Tell me about COSA

[Anonymous]

COSAs are not easy to get approved. You have to show unique hardship. My kid has a 504 medical plan and I made a request based on that. I had doctors letters, evaluations from MCPS officials etc. it was still denied.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately, being under capacity does not lead to smaller classes or more available staffing.

Your best bet is to drop the 504 request and go directly for an IEP. An IEP is the only way to increase staffing formulas. Write to the principal request edging an IEP meeting. By law, they have (I think) 30 days to schedule the meetings.

I would suggest an advocate to help you, but if she already has a diagnosed disability that should help.

This is good advice, but I was struck by the part where the OP is upset that the school didn't reach out after she withdrew her child. That's correct, a public school is going to focus on the children who are enrolled, not the children who are not enrolled.

Also good advice are the folks talking about how a COSA is probably not going to help here. Staffing levels follow the number of kids in a school, so a school with more kids is going to have more staff. Just becuase a school is under-enrolled does not necessarily mean their team will have more time for OP's child, becuase there will by definition be fewer of them.

Basically, OP, if you want a specialized placement you are going to need to work the system to get it. That means an IEP and all of the hassles that go along with it. I get the impression that you don't think your child needs that level of intervention, but that's the only way you are going to have legally protected accommodations.

It takes a lot of documentation to get an IEP in place. A 504 is just a plan, usually medical to help kids (i.e. food allergy).

OP needed to submit an evaluation that shows education impact with a clear diagnosis. SPD is an OT term/diagnosis, not a clinical diagnosis. Anxiety would be the diagnosis. However, they aren't going to give a lot of supports for that as the child would need therapy and possibly medication and they have kids with far greater needs (our child got neglected for kids with greater needs).

No school cares if you withdraw or is going to chase you. They have too many other kids to worry about.

The only way to get an IEP for this kind of stuff is a really good detailed evaluation and diagnosis and hire an attorney/advocate. By the time you do all that, it might be better to get private therapy to work on it as getting an IEP/advocate takes months to years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately, being under capacity does not lead to smaller classes or more available staffing.

Your best bet is to drop the 504 request and go directly for an IEP. An IEP is the only way to increase staffing formulas. Write to the principal request edging an IEP meeting. By law, they have (I think) 30 days to schedule the meetings.

I would suggest an advocate to help you, but if she already has a diagnosed disability that should help.

This is good advice, but I was struck by the part where the OP is upset that the school didn't reach out after she withdrew her child. That's correct, a public school is going to focus on the children who are enrolled, not the children who are not enrolled.

Also good advice are the folks talking about how a COSA is probably not going to help here. Staffing levels follow the number of kids in a school, so a school with more kids is going to have more staff. Just becuase a school is under-enrolled does not necessarily mean their team will have more time for OP's child, becuase there will by definition be fewer of them.

Basically, OP, if you want a specialized placement you are going to need to work the system to get it. That means an IEP and all of the hassles that go along with it. I get the impression that you don't think your child needs that level of intervention, but that's the only way you are going to have legally protected accommodations.

Curious what the OP told the school when she unenrolled her kid because usually you have to tell the school which school the child is going to next so they can send their cumulative records. You can't just unenroll and then say you're going to Cosa somewhere else you have to actually be enrolled in a school to do a cosa

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately, being under capacity does not lead to smaller classes or more available staffing.

Your best bet is to drop the 504 request and go directly for an IEP. An IEP is the only way to increase staffing formulas. Write to the principal request edging an IEP meeting. By law, they have (I think) 30 days to schedule the meetings.

I would suggest an advocate to help you, but if she already has a diagnosed disability that should help.

This is good advice, but I was struck by the part where the OP is upset that the school didn't reach out after she withdrew her child. That's correct, a public school is going to focus on the children who are enrolled, not the children who are not enrolled.

Also good advice are the folks talking about how a COSA is probably not going to help here. Staffing levels follow the number of kids in a school, so a school with more kids is going to have more staff. Just becuase a school is under-enrolled does not necessarily mean their team will have more time for OP's child, becuase there will by definition be fewer of them.

Basically, OP, if you want a specialized placement you are going to need to work the system to get it. That means an IEP and all of the hassles that go along with it. I get the impression that you don't think your child needs that level of intervention, but that's the only way you are going to have legally protected accommodations.

Curious what the OP told the school when she unenrolled her kid because usually you have to tell the school which school the child is going to next so they can send their cumulative records. You can't just unenroll and then say you're going to Cosa somewhere else you have to actually be enrolled in a school to do a cosa

Unclear if she unenrolled or is taking a “break”.

But, I think because it’s a 5yo kindergartner, they could just go with “going to try again next year”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately, being under capacity does not lead to smaller classes or more available staffing.

Your best bet is to drop the 504 request and go directly for an IEP. An IEP is the only way to increase staffing formulas. Write to the principal request edging an IEP meeting. By law, they have (I think) 30 days to schedule the meetings.

I would suggest an advocate to help you, but if she already has a diagnosed disability that should help.

This is good advice, but I was struck by the part where the OP is upset that the school didn't reach out after she withdrew her child. That's correct, a public school is going to focus on the children who are enrolled, not the children who are not enrolled.

