DCPS early pre-k

[Anonymous]

My autistic son recently got an IEP where he qualifies to be in a 10:6 classroom at DCPS the day after his 3rd birthday, which is coming up in less than a month in March. We were initially told that we would have the school placement within 30 days of his 3rd birthday. We are now past the 30 day prior mark and they still do not have a placement for him. Anyone else go through this? Should I actually be counting on getting a placement before his third bday or is that more a wishful thinking type thing that doesn't actually work out?

[Anonymous]

I would not assume that anyone is proactively thinking about this. Be the squeaky wheel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not assume that anyone is proactively thinking about this. Be the squeaky wheel.

I followed up this morning and they just said they would let us know when they have a placement. I was under the impression that they were legally required to have the placement 30 days prior. But then again the were "legally required" to do his early intervention on a certain timeline and they did not.

[Anonymous]

You could contact the osse ombudsperson. Maybe that would get things moving. If not, maybe your council person or your Ward's Mocrs staff could help?

[Anonymous]

OP - we went through something a bit similar. After what felt like an uphill battle getting DCPS evaluators to acknowledge my son's deficiencies, they confirmed at the beginning of December that he would be offered an early seat and that our in-bounds school had a seat available (he was in a general education classroom). He was supposed to start at the beginning of January. So I thought we were all good with time for everything to get sorted. But then I didn't hear anything from the school.

So after a week, I called. The person said they would look into it and get back to me. I called back 3 days later after no follow-up and was told the original person was now out of the office, but another person said they would figure it out. I called back 3 days later.... You see where I'm going with this.

Even though I WAS the squeaky wheel, the school did not have it together enough for my son to start at the beginning of January. He started a week after he should have b/c the school dropped the ball.

Call, call, email, email, email, and call some more. Call everyone. A lot.

I will say that we hit the lottery with my son's teacher and he CHANGED SO MUCH under her care and in a more structured environment. It was amazing for him.

Good luck, OP!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - we went through something a bit similar. After what felt like an uphill battle getting DCPS evaluators to acknowledge my son's deficiencies, they confirmed at the beginning of December that he would be offered an early seat and that our in-bounds school had a seat available (he was in a general education classroom). He was supposed to start at the beginning of January. So I thought we were all good with time for everything to get sorted. But then I didn't hear anything from the school.

So after a week, I called. The person said they would look into it and get back to me. I called back 3 days later after no follow-up and was told the original person was now out of the office, but another person said they would figure it out. I called back 3 days later.... You see where I'm going with this.

Even though I WAS the squeaky wheel, the school did not have it together enough for my son to start at the beginning of January. He started a week after he should have b/c the school dropped the ball.

Call, call, email, email, email, and call some more. Call everyone. A lot.

I will say that we hit the lottery with my son's teacher and he CHANGED SO MUCH under her care and in a more structured environment. It was amazing for him.

Good luck, OP!!

OP here: Ugh, this is what I'm worried about. We unfortunately don't even have a school to bug yet! Reach out again to the IEP coordinator this morning and she said she still didn't know the placement, but said he was absolutely guaranteed a spot when he turns three....

[Anonymous]

DCPS teacher here. The problem is that it’s not enough seats for all of these students coming through Early Stages. There aren’t enough classrooms in the system and now a general education classroom is always the best solution for any student. And that’s not always the case.

[Anonymous]

I no would email/ call as often and as many people as you can, and then get things in writing.