Is Oyster pushing out special Ed students?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok, now I see the connection between the comments at the (now deleted) end of the other Oyster thread (regarding the molesting Mr. Pena) and this one. The OP dislikes the new principal/admin. because of how they have handled special needs students. As an Oyster parent, I would really like to know more about all threes sides of the story--Oyster's admins., the special needs students/families and the truth.

Good point. It's clear someone has a vendetta against the school, and this may be a reason why. The OP seems to forget that the Pena abuse happened under the previous principal--same as the test violations-- and that 90% of the parents and teachers seem much happier with the new principal than with the old one.

Am I missing something? The sexual abuse that Mr. Pena is accused of committing and the administration allegedly trying to get rid of special eds students are two different topics. Both of them are sad and both of them need attention.

+1

You should have read some of the comments (now deleted) on the other Oyster thread. If you missed those comments, you will miss what the PP is referring to in his/her post. It's not a big deal, so please carry on.

My comments asking about Dr. Lopez were deleted.
I have nothing to do with the special education students there, but I was appalled at the power the perpetrator had been allowed.
Sorry to burst your little bubble.

*Sigh*. Those are not the deleted comments the PP was referring to...whomever you are. The deleted comments that were referenced have nothing to do with Dr. Lopez. Please move along...

Certainly interesting which posts got deleted.

What did it say?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is so very important to me that my son is at a school that fully includes special needs kids and that those kids are treated respectfully by staff and students. There is nothing more important for him to learn, imo.

I fully agree. My kid doesn't have any special needs but he is in a class with some kids with special needs, I want he learning tolerance, compassion, empathy, working in a team with different people. I don't want him seen in a classroom setting that some children are second class citizens.

[Anonymous]

THe OA principal has send a notification calling for a meeting on Thursday at 5 pm to address some of the concerns about special ed. Representatives from DCPS will be there.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like the principal is doing her best to address these serious problems that Oyster is having.

I have no doubt that she will handle them and Oyster will be fine.

- not an OA parent but I know some people involved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is likely fallout from the previous administration. Things were promised that simply can't be delivered safely or effectively in the Oyster campus. A very active parent group with support from teachers, admin, and the then head of DCPS Special Ed (whose kids go to Oyster) were promised a pilot program for dual-immersion inclusion with better training for teachers and creating a career path for SPED aides. For whatever reasons, none of it happened this year. Understandably, people have been upset and disappointed. The SPED community had been promised a lot of things over the years at Oyster.

I can't speak to the administration's motive or methods, but DCPS is opening a dedicated special needs school at River Terrace. Which is kind of odd because they closed the previous full-time SPED school Prospect Learning Center a couple of years ago.

DCPS is legally required to provide an appropriate education, but it is not to offer education at a particular school. It's possible DCPS wants to transfer high needs Oyster kids to River Terrace.

It's sad to hear that things have been disruptive for these families and for their classmates. Nothing is ever simple with DCPS and special needs.

Anyone with concerns they think are not being addressed may find it helpful to contact the independent Ombudsman for Education. They have free services and useful information.

http://sboe.dc.gov/page/what-expect-08

DCPS -- and all public school systems -- are required to provide an appropriate education in the least restrictive setting. That means that before a kid can be sent to River Terrace, it has to be shown that it was impossible for that kid to make progress in the neighborhood (or general ed) school, even with services, aids, and special instruction. DCPS "wanting" to transfer kids is not a sufficient justification.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is likely fallout from the previous administration. Things were promised that simply can't be delivered safely or effectively in the Oyster campus. A very active parent group with support from teachers, admin, and the then head of DCPS Special Ed (whose kids go to Oyster) were promised a pilot program for dual-immersion inclusion with better training for teachers and creating a career path for SPED aides. For whatever reasons, none of it happened this year. Understandably, people have been upset and disappointed. The SPED community had been promised a lot of things over the years at Oyster.

I can't speak to the administration's motive or methods, but DCPS is opening a dedicated special needs school at River Terrace. Which is kind of odd because they closed the previous full-time SPED school Prospect Learning Center a couple of years ago.

