Should we wait until the fall?

[Anonymous]

Get the testing ASAP.

Also, regardless of when the testing is, I'd strongly think about looking for a tutor for the summer months. Ideally someone trained in Phono-Graphix/Reading Simplified, which is clear and straightforward. Kids can make progress very quickly using this approach.

[Anonymous]

Now. Kicking the can down the road is a way to delay services and preserve the thin resources. Don't fall for it, your child deserves to get the attention and help he needs. If it's dyslexia, the sooner it's established the better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am reading the book “Overcoming Dyslexia” (recommend to anyone that has a kid or thinks their kids has dyslexia). In the book, the author talks about the value of time in terms of early interventions. Time is of the essence for these kids.

I would push for an assessment now, they still have time to complete one, so you come out of the gate running in second grade. If he has dyslexia. He will need specialized interventions and you will want to start as soon as possible. A formal written request will start the timeline for the school.

On a personal note, get the school to do as much as they can to help him but if you can get outside support also. Unfortunately, I have not heard off many cases in public schools where in school interventions were enough.

The school has him interventions already and the post says they can increase interventions for the rest of the school year

If in FCPS, he is most likely getting MTSS interventions in the classroom. If he has an IEP, the intervention for reading will be done by a special education teacher following a specific curriculum. With the IEP you will have goals and mandated service hours. Special education services are only guaranteed through an IEP.

If he gets MTSS intervention that could be with a reading specialist who does OG. It could also be with a gen ed teacher who does OG. I wouldn’t assume the intervention is inferior to special education, depending on staff and programming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused about why it would take 2 months for testing, but I think (1) defer to next year could work only if the same players who know your kid will be involved but as PP said - move forward now - and (2) indeed make the most of this summer to boost reading through tutor, lab school, sienna, whatever else!

It’s the legal timeline. I’m confused why and how you think school staff have wide open calendars to complete tasks in five minutes? A request for testing isn’t planned and school teams need adequate time to test, write a report, share the report/results with parents, and schedule an eligibility meeting.

Wow someone is snippy on the special needs board - we don't do that here. Just parents helping parents and learning along the way. No one is suggesting that testing be completed in 5 minutes.

I can’t be snippy, but parents can spread false information about policies, special education, and staff? And constantly write that school teams are incompetent and parents shouldn’t listen to them? Talk about 1-sided censorship that is rampant on the special needs forum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused about why it would take 2 months for testing, but I think (1) defer to next year could work only if the same players who know your kid will be involved but as PP said - move forward now - and (2) indeed make the most of this summer to boost reading through tutor, lab school, sienna, whatever else!

It’s the legal timeline. I’m confused why and how you think school staff have wide open calendars to complete tasks in five minutes? A request for testing isn’t planned and school teams need adequate time to test, write a report, share the report/results with parents, and schedule an eligibility meeting.

Wow someone is snippy on the special needs board - we don't do that here. Just parents helping parents and learning along the way. No one is suggesting that testing be completed in 5 minutes.

Yes, the perspective that schools actually know what they are doing and may act in the best interest of the child is quite often shouted down on this board.
I can’t be snippy, but parents can spread false information about policies, special education, and staff? And constantly write that school teams are incompetent and parents shouldn’t listen to them? Talk about 1-sided censorship that is rampant on the special needs forum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suspect my child has dyslexia. He is in 1st grade in FCPS. He has been making progress, but it's been slow and he HATES reading, which has me concerned. The school has him in a small group with some of the lower readers.
We met with his school team and the psychologist and special education teacher there said that they do suspect a disability is possible and that they don't want him to hate reading, but they'd like to finish up the quarter with interventions and come back together when he is in second grade. The reasons they gave are 1) he hasn't been in their interventions very long and does not have the highest level of intervention, 2) he is young for his grade ( I admit, his birthday isn't until late August when he turns 7), and finally 3, which I suspect is the real reason they pushed away from testing 3) they'd only have one month to complete the testing when they normally have two months and may not be able to do the most thorough evaluation compared to if they start next year and wait for him to be seven (something about how some tests can't be given until that age). I actually really respected the team's honesty and I felt like they probably do want my child to succeed but I am nervous that if we wait until the fall he will just keep falling behind. Right now I am thinking about finding some tutoring for the weekends as he will be in camp this summer. What would you folks do?

I would listen to your sped team. They clearly have your child’s best interest at heart, are providing interventions, and were very honest. They are professionals and know your child. The fact that parents come on this forum and tell other parents to ignore the sped teams recommendation, while clearly being confused and inexperienced and often resentful, is so disturbing.

