Am I naive to question if we need an educational advocate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You won’t need one as long as you’re familiar with IEP Law.

I disagree. You also need to understand assessment scores, percentiles, statistics and grade level expectations. It also helps to know what resources/programs are available.

[Anonymous]

I read all the stuff - had valid questions - knew statistics etc.

DCPS did not take me seriously until I filed a complaint and won reimbursement for unilateral parental placement.

But - I lost a lot of sleep and had high levels of stress getting there. If I could do it over, I would have had an advocate.

[Anonymous]

MCPS? Criminal. Get an advocate or simply record every meeting and take recording to an attorney - they do shady stuff - but the same shady stuff over and over. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. The vast majority of families whose kids have IEPs do not hire anyone. My son is a senior in MCPS. He had an IEP from K-11th and then a 504 for this year. We never had to fight for any service or accommodation. 3 reasons:
1. His needs are obvious, and made more so by well written neurospychological reports from the reputable psychology group Stixrud, whose psychologists know how to write in MCPS-speak.
2. We asked for entirely reasonable accommodations, never for something outlandish.
3. We carefully targeted which MCPS schools: moved inbounds for Bethesda ES at first, then requested special placement in a program in the neighboring cluster for middle and high school.

4. You just got lucky. You could have done everything right, and still not gotten what your kid needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. The vast majority of families whose kids have IEPs do not hire anyone. My son is a senior in MCPS. He had an IEP from K-11th and then a 504 for this year. We never had to fight for any service or accommodation. 3 reasons:
1. His needs are obvious, and made more so by well written neurospychological reports from the reputable psychology group Stixrud, whose psychologists know how to write in MCPS-speak.
2. We asked for entirely reasonable accommodations, never for something outlandish.
3. We carefully targeted which MCPS schools: moved inbounds for Bethesda ES at first, then requested special placement in a program in the neighboring cluster for middle and high school.
[/quote
This is real subterfuge. You basically did everything you could here to obviate hiring an advocate. Why not just come out and say the truth? Unless you do the things that PP above did you are likely to have to fight for accommodations. This is a failing district who has an equity focused leader (and has linked promotions to black and brown students success above everyone else. It is what it is but you need to enter this environment eyes wide open and you have limited time to ensure support. MCPS is a crowd who lies without consequence- judges repeatedly back up MCPS. Record EVERYTHING. Then transcribe and see how to tailor a plan for Larlo. Not going to be super fun but he’s going to get a real education from attending an MCPS high school - in how a culture really doesn’t care much. (Not so bad after likely coddling k-8)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. The vast majority of families whose kids have IEPs do not hire anyone. My son is a senior in MCPS. He had an IEP from K-11th and then a 504 for this year. We never had to fight for any service or accommodation. 3 reasons:
1. His needs are obvious, and made more so by well written neurospychological reports from the reputable psychology group Stixrud, whose psychologists know how to write in MCPS-speak.
2. We asked for entirely reasonable accommodations, never for something outlandish.
3. We carefully targeted which MCPS schools: moved inbounds for Bethesda ES at first, then requested special placement in a program in the neighboring cluster for middle and high school.

Dying laughing over here.

It's much cheaper to hire a good advocate ($3K-$10K) than to MOVE INBOUNDS FOR BETHESDA ES!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. The vast majority of families whose kids have IEPs do not hire anyone. My son is a senior in MCPS. He had an IEP from K-11th and then a 504 for this year. We never had to fight for any service or accommodation. 3 reasons:
1. His needs are obvious, and made more so by well written neurospychological reports from the reputable psychology group Stixrud, whose psychologists know how to write in MCPS-speak.
2. We asked for entirely reasonable accommodations, never for something outlandish.
3. We carefully targeted which MCPS schools: moved inbounds for Bethesda ES at first, then requested special placement in a program in the neighboring cluster for middle and high school.

Dying laughing over here.

It's much cheaper to hire a good advocate ($3K-$10K) than to MOVE INBOUNDS FOR BETHESDA ES!!!!

PP you are laughing at. Money is not exactly the issue here, PP. It was more that we wanted the right schools for our child. We did not need to hire an advocate. But we are really happy with Bethesda-area schools. It was entirely worth it. And again, coming from Silver Spring, we would never have thought of moving were it not for the research we did with this kid, who is our eldest. But we're happy our younger children also benefit from these schools, even though having no special needs, they could have been successful anywhere.

