Venting about misrepresentations by school system in IEP meetings

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My sense is that sometimes the best place for the child is in a class with typical kids, but the typical kids would be better off if that (disruptive, needy, etc) child was elsewhere. This is especially true for kids with behavioral problems. The last thing parents of those kids want is for their child to be surrounded only by other kids with (maybe more severe) behavioral problems. I don't know what the answer is.

You know, for MoCo, placing an SN kid in a "typical" classroom is actually the cheapest alternative. Putting him in the specialized classroom costs a lot more. Least Restrictive Environment is often referred to as Least Expensive Environment. Why not observe for a day at your neighborhood school? Mo Co may be offering you a better alternative. You are assuming they are trying to cheat you.

[Anonymous]

What is the program?

Perhaps someone on here has experience there and can comment to the positive or other.

And as a pp noted, a 30 min. Bus ride (with an aide in a non-crowded bus) in MoCo is not anything out of the ordinary. DS currently has a similar ride. The ride from the local school was just 5 min., but the bus carried what seemed like 60 kids (and a single student crossing guard).

[Anonymous]

Interesting thread.
MoCo, specifically our home school, fought us tooth and nail against our DS moving to a specialized program out of his home school. After months of battling, and retaining an advocate, they finally agreed that this program (GTLD) was the best place and least restrictive environment for our son. This year his class has 13 students, as opposed to the 26 or so in his home school. We found the MoCo special ed head to be exceptional, and she seemed to really understand our situation, and our child. It was the home school that was so resistant.

I guess that if we had actually been OFFERED this option, we would've been thrilled. But we really had to fight for it. BTW, our son is thriving, and this is absolutely the best place for him.

[Anonymous]

OP, I am also a MCPS parent of a SN child. We've been in the 'system' now for 6 years. Sometimes MC staff know what's 'best', sometimes we parents know. I like a PP's suggestion: go observe a class in your home school before determining it's the best option. Ask to observe different classes on more than one occasion, on more than one day. If you can compile a case why your child would benefit from the mainstream, neighborhood school program, then you can still fight to have your child placed there.

As another poster pointed out, it is not the 'norm' for MCPS to send a child to a more restricted environment unless they really feel the home school is not an appropriate placement at all. MCPS strongly pushes LEAST RESTRICTED ENVIRONMENT, and we also faught last year to have my child placed in a slightly more restricted environment (1/2 SN, 1/2 mainstream) but MCPS denied us twice, stating that a child is always kept in his homeschool as long as they are able to bring all the supports into the homeschool. (Sounds like sometimes they are not able to do this, likely in your child's case)

I feel your frustrations. You should have received at or before your IEP meeting a booklet about safeguards and due process, where you can continue to fight for your child to be placed in their homeschool. (It's easier than the opposite, having them placed in a more restricted environment) But as another poster suggested, this is best accomplished if you hire a high profile, reputable consultant--even better an educational attorney who practices in MC and is familiar with MCPS. Again, be sure it's really what is best for your child, and not just want you want.

GL!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I am also a MCPS parent of a SN child. We've been in the 'system' now for 6 years. Sometimes MC staff know what's 'best', sometimes we parents know. I like a PP's suggestion: go observe a class in your home school before determining it's the best option. Ask to observe different classes on more than one occasion, on more than one day. If you can compile a case why your child would benefit from the mainstream, neighborhood school program, then you can still fight to have your child placed there.

As another poster pointed out, it is not the 'norm' for MCPS to send a child to a more restricted environment unless they really feel the home school is not an appropriate placement at all. MCPS strongly pushes LEAST RESTRICTED ENVIRONMENT, and we also faught last year to have my child placed in a slightly more restricted environment (1/2 SN, 1/2 mainstream) but MCPS denied us twice, stating that a child is always kept in his homeschool as long as they are able to bring all the supports into the homeschool. (Sounds like sometimes they are not able to do this, likely in your child's case)

I feel your frustrations. You should have received at or before your IEP meeting a booklet about safeguards and due process, where you can continue to fight for your child to be placed in their homeschool. (It's easier than the opposite, having them placed in a more restricted environment) But as another poster suggested, this is best accomplished if you hire a high profile, reputable consultant--even better an educational attorney who practices in MC and is familiar with MCPS. Again, be sure it's really what is best for your child, and not just want you want.

GL!

Just to add to this, I know several cases in MoCo where the homeschool promised to bring in supports, but neglected to, for a variety of reasons. That is one of the advantages of being in a special program, the supports are embedded into the classroom and curriculum. I would be wary of any promises your homeschool will make, regardless of an IEP. You will have to stay on top of the IEP, and ensure that your child is receiving all the services mandated by the IEP.