Okay, so let's look at the timeline.

The sped team waits until the fall. Best case scenario, they start the testing in September. They do the testing and then turn around the results in...what...one month? Two months? Then they meet again. Then they decide which interventions to use. If it is a pull-out, is the pull-out a small group taught with sequentially and the lessons build upon each other? If so, can a student be added after months have passed?

The sped team may be professionals and they may have children's best interest at heart, in general. Of course. But I know more about dyslexia than the average sped teacher in ES. Because they don't specialize in it. They have a lot of different factors to consider and a lot of different diagnosis's.

I have a kid in HS now and just had the millionth IEP meeting. Great teacher of record for my kid. She didn't even know my kid has dyslexia because the school doesn't transfer records properly from MS to HS. My DS has had a dyslexia diagnosis since he was 6 years old. She thought he had a learning disability in math. He doesn't have a learning disability in math. Dyslexia impacts him in math.

Don't blindly listen to the schools. I wish you could but you simply cannot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you postpone the testing until next year, it will be January before any support is in place. If you start now and he qualifies, he'll have services on day 1. The statutory timelines don't stop over the summer.

It's specifically against the law to postpone evaluations in order to do more interventions, if you are requesting them.

This. I would not wait, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused about why it would take 2 months for testing, but I think (1) defer to next year could work only if the same players who know your kid will be involved but as PP said - move forward now - and (2) indeed make the most of this summer to boost reading through tutor, lab school, sienna, whatever else!

It’s the legal timeline. I’m confused why and how you think school staff have wide open calendars to complete tasks in five minutes? A request for testing isn’t planned and school teams need adequate time to test, write a report, share the report/results with parents, and schedule an eligibility meeting.

Wow someone is snippy on the special needs board - we don't do that here. Just parents helping parents and learning along the way. No one is suggesting that testing be completed in 5 minutes.

Yes, the perspective that schools actually know what they are doing and may act in the best interest of the child is quite often shouted down on this board.
I can’t be snippy, but parents can spread false information about policies, special education, and staff? And constantly write that school teams are incompetent and parents shouldn’t listen to them? Talk about 1-sided censorship that is rampant on the special needs forum.

I have 2 children with IEPs. Yes, I think the school in general has the best interest of children in mind. However, extra support and especially an IEP is not something that is done overnight. There is a big difference in getting interventions through school and having an IEP with goals and mandated support.

Ask for an evaluation and IEP NOW!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you postpone the testing until next year, it will be January before any support is in place. If you start now and he qualifies, he'll have services on day 1. The statutory timelines don't stop over the summer.

It's specifically against the law to postpone evaluations in order to do more interventions, if you are requesting them.

This. I would not wait, OP.

Not accurate at all. So much inaccurate, negative information shared on this forum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused about why it would take 2 months for testing, but I think (1) defer to next year could work only if the same players who know your kid will be involved but as PP said - move forward now - and (2) indeed make the most of this summer to boost reading through tutor, lab school, sienna, whatever else!

It’s the legal timeline. I’m confused why and how you think school staff have wide open calendars to complete tasks in five minutes? A request for testing isn’t planned and school teams need adequate time to test, write a report, share the report/results with parents, and schedule an eligibility meeting.

Wow someone is snippy on the special needs board - we don't do that here. Just parents helping parents and learning along the way. No one is suggesting that testing be completed in 5 minutes.

Yes, the perspective that schools actually know what they are doing and may act in the best interest of the child is quite often shouted down on this board.
I can’t be snippy, but parents can spread false information about policies, special education, and staff? And constantly write that school teams are incompetent and parents shouldn’t listen to them? Talk about 1-sided censorship that is rampant on the special needs forum.

I have 2 children with IEPs. Yes, I think the school in general has the best interest of children in mind. However, extra support and especially an IEP is not something that is done overnight. There is a big difference in getting interventions through school and having an IEP with goals and mandated support.

Ask for an evaluation and IEP NOW!!!!

I think your ignorance is bliss.
Interventions from a reading specialist doing OG are solid. It’s why so many of you parents praise tutors, who are not special education teachers. Yet all you insist on receiving l special education services, while you also harshly criticize and discredit special education staff. You make no sense. You have no idea. You are not professionals, you are scared and distrustful, and you (appallingly) advise other parents to follow in your foot steps. There are so many things wrong here. You’re the problem in so many ways and it is just so sad, because you continue to act like victims.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused about why it would take 2 months for testing, but I think (1) defer to next year could work only if the same players who know your kid will be involved but as PP said - move forward now - and (2) indeed make the most of this summer to boost reading through tutor, lab school, sienna, whatever else!

