Please help: enrolling 8th grader with ADHD at Silver Creek next week

[Anonymous]

We may need to pull our DD out of her private school next week. We are zoned for Silver Creek. How do I go about enrolling her and getting an IEP in place pretty quickly? We have neuropsych testing but do not have an IEP, given that we are coming from a private that offers no accommodations beyond extra time. If anyone could be kind enough to give me names of people to talk to and particular accommodations that the school is able to deliver, I would be very appreciative. She's a smart kid, but personalities and expectations at her current school have caused huge problems.

[Anonymous]

You call the registrar of the school - phone on website - and after you get all the enrollment info (proof of residence, ID, etc), you ask for an IEP meeting. Try to get one before the end of the school year, that's when they're busiest. You give them the written neuropsych report and list of the recommended services and accommodations that your psych hopefully listed on there. If they're not listed, call the psychologist and ask what s/he recommends for a public with large class sizes.

For his inattentive ADHD, my kid had preferential seating in class (close to the teacher or facing the teacher, not next to a window or door), repeated directions for assignments, extended time on tests and assignments, and use of notes if applicable (rarely applicable). If your child has hyperactive ADHD, they might need frequent breaks. If they're struggling academically or they can't finish their work, a resource class instead of an elective is a possibility.

Please also note that schools usually want to give 504s, instead of IEPs, for ADHD. My kid got an IEP right off the bat because he also had a global developmental delay, low processing speed, dyscalculia, dysgraphia and a speech issue (with all the accommodations for those).
The school might fob you off with a 504, which teachers sometimes tend to disregard, because there kids on 504s have no designated case manager and annual verification, and there are so many kids with 504s, things get lost in the shuffle. But... it's better than nothing.

[Anonymous]

I would write to the principal tonight and request an IEP. That will provide official notice. I think they have 30 days to set one up, so the sooner you ask, the better. Put it in writing in case there is any question about when you requested it.

I would follow up with a call tomorrow to get more info. You might want to ask to speak with the counselor who will be assigned to you.

Here is the directory:
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/silvercreekms/staff/directory/

[Anonymous]

Call the front office to get her enrolled.
I don't think they can do anything about an IEP until she is actually a student, but you can ask.
The process takes time - they need to observe her in class, get feedback from teachers, have the school psychologist weigh in, and schedule a formal IEP meeting with you and the required staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You call the registrar of the school - phone on website - and after you get all the enrollment info (proof of residence, ID, etc), you ask for an IEP meeting. Try to get one before the end of the school year, that's when they're busiest. You give them the written neuropsych report and list of the recommended services and accommodations that your psych hopefully listed on there. If they're not listed, call the psychologist and ask what s/he recommends for a public with large class sizes.

For his inattentive ADHD, my kid had preferential seating in class (close to the teacher or facing the teacher, not next to a window or door), repeated directions for assignments, extended time on tests and assignments, and use of notes if applicable (rarely applicable). If your child has hyperactive ADHD, they might need frequent breaks. If they're struggling academically or they can't finish their work, a resource class instead of an elective is a possibility.

Please also note that schools usually want to give 504s, instead of IEPs, for ADHD. My kid got an IEP right off the bat because he also had a global developmental delay, low processing speed, dyscalculia, dysgraphia and a speech issue (with all the accommodations for those).
The school might fob you off with a 504, which teachers sometimes tend to disregard, because there kids on 504s have no designated case manager and annual verification, and there are so many kids with 504s, things get lost in the shuffle. But... it's better than nothing.

Disagree - ask now, not after you enroll. All Montgomery County students can be evaluated for an IEP, even if they are in a private school. There is no reason to wait until you enroll.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you both so much. I had no idea that there was something besides an IEP, so I will read up on the 504 and try to avoid it.

She is hyperactive ADHD. Super smart, no motivation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We may need to pull our DD out of her private school next week. We are zoned for Silver Creek. How do I go about enrolling her and getting an IEP in place pretty quickly? We have neuropsych testing but do not have an IEP, given that we are coming from a private that offers no accommodations beyond extra time. If anyone could be kind enough to give me names of people to talk to and particular accommodations that the school is able to deliver, I would be very appreciative. She's a smart kid, but personalities and expectations at her current school have caused huge problems.

OP what accommodations are you looking for? Is your child below grade level? IME, kids with ADHD generally have 504 plans if they are at grade level. It will be challenging to get an IEP. You may want to post on the special needs board to get more advice.

[Anonymous]

OP resource for you: https://www.additudemag.com/iep-step-5-evaluate-your-options/

[Anonymous]

OP here. I have a super smart kid with no executive function skills and no motivation whatsoever. She needs to be able to access any handouts/assignments/info online (or have them emailed to her) and have a daily list of assignments. Notes would be helpful, but not essential. Frequent breaks and organizational help were in the neuropsych recommendations.

Is the ability to turn in assignments late without penalty a thing? That would also help her. And save my sanity.

[Anonymous]

How old is the neuropsych? How much information do you have from current school? Can you reliably show current levels of ability? Do you have Evals directly from the current teachers?

[Anonymous]

Here’s the staff directory. https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/silvercreekms/staff/directory/

Email the 8th grade counselor and the special ed resource teacher and explain the situation.

I have a kid with ADHD at Silver Creek. He has a 504 plan, which includes several of the accommodations listed above as well as extended time on assignments, which allows him to turn in work late but it’s not open-ended (gets 1.5x, so for example, if other kids get 2 days for an assignment, he gets 3 days).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I have a super smart kid with no executive function skills and no motivation whatsoever. She needs to be able to access any handouts/assignments/info online (or have them emailed to her) and have a daily list of assignments. Notes would be helpful, but not essential. Frequent breaks and organizational help were in the neuropsych recommendations.

Is the ability to turn in assignments late without penalty a thing? That would also help her. And save my sanity.

Everything in your first paragraph is in our 504. Some teachers let students who get extended time turn in assignments late. But honestly there is not much penalty at SCMS for turning in assignments late. I think it would be more of an issue in HS. Regardless, I would request that accommodation in a 504 meeting.

From what you are saying, I think you need a 504 and not an IEP because you need accommodations in the class and not services. I would reach out to the 8th grade counselor for that. Also for next year if you are staying in public, you will need to enroll now in classes for B-CC. The counselor can help you with that.

Here is the SCMS counseling website: https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/scmsmcpscounseling/school-counseling-team

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I have a super smart kid with no executive function skills and no motivation whatsoever. She needs to be able to access any handouts/assignments/info online (or have them emailed to her) and have a daily list of assignments. Notes would be helpful, but not essential. Frequent breaks and organizational help were in the neuropsych recommendations.

Is the ability to turn in assignments late without penalty a thing? That would also help her. And save my sanity.

You won't get those things with a 504 and they won't give you an iep if your child is smart.
Fight to stay at private. Thank me later.

[Anonymous]

Contact Ryan Celestino (RTSE) - [e-mail]
He's the head of special ed at SCMS and couldn't be nicer.

[Anonymous]

You can also look on the Special Needs board for advocates. Many will do a free consult and can give you information about the IEP process and help you get started.