Are they allowed to seat a sped kid in the hallway as punishment?

[Anonymous]

My son has an IEP in DCPS elementary school. They are consistently violating his IEP and this is, predictably, resulting in the exact reactions that are used as justifications for the things they're supposed to do per the IEP. In other words, they are setting him up to fail. His failures are treated solely as behavioral issues by most of the people in the school. I have been trying to work within the system, but it's just getting worse and worse the last couple of months. They have almost no sped staff to speak of, so there's really no one to insure that his IEP is being followed. The simplest little tiny things are simply not being done. Finally on Friday I had had enough and I told them that I would not return him to school until they showed me they could follow his IEP. I was assuming, honestly, that I would not return him this year and he is going to a new school next year. Today I went to his classroom to get some of his work and to take a picture of his desk (that STILL has no visual organizer on it -- I mean how hard is that?). I couldn't find his desk. One of the kids said, "it's in the hall." I remembered the aide telling me that he was putting his desk in the hall, but honestly I was so awash with other worries I didn't really digest the information. Upon talking to my son I realized that it had occured on Thursday and that they had seated him there for at least some time before I removed him from school on Friday. His name is on the desk for all to see. I am very active in the PTA at the school and everyone knows who I am and who he is. My question is, is this an appropriate action for a child under an IEP, especially since they are violating his IEP every single day? Also, did they really need to leave it out there all week for all to see, even though he's not coming to school. The meeting is Friday and I told them I would not send him until we had a meeting. I took pictures of the desk.

[Anonymous]

no it is not.. hire an educational advocate

[Anonymous]

recommendations for an educational advocate?

[Anonymous]

Laura Solomon

[Anonymous]

That is just sick!
I pulled my DS out of a very highly rated blue-ribbon Catholic school for similar treatment. I still have nightmares about seeing the principal in the hall, and yelling at her.

Getting an advocate will help in that it will force them to follow the IEP, but it won't keep them from being ugly and spiteful and hateful toward him.

Is private an option? Or perhaps applying to a MoCo school and paying tuition to the county?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/29/AR2008032901119.html

[Anonymous]

You need to demand an FBA (Functional Behavior Assessment) and get an BIP (Behavior Intervention Plan) in place. This is a document that lists EXACTLY what they must do when certain behaviors arise. You can make sure that "seating in the hallway" (for example) is NOT permitted. If they violate the BIP and the IEP you can demand a due process hearing. Then a judge will tell them that what they are doing is illegal. You can make them pay for this.

[Anonymous]

It wouldn't be appropriate as a punishment...but this doesn't even sound like a punishment, it sounds like a permanent arrangement (????!!!!????). That wouldn't be appropriate for ANY child in ANY circumstances. I mean -- WTF????

[Anonymous]

go to the special ed forum with Rhee and Nyankori tonight and let them know. Seriously this is dead wrong. They have been receptive in the past when I contacted them about profound issues at my son's school.

Chancellor’s Community Forum on Special Education
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
6:30-8 p.m.

Randle Highlands Elementary School (Ward 7)
1650 30th St. SE
Washington, D.C. 20020

[Anonymous]

That is outrageous! You need to bring in an advocate. I don't know if she works in DC but Dr. Ruth Heitin has done incredible things for us in VA. We have two kids with IEPs and while she's not cheap ($250/hr) we feel she's provided exceptional value. One of the best things (besides having someone who knows this stuff) is that it allows you to ratchet down emotionally. It's hard not to get that gut wrenching feeling when you're trying so hard to be persisent but not oppositional in trying to get the school to do what they're supposed to. I felt like I was beating my head against the wall - with the school staff being the wall. Dr. Heitin was able to chisel away at it and I can tell you IEP meetings now are a LOT different. Everyone shows up, they're on time, they're very prepared and there's no BSing around. The kids are getting the services they need, they get good teachers and we're really seeing results. We're really very grateful and now we really only need her for the annual review.

Keep up the good fight for your DS. You're doing the right thing and most of us know how hard that is. Please post back with your progress.

Phone: [phone]
100 West Howell Ave.
Alexandria, VA 22301
Email: [e-mail]
http://www.educationalconsultingva.com/index.php

[Anonymous]

"His failures are treated solely as behavioral issues by most of the people in the school. "

Don't we all hate this - when they can't manage our kids? it has happened to us in DCPS also. I think you need an advocate and also a new school for next year. I think you may be able to move him based on their behavior. You need to cut loose from this school over the summer. At the very least, he needs to be in a school with a special education teacher on site. Have the meeting, then call the Chancellor's office and tell them you want him transferred to school with a FT special ed instructor for next year. GL!

[Anonymous]

There should not even be "punishment." It is completely in appropriate.

[Anonymous]

Update from OP -- we had a meeting, I called them to the carpet. They apologized. Tried to insist it wasn't punishment and that I had asked for him to sit away from the other kids (well, yes, like 2 feet away with his back to the wall and space around him for his sensory issues). We are doing a Functional Behavior Analysis this week and there will be almost all rewards from now on and consequences, no punishments.

We are doing a new school next year with a better Sped department. Now we just have to get through the end of the year. A few parents in the class have expressed to me that they don't want my son back. They don't seem to make the connect that if my son had received the support he was supposed to be receiving, he wouldn't have been acting out the way he was. Sigh.

[Anonymous]

So glad, OP. I have been thinking of you and your post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A few parents in the class have expressed to me that they don't want my son back.

I'm so sorry OP, that is just unconscionable. What an unsupportive environment for all of you. What could they possibly think could be gained by such remarks? I wish you a much better year at the new school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are doing a new school next year with a better Sped department. Now we just have to get through the end of the year. A few parents in the class have expressed to me that they don't want my son back. They don't seem to make the connect that if my son had received the support he was supposed to be receiving, he wouldn't have been acting out the way he was. Sigh.

Thanks for the update. I'm so sorry you had to endure those kinds of comments. It makes me think of the thread from a couple months ago - what do you wish you could say to parents of NT kids. I wish those thoughtless parents had an inkling of what your challenges are.