Refusing to allow SN child on field trip bus

[Anonymous]

Op here- I’m not calm. I just know that my communication has to be clear so I am trying to gather information. The information and links that have been shared here are so helpful.

In addition, just hearing/reading the support makes me feel less crazy!

To the pp above, she’s in a program and needs busing. SN busing is the only possibility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here- I’m not calm. I just know that my communication has to be clear so I am trying to gather information. The information and links that have been shared here are so helpful.

In addition, just hearing/reading the support makes me feel less crazy!

To the pp above, she’s in a program and needs busing. SN busing is the only possibility.

Okay, so she’s in a program located at a school other than her home school so the school system provides alternative transportation to the other school, and it’s labeled as a special needs bus because it’s taking her to the ED program but not because she has had difficulty riding the bus in the past or otherwise needs additional supports while riding the bus, is that correct?

What are the school’s behavioral concerns? And is the issue only that they want you to drive her, or is it’s also that you want her to ride the same bus as everyone else? If they could work out alternative transportation for you and your daughter at their expense that didn’t require you to drive but that wasn’t on the charter bus, would that be acceptable?

Again, not saying the school isn’t wrong here, but if they have a basis to be concerned that, for instance, your daughter might have a panic attack on the bus that forces the driver to stop mid-trip and now 50 other people are stranded indefinitely, that is a valid concern on their part. They still need to find a solution within the bounds of the law, though.

[Anonymous]

but the child has never had behavioral problems on the bus, so she is no more likely to have a panic attack than another child.

OP, I would be flaming mad. They can't even require YOU go ON THE REGULAR BUS let alone exclude her. This is complete bullshit and they know better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:but the child has never had behavioral problems on the bus, so she is no more likely to have a panic attack than another child.

OP, I would be flaming mad. They can't even require YOU go ON THE REGULAR BUS let alone exclude her. This is complete bullshit and they know better.

We don’t know the nature of the behavioral issues involved, which have to be fairly significant for her to be in an ED program. Also, the behavior doesn’t have to be tied directly to transportation. If, for instance, she tends to have panic attacks at other times and it takes a couple of hours afterward before she’s ready to rejoin a group, the school may be concerned that if she has a panic attack during the field trip, they may be stuck with 50 other people stranded at the field trip site for a couple of hours until OP’s child is ready to get on the bus. Again, this doesn’t mean the school doesn’t have to comply with the law, but since we know nothing about her behavioral issues, we have no idea if the school’s underlying concerns are well-founded or not, let alone what the proper solution is here.

[Anonymous]

I'd not go and do something fun with her that day/keep her home.

[Anonymous]

Are other students from her program going on the field trip? Is the school allowing those students to ride the charter bus?

[Anonymous]

OP needs to explain what these behavioral problems are that the school is mentioning. If your child is bitting and hitting people everyday, in the classroom, they I think it is fair to not have her ride the bus. Not saying this is your child, but we need more info on these behavioral problems

[Anonymous]

OP, As a special education teacher, I am saddened and appalled that you were told this. It is up to the school to provide the necessary accommodations so that your daughter can successfully participate in the trip with her peers. Hang I there and fight the fight! They should know better!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP needs to explain what these behavioral problems are that the school is mentioning. If your child is bitting and hitting people everyday, in the classroom, they I think it is fair to not have her ride the bus. Not saying this is your child, but we need more info on these behavioral problems

No. They can’t exclude a disabled child from a school field trip regardless of the child’s disability. They can’t require a parent attend.

[Anonymous]

No, OP does not need to tell us any more about the behavioral issues and I would suggest to her that she not share. There are a lot of judgmental parents on this board who pop in whenever there's a thread about kids with behaviors and blame everything on the child or the parents. I don't know if it makes them feel better about their own situation or what but I want to spare you their attacks.

What the school is doing is wrong no matter what the issues. They need to provide the support and accommodations necessary so that your daughter can participate along side her non-disabled peers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP needs to explain what these behavioral problems are that the school is mentioning. If your child is bitting and hitting people everyday, in the classroom, they I think it is fair to not have her ride the bus. Not saying this is your child, but we need more info on these behavioral problems

No. They can’t exclude a disabled child from a school field trip regardless of the child’s disability. They can’t require a parent attend.

They cannot exclude her from the field trip, but they can work out alternative transportation if it’s more appropriate to her behavioral issues. They cannot require that OP drive her daughter or that OP attend (unless all students have to have a parent chaperone regardless of any special needs), but they can choose to do something like provide a staffed van as alternative transportation for students they believe shouldn’t be on the main bus. It sounds like OP wouldn’t be willing to accept that, though. It’s the charter bus or nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would definitely complain. I think that’s illegal.

Sue their asses. Go to the media. I’m so tired of people thinking that this kind of thing is okay.

I’m told that in MoCo the special kids, even the ones who aren’t ‘high needs’, are left behind on field trips.
And yet if you look at the IvyMount school - one of the best special needs schools - they take ALL of the kids out on a trip at least once a week - even the highest needs /very severe kids. Field trips into the community are more important for the SN kids than the non SN kids . Your child is supposed to receive an appropriate education - don’t allow them to do this. If they need an extra aid so be it, but it’s their obligation to take your child on this trip as part of her schooling.

And why on earth are opinionated , lame parents going as chaperones??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP needs to explain what these behavioral problems are that the school is mentioning. If your child is bitting and hitting people everyday, in the classroom, they I think it is fair to not have her ride the bus. Not saying this is your child, but we need more info on these behavioral problems

No. They can’t exclude a disabled child from a school field trip regardless of the child’s disability. They can’t require a parent attend.

They do it ALL THE TIME in Montgomery County.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would definitely complain. I think that’s illegal.

Sue their asses. Go to the media. I’m so tired of people thinking that this kind of thing is okay.

I’m told that in MoCo the special kids, even the ones who aren’t ‘high needs’, are left behind on field trips.
And yet if you look at the IvyMount school - one of the best special needs schools - they take ALL of the kids out on a trip at least once a week - even the highest needs /very severe kids. Field trips into the community are more important for the SN kids than the non SN kids . Your child is supposed to receive an appropriate education - don’t allow them to do this. If they need an extra aid so be it, but it’s their obligation to take your child on this trip as part of her schooling.

And why on earth are opinionated , lame parents going as chaperones??

Who has told you that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP needs to explain what these behavioral problems are that the school is mentioning. If your child is bitting and hitting people everyday, in the classroom, they I think it is fair to not have her ride the bus. Not saying this is your child, but we need more info on these behavioral problems

No. They can’t exclude a disabled child from a school field trip regardless of the child’s disability. They can’t require a parent attend.

They cannot exclude her from the field trip, but they can work out alternative transportation if it’s more appropriate to her behavioral issues. They cannot require that OP drive her daughter or that OP attend (unless all students have to have a parent chaperone regardless of any special needs), but they can choose to do something like provide a staffed van as alternative transportation for students they believe shouldn’t be on the main bus. It sounds like OP wouldn’t be willing to accept that, though. It’s the charter bus or nothing.

Where are you hearing that the OP would not accept alternate transportation? The offer was a parent drive or nothing. That is illegal. Period.