DCPS is legally required to provide an appropriate education, but it is not to offer education at a particular school. It's possible DCPS wants to transfer high needs Oyster kids to River Terrace.

It's sad to hear that things have been disruptive for these families and for their classmates. Nothing is ever simple with DCPS and special needs.

Anyone with concerns they think are not being addressed may find it helpful to contact the independent Ombudsman for Education. They have free services and useful information.

http://sboe.dc.gov/page/what-expect-08

DCPS -- and all public school systems -- are required to provide an appropriate education in the least restrictive setting. That means that before a kid can be sent to River Terrace, it has to be shown that it was impossible for that kid to make progress in the neighborhood (or general ed) school, even with services, aids, and special instruction. DCPS "wanting" to transfer kids is not a sufficient justification.

O-A is not the neighborhood school of many special ed students; in fact they ended up there precisely because the previous principal and DCPS, with little justification and inadequate planning and resources, had them transferred/ enrolled away from their neighborhood schools.

I'm not sure if DCPS is now evaluating accommodating the kids with most severe needs in their neighborhood schools or, as a previous PP noted, moving them to a new one. In any case, there is still a large group of special ed kids happily integrated with the rest. Oyster has 10% special ed kids; Janney only 6% and Eaton 7%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is so very important to me that my son is at a school that fully includes special needs kids and that those kids are treated respectfully by staff and students. There is nothing more important for him to learn, imo.

Why? I am not being snarky - I have zero problem with special needs students being included to the best degree possible. But isn't having a school which actually teaches reading/writing/math/etc well the most important thing to learn in a school? School is not there for kids' sociatal and moral development (or at least only secondarily). I'd pick a school that was not great with regard to special needs but taught my child the core disciplines well over a school that was inclusive but bad at teaching. I can take care of my kids' morals myself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is so very important to me that my son is at a school that fully includes special needs kids and that those kids are treated respectfully by staff and students. There is nothing more important for him to learn, imo.

Why? I am not being snarky - I have zero problem with special needs students being included to the best degree possible. But isn't having a school which actually teaches reading/writing/math/etc well the most important thing to learn in a school? School is not there for kids' sociatal and moral development (or at least only secondarily). I'd pick a school that was not great with regard to special needs but taught my child the core disciplines well over a school that was inclusive but bad at teaching. I can take care of my kids' morals myself.

Plus, Oyster-Adams is a bilingual and very diverse school. It is one thing to say that special ed kids are an important part of the community, and another to say they are the most important part of the community. Every kid is equally unique and precious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is so very important to me that my son is at a school that fully includes special needs kids and that those kids are treated respectfully by staff and students. There is nothing more important for him to learn, imo.

Why? I am not being snarky - I have zero problem with special needs students being included to the best degree possible. But isn't having a school which actually teaches reading/writing/math/etc well the most important thing to learn in a school? School is not there for kids' sociatal and moral development (or at least only secondarily). I'd pick a school that was not great with regard to special needs but taught my child the core disciplines well over a school that was inclusive but bad at teaching. I can take care of my kids' morals myself.

The beauty of a good inclusive school is that your child will learn both academic and socioemotional skills. There is no reason to compromise one for the other. It is hard work, it needs leadership, cooperation from families and planning, but can be done. I don't want a mediocre school for my children I want a good school, and I think OA could and should do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is so very important to me that my son is at a school that fully includes special needs kids and that those kids are treated respectfully by staff and students. There is nothing more important for him to learn, imo.

Why? I am not being snarky - I have zero problem with special needs students being included to the best degree possible. But isn't having a school which actually teaches reading/writing/math/etc well the most important thing to learn in a school? School is not there for kids' sociatal and moral development (or at least only secondarily). I'd pick a school that was not great with regard to special needs but taught my child the core disciplines well over a school that was inclusive but bad at teaching. I can take care of my kids' morals myself.

I care deeply about academics (college teacher) but academics is NOT what is key in the elementary years. Learning a love of learning and learning kindness and the social skills required to practice kindness is key, IMO. Academics is NOT my priority for several years. My brother couldn't read till 3rd grade (just couldn't) and went on to UVA law school. It was the late 70s so one was concerned - they didn't push early academics then. School was about socialization and curiosity. My brother learned those and is an exceptional human being today (and also the most successful person I know). If he was in school today, no doubt he would think he was dumb because reading wasn't clicking and come to hate school and to limit his own future possibilities. He definitely would be bringing down the schools scores.