It’s the legal timeline. I’m confused why and how you think school staff have wide open calendars to complete tasks in five minutes? A request for testing isn’t planned and school teams need adequate time to test, write a report, share the report/results with parents, and schedule an eligibility meeting.

Wow someone is snippy on the special needs board - we don't do that here. Just parents helping parents and learning along the way. No one is suggesting that testing be completed in 5 minutes.

Yes, the perspective that schools actually know what they are doing and may act in the best interest of the child is quite often shouted down on this board.
I can’t be snippy, but parents can spread false information about policies, special education, and staff? And constantly write that school teams are incompetent and parents shouldn’t listen to them? Talk about 1-sided censorship that is rampant on the special needs forum.

I have 2 children with IEPs. Yes, I think the school in general has the best interest of children in mind. However, extra support and especially an IEP is not something that is done overnight. There is a big difference in getting interventions through school and having an IEP with goals and mandated support.

Ask for an evaluation and IEP NOW!!!!

I think your ignorance is bliss.
Interventions from a reading specialist doing OG are solid. It’s why so many of you parents praise tutors, who are not special education teachers. Yet all you insist on receiving l special education services, while you also harshly criticize and discredit special education staff. You make no sense. You have no idea. You are not professionals, you are scared and distrustful, and you (appallingly) advise other parents to follow in your foot steps. There are so many things wrong here. You’re the problem in so many ways and it is just so sad, because you continue to act like victims.

Oh you are so right….such great educational outcomes for all our kids with learning differences how can we not just trust you. Maybe then they will be literate by the time they are 16, if ever. Throw in a math issue and you guys just nail it. We are so lucky to have you.

[Anonymous]

Late august bday? You should have held him back in K, but not too late to repeat 1st. Repeat 1st and get the testing started.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused about why it would take 2 months for testing, but I think (1) defer to next year could work only if the same players who know your kid will be involved but as PP said - move forward now - and (2) indeed make the most of this summer to boost reading through tutor, lab school, sienna, whatever else!

It’s the legal timeline. I’m confused why and how you think school staff have wide open calendars to complete tasks in five minutes? A request for testing isn’t planned and school teams need adequate time to test, write a report, share the report/results with parents, and schedule an eligibility meeting.

Wow someone is snippy on the special needs board - we don't do that here. Just parents helping parents and learning along the way. No one is suggesting that testing be completed in 5 minutes.

Yes, the perspective that schools actually know what they are doing and may act in the best interest of the child is quite often shouted down on this board.
I can’t be snippy, but parents can spread false information about policies, special education, and staff? And constantly write that school teams are incompetent and parents shouldn’t listen to them? Talk about 1-sided censorship that is rampant on the special needs forum.

I have 2 children with IEPs. Yes, I think the school in general has the best interest of children in mind. However, extra support and especially an IEP is not something that is done overnight. There is a big difference in getting interventions through school and having an IEP with goals and mandated support.

Ask for an evaluation and IEP NOW!!!!

I think your ignorance is bliss.
Interventions from a reading specialist doing OG are solid. It’s why so many of you parents praise tutors, who are not special education teachers. Yet all you insist on receiving l special education services, while you also harshly criticize and discredit special education staff. You make no sense. You have no idea. You are not professionals, you are scared and distrustful, and you (appallingly) advise other parents to follow in your foot steps. There are so many things wrong here. You’re the problem in so many ways and it is just so sad, because you continue to act like victims.

Oh you are so right….such great educational outcomes for all our kids with learning differences how can we not just trust you. Maybe then they will be literate by the time they are 16, if ever. Throw in a math issue and you guys just nail it. We are so lucky to have you.[/quote

You hate sped staff yet you insist on sped services?? Sure you are credible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you postpone the testing until next year, it will be January before any support is in place. If you start now and he qualifies, he'll have services on day 1. The statutory timelines don't stop over the summer.

It's specifically against the law to postpone evaluations in order to do more interventions, if you are requesting them.

That’s not accurate at all.

The only thing that’s against the law is to refuse to meet. Parents don’t have the right to demand evaluations, only to request that the team consider them.

The team can deny evaluations if they don't suspect a disability. Clearly, that's not the case here. They cannot deny evaluations because they want to complete the RTI process.

[Anonymous]

Put it in writing and submit the request tomorrow morning. He's almost 7, he's almost done with first grade, time is ticking.