FCPS elementary lack of SpEd staffing = not following DS' IEP

[Anonymous]

I have a 6th grader who attends a FCPS. Today I did a parent conference with his GenEd math/LA/history teachers and learned that the SpEd staffing is so bad that he is being left in the GenEd classes and put on a computer to do MyOn, LexiaCore or the like because there are no teachers to do the small group instruction pull-outs that are included as a part of his IEP's SpEd hours. They informed me the whole 3Q he missed out on small group for those subjects. I am seeing red. I am trying to get my anger under control before I call his Case Manager and the Principal. If you were me, what would you do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a 6th grader who attends a FCPS. Today I did a parent conference with his GenEd math/LA/history teachers and learned that the SpEd staffing is so bad that he is being left in the GenEd classes and put on a computer to do MyOn, LexiaCore or the like because there are no teachers to do the small group instruction pull-outs that are included as a part of his IEP's SpEd hours. They informed me the whole 3Q he missed out on small group for those subjects. I am seeing red. I am trying to get my anger under control before I call his Case Manager and the Principal. If you were me, what would you do?

This isn't shocking and the shortage is getting worse.

[Anonymous]

What you need to determine is if your DC is still making progress toward goals. If you have evidence that progress is not being made, contact the speech language department and request that they pay for tutoring until the IEP can be followed.

[Anonymous]

What do you propose OP? There are not enough teachers. Special education is going to be the death of FCPS. They spend so much time and money on special ed and all parents do is complain. Federal law made requirements but the federal government doesn’t provide the money it is supposed to. How are schools supposed to make teachers and funds out of nothing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do you propose OP? There are not enough teachers. Special education is going to be the death of FCPS. They spend so much time and money on special ed and all parents do is complain. Federal law made requirements but the federal government doesn’t provide the money it is supposed to. How are schools supposed to make teachers and funds out of nothing?

What would I propose? How about keeping us parents informed to the situation instead of hiding it from us as if it doesn't exist. Is that too much to ask?

[Anonymous]

How did you become aware of this situation, OP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What you need to determine is if your DC is still making progress toward goals. If you have evidence that progress is not being made, contact the speech language department and request that they pay for tutoring until the IEP can be followed.

Thank you for this. Helpful. Indeed, the GenEd teacher said his assessments have demonstrated a decline. He was making progress the first two quarters but he isn't surprised to see that the extended time away from small group instruction for a quarter+ has started to impact him. The curriculum has been going over his head without supports that we all agreed as a team would be there for him this last year before middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How did you become aware of this situation, OP?

I wasn't hearing anything from the teachers so I requested a parent-teacher conference. These GenEd teachers were frustrated for him and have been doing everything they could to scaffold him but their classes are 25+.

[Anonymous]

Did he start out getting support from a special ed teacher who is no longer at the school? Such a frustrating situation, made worse when there truly are no good available long term subs willing to work for $22 per hour.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do you propose OP? There are not enough teachers. Special education is going to be the death of FCPS. They spend so much time and money on special ed and all parents do is complain. Federal law made requirements but the federal government doesn’t provide the money it is supposed to. How are schools supposed to make teachers and funds out of nothing?

This!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did he start out getting support from a special ed teacher who is no longer at the school? Such a frustrating situation, made worse when there truly are no good available long term subs willing to work for $22 per hour.

SPED teachers are stretched thin.....it's not sustainable and teachers are leaving.

[Anonymous]

I’d hire a lawyer immediately, you’re dealing with the school breaking federal law.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you propose OP? There are not enough teachers. Special education is going to be the death of FCPS. They spend so much time and money on special ed and all parents do is complain. Federal law made requirements but the federal government doesn’t provide the money it is supposed to. How are schools supposed to make teachers and funds out of nothing?

What would I propose? How about keeping us parents informed to the situation instead of hiding it from us as if it doesn't exist. Is that too much to ask?

Yeah that is super sketchy. They not telling you all year until you asked. Also, why did your kid not tell you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What you need to determine is if your DC is still making progress toward goals. If you have evidence that progress is not being made, contact the speech language department and request that they pay for tutoring until the IEP can be followed.

Thank you for this. Helpful. Indeed, the GenEd teacher said his assessments have demonstrated a decline. He was making progress the first two quarters but he isn't surprised to see that the extended time away from small group instruction for a quarter+ has started to impact him. The curriculum has been going over his head without supports that we all agreed as a team would be there for him this last year before middle school.

Get all of that stuff the teacher said and proof of the deficits along with work samples in writing. Then call a lawyer, sounds like you’re going to need one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d hire a lawyer immediately, you’re dealing with the school breaking federal law.

What will the lawyer do, clone or assemble a new special ed teacher out of spare molecules? Make the remaining staff feel horrible and attacked and chew up hours prepping for and sitting in your IEP meetings so they burn out faster and other kids miss all their services too? What is the actual, real-world solution that a lawyer will provide that's worth the financial outlay?

The current situation is unsustainable. The feds and the state education departments tell school systems they must provide all these entitlements, give 30% of the funding necessary to do so, and then expect it to work by magic. I genuinely don't get it. It's not working for our kids and it's not working for the teachers.