I've been on DCUM for more than 10 years and I've always noticed the vocal minority that hates MCPS and insists everyone needs an advocate. I'm sorry you had such terrible experiences with this school system, but the reality is that very few families hire advocates. My friends with kids who have IEPs or 504s never hired any and still got what their kids needed. So please don't scare people into paying for things they might not need- otherwise you sound like you're the educational advocate looking for clients!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. The vast majority of families whose kids have IEPs do not hire anyone. My son is a senior in MCPS. He had an IEP from K-11th and then a 504 for this year. We never had to fight for any service or accommodation. 3 reasons:
1. His needs are obvious, and made more so by well written neurospychological reports from the reputable psychology group Stixrud, whose psychologists know how to write in MCPS-speak.
2. We asked for entirely reasonable accommodations, never for something outlandish.
3. We carefully targeted which MCPS schools: moved inbounds for Bethesda ES at first, then requested special placement in a program in the neighboring cluster for middle and high school.

Dying laughing over here.

It's much cheaper to hire a good advocate ($3K-$10K) than to MOVE INBOUNDS FOR BETHESDA ES!!!!

PP you are laughing at. Money is not exactly the issue here, PP. It was more that we wanted the right schools for our child. We did not need to hire an advocate. But we are really happy with Bethesda-area schools. It was entirely worth it. And again, coming from Silver Spring, we would never have thought of moving were it not for the research we did with this kid, who is our eldest. But we're happy our younger children also benefit from these schools, even though having no special needs, they could have been successful anywhere.

I've been on DCUM for more than 10 years and I've always noticed the vocal minority that hates MCPS and insists everyone needs an advocate. I'm sorry you had such terrible experiences with this school system, but the reality is that very few families hire advocates. My friends with kids who have IEPs or 504s never hired any and still got what their kids needed. So please don't scare people into paying for things they might not need- otherwise you sound like you're the educational advocate looking for clients!

Your unbelievable class privilege is showing here. Money is not the issue? Not if you can afford to buy inbounds in the best schools in the county! And are your friends with kids inbound at this school as well?

Look, I'm thrilled for you that it all worked out. I don't hate MCPS. My older two kids (NT) sailed through MCPS schools without a hitch and are in HS doing great.

My youngest needed help -- and the help offered was a weak 504. To get the IEP he needed we had to hire an EC b/c we didn't know what we didn't know! Because of the EC, my kid is in a special program that I never knew existed and is thriving. I am watching one of my friend's kid struggle and fail at a Bethesda HS and the administration doing virtually nothing. The kid clearly needs an IEP, but mom doesn't want to spend the money and is trying to do it herself. The administration can be very good at stonewalling.

Again, happy for your good experience, but have the humility to see that is not the case for a lot of people.

For some of us, with more complex cases, we feel the school district would like us to quietly drop out and go private.

But I can't afford that. I could afford the $5k that got me a great IEP and into a good program.

[Anonymous]

I think you can try it without an advocate first, OP, and see if you get what you need. My daughter is just in kindergarten but my IEP experience went fine. We’ll see how the annual goes in a month or so. But I plan to go it alone until I hit a roadblock.

[Anonymous]

This is PP — also, I haven’t been super impressed with the school-based services we’re all fighting so hard to get. So I’m included to save the money I would spend on an advocate and instead spend that on private services, at least in the elementary years. I realize things might change as she gets older. But so far it’s not really worth it to me to spend $2k to “win” more hours of lackluster school-based services.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is PP — also, I haven’t been super impressed with the school-based services we’re all fighting so hard to get. So I’m included to save the money I would spend on an advocate and instead spend that on private services, at least in the elementary years. I realize things might change as she gets older. But so far it’s not really worth it to me to spend $2k to “win” more hours of lackluster school-based services.

I am one of the PP who used an EC and I agree.

The real challenges for us began in MS. Up until then our very sweet ES was very accommodating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. The vast majority of families whose kids have IEPs do not hire anyone. My son is a senior in MCPS. He had an IEP from K-11th and then a 504 for this year. We never had to fight for any service or accommodation. 3 reasons:
1. His needs are obvious, and made more so by well written neurospychological reports from the reputable psychology group Stixrud, whose psychologists know how to write in MCPS-speak.
2. We asked for entirely reasonable accommodations, never for something outlandish.
3. We carefully targeted which MCPS schools: moved inbounds for Bethesda ES at first, then requested special placement in a program in the neighboring cluster for middle and high school.

Dying laughing over here.

It's much cheaper to hire a good advocate ($3K-$10K) than to MOVE INBOUNDS FOR BETHESDA ES!!!!

PP you are laughing at. Money is not exactly the issue here, PP. It was more that we wanted the right schools for our child. We did not need to hire an advocate. But we are really happy with Bethesda-area schools. It was entirely worth it. And again, coming from Silver Spring, we would never have thought of moving were it not for the research we did with this kid, who is our eldest. But we're happy our younger children also benefit from these schools, even though having no special needs, they could have been successful anywhere.