Also good advice are the folks talking about how a COSA is probably not going to help here. Staffing levels follow the number of kids in a school, so a school with more kids is going to have more staff. Just becuase a school is under-enrolled does not necessarily mean their team will have more time for OP's child, becuase there will by definition be fewer of them.

Basically, OP, if you want a specialized placement you are going to need to work the system to get it. That means an IEP and all of the hassles that go along with it. I get the impression that you don't think your child needs that level of intervention, but that's the only way you are going to have legally protected accommodations.

Curious what the OP told the school when she unenrolled her kid because usually you have to tell the school which school the child is going to next so they can send their cumulative records. You can't just unenroll and then say you're going to Cosa somewhere else you have to actually be enrolled in a school to do a cosa

Unclear if she unenrolled or is taking a “break”.

But, I think because it’s a 5yo kindergartner, they could just go with “going to try again next year”.

It sounds like child is in private. And, I know a child who did cost to another MCPS school but there was severe bullying involved.

I highly doubt this poster is going to get a robust IEP at any school based off sensory issues when SPD is an OT term and not clinical diagnosis.

[Anonymous]

It's not true that SPD isn't a clinical diagnosis. OP, you should pursue an IEP, it is the best route. Ignore the naysayers on here about SPD, they clearly don't have a child affected by it and so they don't know what they're talking about.

[Anonymous]

Psychologist here- sensory processing disorder was specifically excluded from the DSM because it does not have unique nosology- symptoms overlap with asd, sdjd, anxiety, etc. May be helpful to get a thorough testing to figure out what the underlying diagnosis is. If it is anxiety we generally do not recommend avoidance or any accommodations that include avoidance of the anxiety provoking situation. I would assume there may be something beyond anxiety or if it's just anxiety that it would be beneficial to find a psychologist that practices cbt

[Anonymous]

A 504 is just a plan, usually medical to help kids (i.e. food allergy).

This is not true. 504s are quite common for kids with anxiety, ADHD and other conditions. OP hasn’t offered enough information for anyone to help. But there are a ton of accommodations offered for “non medical conditions. “

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

A 504 is just a plan, usually medical to help kids (i.e. food allergy).

This is not true. 504s are quite common for kids with anxiety, ADHD and other conditions. OP hasn’t offered enough information for anyone to help. But there are a ton of accommodations offered for “non medical conditions. “

You need a medial diagnosis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Psychologist here- sensory processing disorder was specifically excluded from the DSM because it does not have unique nosology- symptoms overlap with asd, sdjd, anxiety, etc. May be helpful to get a thorough testing to figure out what the underlying diagnosis is. If it is anxiety we generally do not recommend avoidance or any accommodations that include avoidance of the anxiety provoking situation. I would assume there may be something beyond anxiety or if it's just anxiety that it would be beneficial to find a psychologist that practices cbt

OP, you need a neurodevelopmental pediatrician, not a psychologist. SPD (quite understandably) can cause anxiety, not the other way around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

A 504 is just a plan, usually medical to help kids (i.e. food allergy).

This is not true. 504s are quite common for kids with anxiety, ADHD and other conditions. OP hasn’t offered enough information for anyone to help. But there are a ton of accommodations offered for “non medical conditions. “

You need a medial diagnosis.

As you do for an IEP. Point is that 504 is an option and depending on the needs can be incredibly beneficial.

[Anonymous]

I think everyone is in agreement that a COSA would not work in your situation. If you have questions about how to proceed with a 504/IEP, I highly recommend the Special Needs board. There are so many helpful people who have been through similar situations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Psychologist here- sensory processing disorder was specifically excluded from the DSM because it does not have unique nosology- symptoms overlap with asd, sdjd, anxiety, etc. May be helpful to get a thorough testing to figure out what the underlying diagnosis is. If it is anxiety we generally do not recommend avoidance or any accommodations that include avoidance of the anxiety provoking situation. I would assume there may be something beyond anxiety or if it's just anxiety that it would be beneficial to find a psychologist that practices cbt

OP, you need a neurodevelopmental pediatrician, not a psychologist. SPD (quite understandably) can cause anxiety, not the other way around.

A developmental ped can diagnosis anxiety, but SPD is not in the DSM. This child needs a full evaluation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Long story short: My Kindergartner has sensory processing disorder which manifests as anxiety. We tried to get a 504 for minor accommodations but it is a fight and taking a long time - even if the 504 came through the school wasn’t sure how to implement with current staffing challenges, over crowding and COVID restrictions. After talking to our (private) child psychologist, we pulled DD out of school as she was at a breaking point. No follow up from ES or responses to previous emails, phone calls or requests for meetings.

We can’t afford private school for the duration of ES. Kid can’t go back to home school.

I’d like to COSA to one of the 3 ES that are within 2 miles of our house that are under capacity (current ES is 200 kids over capacity). In hopes that with less kids, they could accommodate. What’s our chances? Do I need an advocate? An attorney? Or just pack up and move?

Note: We are up county. Not in DCC.

Near impossible to achieve unless your request coincides with how they want to engineer the demographic make-up of that school.