avoid these scenarios. Contact us for more information.

In lieu of the student present in the school meeting, a parent could observe the classroom prior to the meeting.

Advocates at The IEP Center™ help parents solve IEP problems by providing information so they can advocate for the child with special needs.  Don’t be bamboozled!  Waiting and hoping for problems to go away allows our children to regress.  Hoping the problem will go away will only delay getting the problem addressed.

Never go alone to an IEP meeting; our advocates are available!

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Special Education Parent’s Advocacy Link LLC dba The IEP Center™ provides information to parents regarding the problems of children with disabilities.  We are not attorneys and do not give advice.  We do not represent parents or children.  Consult an attorney.

We help parents at low-cost.  We help parents prepare for school meetings and also go to mediation and IEP meetings with parents.  Go to our website to set a telephone consult.

©2015 Special Education Parent’s Advocacy Link LLC dba The IEP Center™