So I want a kind school that cares about tolerance and respect first, academics second.

we are in Montessori, btw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is so very important to me that my son is at a school that fully includes special needs kids and that those kids are treated respectfully by staff and students. There is nothing more important for him to learn, imo.

Why? I am not being snarky - I have zero problem with special needs students being included to the best degree possible. But isn't having a school which actually teaches reading/writing/math/etc well the most important thing to learn in a school? School is not there for kids' sociatal and moral development (or at least only secondarily). I'd pick a school that was not great with regard to special needs but taught my child the core disciplines well over a school that was inclusive but bad at teaching. I can take care of my kids' morals myself.

I care deeply about academics (college teacher) but academics is NOT what is key in the elementary years. Learning a love of learning and learning kindness and the social skills required to practice kindness is key, IMO. Academics is NOT my priority for several years. My brother couldn't read till 3rd grade (just couldn't) and went on to UVA law school. It was the late 70s so one was concerned - they didn't push early academics then. School was about socialization and curiosity. My brother learned those and is an exceptional human being today (and also the most successful person I know). If he was in school today, no doubt he would think he was dumb because reading wasn't clicking and come to hate school and to limit his own future possibilities. He definitely would be bringing down the schools scores.

So I want a kind school that cares about tolerance and respect first, academics second.

we are in Montessori, btw.

Tolerance is about appreciating and respecting different views, correct? So, perhaps you can appreciate and respect my views -- as an O-A parent, I care about
1. My kids becoming bilingual and biliterate
2. Mastering the academic, cognitive and self-regulation skills they'll need for the rest of their lives
3. Thriving in diverse environments: socioeconomic/ geographic/ cultural backgrounds, AND different learning abilities.

What make O-A unique is the combination of those 3. If someone prefers something else, well, there are hundreds of other schools to consider, so I am not sure why some may want to impose their own views, their own priorities, on the rest of us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is so very important to me that my son is at a school that fully includes special needs kids and that those kids are treated respectfully by staff and students. There is nothing more important for him to learn, imo.

Why? I am not being snarky - I have zero problem with special needs students being included to the best degree possible. But isn't having a school which actually teaches reading/writing/math/etc well the most important thing to learn in a school? School is not there for kids' sociatal and moral development (or at least only secondarily). I'd pick a school that was not great with regard to special needs but taught my child the core disciplines well over a school that was inclusive but bad at teaching. I can take care of my kids' morals myself.

I care deeply about academics (college teacher) but academics is NOT what is key in the elementary years. Learning a love of learning and learning kindness and the social skills required to practice kindness is key, IMO. Academics is NOT my priority for several years. My brother couldn't read till 3rd grade (just couldn't) and went on to UVA law school. It was the late 70s so one was concerned - they didn't push early academics then. School was about socialization and curiosity. My brother learned those and is an exceptional human being today (and also the most successful person I know). If he was in school today, no doubt he would think he was dumb because reading wasn't clicking and come to hate school and to limit his own future possibilities. He definitely would be bringing down the schools scores.

So I want a kind school that cares about tolerance and respect first, academics second.

we are in Montessori, btw.

Tolerance is about appreciating and respecting different views, correct? So, perhaps you can appreciate and respect my views -- as an O-A parent, I care about
1. My kids becoming bilingual and biliterate
2. Mastering the academic, cognitive and self-regulation skills they'll need for the rest of their lives
3. Thriving in diverse environments: socioeconomic/ geographic/ cultural backgrounds, AND different learning abilities.

What make O-A unique is the combination of those 3. If someone prefers something else, well, there are hundreds of other schools to consider, so I am not sure why some may want to impose their own views, their own priorities, on the rest of us.