I've been on DCUM for more than 10 years and I've always noticed the vocal minority that hates MCPS and insists everyone needs an advocate. I'm sorry you had such terrible experiences with this school system, but the reality is that very few families hire advocates. My friends with kids who have IEPs or 504s never hired any and still got what their kids needed. So please don't scare people into paying for things they might not need- otherwise you sound like you're the educational advocate looking for clients!

I’m a PP who doesn’t think everyone needs an advocate and whose two kids got great services at MCPS. And I live in Silver Spring. I think there is value for outside testing when your child is complicated. One of mine needed it and one didn’t. I don’t think you have to spend as much as Stixrud costs to get a good comprehensive evaluation. I also think that it’s important to understand what’s available and what FAPE requires so that you can ask for what you can reasonable get and know when you’re better served to use your money for outside supports. This being said, my complicated kid got far more than I knew was available because MCPS volunteered it when they got the report explaining his needs.

I’m sorry to those who haven't had great experiences. But that doesn’t negate the fact that most of us do and that MCPS does a great job with most kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What supports are you receiving at your current private that you would like to continue receiving?

NP here. You'll get better advice if you respond to this question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. The vast majority of families whose kids have IEPs do not hire anyone. My son is a senior in MCPS. He had an IEP from K-11th and then a 504 for this year. We never had to fight for any service or accommodation. 3 reasons:
1. His needs are obvious, and made more so by well written neurospychological reports from the reputable psychology group Stixrud, whose psychologists know how to write in MCPS-speak.
2. We asked for entirely reasonable accommodations, never for something outlandish.
3. We carefully targeted which MCPS schools: moved inbounds for Bethesda ES at first, then requested special placement in a program in the neighboring cluster for middle and high school.

Dying laughing over here.

It's much cheaper to hire a good advocate ($3K-$10K) than to MOVE INBOUNDS FOR BETHESDA ES!!!!

PP you are laughing at. Money is not exactly the issue here, PP. It was more that we wanted the right schools for our child. We did not need to hire an advocate. But we are really happy with Bethesda-area schools. It was entirely worth it. And again, coming from Silver Spring, we would never have thought of moving were it not for the research we did with this kid, who is our eldest. But we're happy our younger children also benefit from these schools, even though having no special needs, they could have been successful anywhere.

I've been on DCUM for more than 10 years and I've always noticed the vocal minority that hates MCPS and insists everyone needs an advocate. I'm sorry you had such terrible experiences with this school system, but the reality is that very few families hire advocates. My friends with kids who have IEPs or 504s never hired any and still got what their kids needed. So please don't scare people into paying for things they might not need- otherwise you sound like you're the educational advocate looking for clients!

I’m a PP who doesn’t think everyone needs an advocate and whose two kids got great services at MCPS. And I live in Silver Spring. I think there is value for outside testing when your child is complicated. One of mine needed it and one didn’t. I don’t think you have to spend as much as Stixrud costs to get a good comprehensive evaluation. I also think that it’s important to understand what’s available and what FAPE requires so that you can ask for what you can reasonable get and know when you’re better served to use your money for outside supports. This being said, my complicated kid got far more than I knew was available because MCPS volunteered it when they got the report explaining his needs.

I’m sorry to those who haven't had great experiences. But that doesn’t negate the fact that most of us do and that MCPS does a great job with most kids.

Is that right? Cool! I'd love to see your survey sometime. Since you know what "most" parents in the county feel, you must have done an extensive one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. The vast majority of families whose kids have IEPs do not hire anyone. My son is a senior in MCPS. He had an IEP from K-11th and then a 504 for this year. We never had to fight for any service or accommodation. 3 reasons:
1. His needs are obvious, and made more so by well written neurospychological reports from the reputable psychology group Stixrud, whose psychologists know how to write in MCPS-speak.
2. We asked for entirely reasonable accommodations, never for something outlandish.
3. We carefully targeted which MCPS schools: moved inbounds for Bethesda ES at first, then requested special placement in a program in the neighboring cluster for middle and high school.

Pray, how did you come across info on what the vast majority of families do? Care to point us to the source of the data? You sound like a county employee wanting less families to press their rights.

OP: a lot of the times having an advocate makes things easier/better. They know procedure which is very nuanced, and have the body of knowledge based on many cases they handle (what families request, how the school system responds, what are negotiables and where you need to go to next level of complaints per one of the PPs). This is why advocates get so handsomely payed - they add value for families. We've hired one for a 3 yo just entering the special ed and it was worth it. For your transition year, consider hiring one, if everything goes smoothly you don't need to re-hire next year, if not - you're prepared and have someone to fight for your child's interests.