Tell me about COSA

[Anonymous]

Long story short: My Kindergartner has sensory processing disorder which manifests as anxiety. We tried to get a 504 for minor accommodations but it is a fight and taking a long time - even if the 504 came through the school wasn’t sure how to implement with current staffing challenges, over crowding and COVID restrictions. After talking to our (private) child psychologist, we pulled DD out of school as she was at a breaking point. No follow up from ES or responses to previous emails, phone calls or requests for meetings.

We can’t afford private school for the duration of ES. Kid can’t go back to home school.

I’d like to COSA to one of the 3 ES that are within 2 miles of our house that are under capacity (current ES is 200 kids over capacity). In hopes that with less kids, they could accommodate. What’s our chances? Do I need an advocate? An attorney? Or just pack up and move?

Note: We are up county. Not in DCC.

[Anonymous]

What accommodations are you requesting?

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately, being under capacity does not lead to smaller classes or more available staffing.

Your best bet is to drop the 504 request and go directly for an IEP. An IEP is the only way to increase staffing formulas. Write to the principal request edging an IEP meeting. By law, they have (I think) 30 days to schedule the meetings.

I would suggest an advocate to help you, but if she already has a diagnosed disability that should help.

[Anonymous]

Really this is an IEP issue. Maybe your child needs a special Ed placement. But PP is right, this is t a COSA issue. It sounds like you don’t want to share details but maybe if you explained what happened and what you’ve done in the IEP process people could offer help.

[Anonymous]

Well the trend coming in large urban districts like MCPS is to ban all boundaries. You will be able to go to any school you would like and subsidized transportation.

https://azednews.com/senate-ed-hears-bills-to-eliminate-school-district-boundaries-provide-families-transporation-money-at-2-pm-today/

[Anonymous]

You can apply and give it a try but there is no guarantee a new school will give you the IEP you want. What exactly are you looking for? Sensory Processing Disorder is not a actual disorder and its an OT term to justify services. You need to get your child a full evaluation and get them treated for anxiety. Anxiety is the disorder. However, if it doesn't have and educational impact, especially at that age, you aren't going to get a lot of support or even an IEP. They've got kids with far greater needs and only limited staff.

[Anonymous]

Confused a bit here. Usually most of the cognitive testing occurs in 3rd grade that would lead to an IEP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Confused a bit here. Usually most of the cognitive testing occurs in 3rd grade that would lead to an IEP.

Are you the OP? Special education (IEP) is for children unable to access the curriculum due to a disability. If your child’s anxiety is causing her to be unable to access the curriculum, she could receive special education services. They will do cognitive testing, but a child does not have to have an intellectual disability to qualify- there are actually 13 disability categories. Anxiety falls under ED.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Confused a bit here. Usually most of the cognitive testing occurs in 3rd grade that would lead to an IEP.

Are you the OP? Special education (IEP) is for children unable to access the curriculum due to a disability. If your child’s anxiety is causing her to be unable to access the curriculum, she could receive special education services. They will do cognitive testing, but a child does not have to have an intellectual disability to qualify- there are actually 13 disability categories. Anxiety falls under ED.

OP is saying SPD which is why no one is taking them seriously.

[Anonymous]

Good point, PP.

Consider speaking to the psychologist to see if he/she thinks there is a disability. I’m very surprised that any licensed psychologist made the suggestion to pull your child out without offering a plan. Did the psychologist recommend private testing?

You need to determine if there is a disability. The psychologist should be able to give you recommendations for how to move forward- whether that is privately or through the school system.

For now, you should look for a private kindergarten with openings that allows for small class size. That will give you some time to figure things out for 1st grade.

All this said, a COSA makes no sense in your situation. No school can guarantee smaller class sizes from year to year so that reasoning would not make sense in your situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good point, PP.

Consider speaking to the psychologist to see if he/she thinks there is a disability. I’m very surprised that any licensed psychologist made the suggestion to pull your child out without offering a plan. Did the psychologist recommend private testing?

You need to determine if there is a disability. The psychologist should be able to give you recommendations for how to move forward- whether that is privately or through the school system.

For now, you should look for a private kindergarten with openings that allows for small class size. That will give you some time to figure things out for 1st grade.

All this said, a COSA makes no sense in your situation. No school can guarantee smaller class sizes from year to year so that reasoning would not make sense in your situation.

Agree about the private kindergarten. You mentioned that you can’t afford private school for the entire duration of her elementary years. But you don’t need to. Go to private K while you explore other options including getting an IEP.

COSA is not an easy process and you will need to be able to justify your reasons to transfer your child. At the moment, I don’t think you have much of a ground. It also does not make sense. IMHO.

[Anonymous]

You need to get your child evaluated, into therapy that helps and if needed, medication.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately, being under capacity does not lead to smaller classes or more available staffing.

Your best bet is to drop the 504 request and go directly for an IEP. An IEP is the only way to increase staffing formulas. Write to the principal request edging an IEP meeting. By law, they have (I think) 30 days to schedule the meetings.

I would suggest an advocate to help you, but if she already has a diagnosed disability that should help.

This is good advice, but I was struck by the part where the OP is upset that the school didn't reach out after she withdrew her child. That's correct, a public school is going to focus on the children who are enrolled, not the children who are not enrolled.

Also good advice are the folks talking about how a COSA is probably not going to help here. Staffing levels follow the number of kids in a school, so a school with more kids is going to have more staff. Just becuase a school is under-enrolled does not necessarily mean their team will have more time for OP's child, becuase there will by definition be fewer of them.

Basically, OP, if you want a specialized placement you are going to need to work the system to get it. That means an IEP and all of the hassles that go along with it. I get the impression that you don't think your child needs that level of intervention, but that's the only way you are going to have legally protected accommodations.

[Anonymous]

As others have said, this will not be fixed by a COSA and it is very hard to get them approved. Did your psychologist suggest this or was it a well meaning friend?

What small accommodations are you looking for that would help your child be successful? A 504 just provides accommodations of things a teacher can do in the classroom. If you give us more information, we might be able to better help you. You can also post on the special needs board as there are a lot of very well informed people who have a lot of experience.

[Anonymous]

Underenrolled means relative to the size of the building. As others have noted Staff are allocated based on # of students. So class sizes won’t vary much.