Don't see why sharing what I care about is imposing it on you? I would absolutely not send my kid to a school that couldn't be a caring place for special needs kids . I don't see how this shows a lack of tolerance on my part. I'm not making you send your kid somewhere that values kindness above academics. I'm just telling you what I care about and why I care about it. I have chosen a school that aligns with my values. It doesn't actually sound like your school aligns with your stated values (based on threads here - they do have high test scores though), but that is between you and your school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is likely fallout from the previous administration. Things were promised that simply can't be delivered safely or effectively in the Oyster campus. A very active parent group with support from teachers, admin, and the then head of DCPS Special Ed (whose kids go to Oyster) were promised a pilot program for dual-immersion inclusion with better training for teachers and creating a career path for SPED aides. For whatever reasons, none of it happened this year. Understandably, people have been upset and disappointed. The SPED community had been promised a lot of things over the years at Oyster.

I can't speak to the administration's motive or methods, but DCPS is opening a dedicated special needs school at River Terrace. Which is kind of odd because they closed the previous full-time SPED school Prospect Learning Center a couple of years ago.

DCPS is legally required to provide an appropriate education, but it is not to offer education at a particular school. It's possible DCPS wants to transfer high needs Oyster kids to River Terrace.

It's sad to hear that things have been disruptive for these families and for their classmates. Nothing is ever simple with DCPS and special needs.

Anyone with concerns they think are not being addressed may find it helpful to contact the independent Ombudsman for Education. They have free services and useful information.

http://sboe.dc.gov/page/what-expect-08

DCPS -- and all public school systems -- are required to provide an appropriate education in the least restrictive setting. That means that before a kid can be sent to River Terrace, it has to be shown that it was impossible for that kid to make progress in the neighborhood (or general ed) school, even with services, aids, and special instruction. DCPS "wanting" to transfer kids is not a sufficient justification.

O-A is not the neighborhood school of many special ed students; in fact they ended up there precisely because the previous principal and DCPS, with little justification and inadequate planning and resources, had them transferred/ enrolled away from their neighborhood schools.

I'm not sure if DCPS is now evaluating accommodating the kids with most severe needs in their neighborhood schools or, as a previous PP noted, moving them to a new one. In any case, there is still a large group of special ed kids happily integrated with the rest. Oyster has 10% special ed kids; Janney only 6% and Eaton 7%.

If those stats are true, OP should be ashamed of stirring the pot with her accusations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

O-A is not the neighborhood school of many special ed students; in fact they ended up there precisely because the previous principal and DCPS, with little justification and inadequate planning and resources, had them transferred/ enrolled away from their neighborhood schools.

I'm not sure if DCPS is now evaluating accommodating the kids with most severe needs in their neighborhood schools or, as a previous PP noted, moving them to a new one. In any case, there is still a large group of special ed kids happily integrated with the rest. Oyster has 10% special ed kids; Janney only 6% and Eaton 7%.

I really don't get why an overcrowded school would add students to the roster who won't benefit from the program at that school. I knew of a few OA parents who shifted to other schools, often Eaton, when their child couldn't master the dual language, and these weren't special ed students. What is the rationale to send a child across town to a language specialty school when the child can't and likely will never communicate in the target languages?
I remember a big outcry when Yu Ying decided some kids would follow a monolingual track, to ensure mastery of English basics, people asking what was the point of Yu Ying for those kids....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

O-A is not the neighborhood school of many special ed students; in fact they ended up there precisely because the previous principal and DCPS, with little justification and inadequate planning and resources, had them transferred/ enrolled away from their neighborhood schools.

I'm not sure if DCPS is now evaluating accommodating the kids with most severe needs in their neighborhood schools or, as a previous PP noted, moving them to a new one. In any case, there is still a large group of special ed kids happily integrated with the rest. Oyster has 10% special ed kids; Janney only 6% and Eaton 7%.

I really don't get why an overcrowded school would add students to the roster who won't benefit from the program at that school. I knew of a few OA parents who shifted to other schools, often Eaton, when their child couldn't master the dual language, and these weren't special ed students. What is the rationale to send a child across town to a language specialty school when the child can't and likely will never communicate in the target languages?
I remember a big outcry when Yu Ying decided some kids would follow a monolingual track, to ensure mastery of English basics, people asking what was the point of Yu Ying for those kids....

Good questions... Anyone?