Epic School FAIL with accommodations for struggling 4th grader

[MamaCCG]

We have had an absolutely horrendous transition to 4th grade in catholic school. It feels more like boot camp for the marine corp.

Background: 4th grade DD been struggling all year in school. Severe school anxiety, stomach aches, panic attacks. Diagnoses of SLD, ADD and anxiety. Daugher is completely shut down in Math and gets in trouble with teacher for “not trying or participating”. We have followed every suggestion from school resource dept to best support her since 3rd grade. She has a CAP plan and an IEP. We have had in therapy and private tutoring 2x a week all year.

- [ ] was receiving MCPS pull out 2 times a week for math support. Daugher dreaded the days she had to go. We soon discovered she was being pulled from all 4 of her core classes and was being penalized for missing classwork. She had failing grades in all the classes she was missing in addition to math which she was getting the support. Had meeting with school - stopped MCPS support. School never communicated any of this to us. We were told she was responsible for all of the missing classwork/homework - this too never communicated to us.

- [ ] CAP plan not updated for this year, signed by us or given to teachers.

- [ ] *daugher not getting any extra support in Math at school. Accommodations such as visuals and manipulatives for in class in and for assessments not happening.

- [ ] daughter has been sick repeatedly this year Make up work is expected to be completed submitted upon returning to school although not having learned the material. Was given 3 math tests returning to school. Failed all of them obviously. Teacher is not flexible on this despite extra time in CAP and IEP.

- [ ]We have a meeting with the administration this week to discuss the gross mishandling of just about everything this school year and impact it has had on our daughter’s mental health and education. I know that Catholic schools do not have the same resources as public schools and that a CAP/SERVICE plan is not a legal document like an IEP - but to blatantly not follow accommodations?

what kind of recourse do we have? Has anyone been through something similar? Any suggestions or advice?

Thanks for reading.

[MamaCCG]

]

[Anonymous]

Did the school know all this when she started?
My now 7th grader is at a Christian school where she started in 4th. She got diagnosed with ADHD in 6th. ( by mcps) we could have down pullout into mcps but to I felt the disruption would be more detrimental than helpful.
Ot trying to be a jerk but didn’t you think she would miss work and have to catch up? It’s disruptive to her day.
This school might not be a good fit for your kid. Doesn’t make it a bad school. Privates don’t have the same resources.
If you’re committed to this school I would stop with the pull outs. Do extra tutoring outside of school hours if need be.
MCPS said my DD is eligible for a 504 but our school calls it an accommodative plan. We all put in input to help DD be her best.

[Anonymous]

My son with adhd transitioned to Catholic school in 4th grade as well. It was an extremely tough transition because he got used to doing the absolute bare minimum in public school. In public they didn’t seem to care about spelling, punctuation, penmanship, etc. He rarely turned in work and when he did it was often late, half done, and sloppy.

So moving from that experience to be in a classroom with students who have been in Catholic school for four years (k,1,2 and 3) and are used to the routine and high expectations was challenging.

My son was absolutely amazed and horrified that absolutely everything that was assigned needed to be turned in no matter what. You are absent, you get pulled out, you don’t understand, you forgot your workbook or textbook at school- doesn’t matter you still need to do it. And you had to turn in quality work. That year was rough.

He toughed it out and stayed through 8th grade. I didn’t always agree with how they did things but I just kept reminding myself that grades don’t count at this age and it’s more important to learn study skills. In 9th grade back at public school he got straight A’s.

[Anonymous]

We gave up on mcps help. We got a lower cost online tutors for a lot of hours per week.

[MamaCCG]

She’s been tutored in Math privately for years. Her tutor actually uses multi sensory math and that’s her learning style. Since School doesn’t teach her Math, they seem to just be really good at causing unnecessary stress, we rely on her tutor and do the best we can to teach her. I don’t have any confidence in her school to support her or do the only thing they are supposed to do - provide her Learning tools and lessons to be successful.

[Anonymous]

We left Catholic school because of the rigid missed work policies. On top of dealing with a kid who was really struggling with mental health issues, it was a source of serious anxiety for both of us. DD doesn’t have LDs so I can’t speak to that. Obviously every Catholic school is different, but in general I think they have a narrow path and they try to help the kids at the edges with a CAP, but if your DC can’t stay on the path, it probably isn’t the right type of school.

[Anonymous]

MamaCCG wrote:She’s been tutored in Math privately for years. Her tutor actually uses multi sensory math and that’s her learning style. Since School doesn’t teach her Math, they seem to just be really good at causing unnecessary stress, we rely on her tutor and do the best we can to teach her. I don’t have any confidence in her school to support her or do the only thing they are supposed to do - provide her Learning tools and lessons to be successful.

I was going to suggest a tutor trained in multisensory math, but I see you have that. There is an intensive camp as ASDEC in July if that is an option.

I’m sorry, OP. It sounds like the school isn’t serving your daughter well. As painful as it is, you probably need to switch her. School is causing her pain, and it shouldn’t. But you can’t control the school, so you’ll have to control what you can control.

[Anonymous]

Private and Catholic schools aren't required to do much of anything. We've been in private schools that promised to accommodate and didn't and it's really painful. But you can't make them do it. We switched schools.

[Anonymous]

I would recommend that you meet with the Principal to discuss how the school can support your child's learning needs.
It seems like there is a major misalignment with how the day to day looks and what you think the day to day is.
Go in with a problem solving approach. What can we do to help - if you were to create the perfect plan - what would it look like?

[Anonymous]

What level of math is she doing in school?

[Anonymous]

You should consider switching schools rather than fighting with the school

[Anonymous]

Where do you live? Have you considered Siena or other schools that teach multi-sensory math?

[Anonymous]

You have virtually no recourse in a private school.