I am not sending my child to the assigned class

[Anonymous]

I got a bad feeling in general during bts night. Convinced myself I was overreacting and took my child to open house the next day. I was almost in tears leaving that day. After stewing over it ever since, I decided this morning I am going with my gut and refusing placement in this class. My child was taken out of a class she was excelling in due to class size and assigned to this one. It would be a horrible fit and I am not wasting any of our time sending her. We are in Loudoun where you can request a transfer to a school that you are not zoned for provided the school has room and you are willing to transport your child. School starts Tuesday and I am not sending my child at all- I am calling the Dept of Special Education and demanding a transfer to a different class.

I am upset that my child was removed from a class she was doing great in and moved to this one that would at best halt her progress and at worst, cause regression. She is in the ECSE program 2 days a week for mild needs and in a private preschool that we love the other three. I am not willing to waste this year keeping her in this assigned class. Can anyone whose child is in an ECSE program here in Loudoun recommend their teacher or school? I understand it will dependent on which school has openings but I have got to switch her. My gut is screaming at me not to send her and I am listening to my mother's intuition. If you have any recommendations for this process OR a school/teacher, I would really, really love to hear them. Thank you so much.

[Anonymous]

Would you share more info re the class? What was the rationale for moving your child? If the move was just based on class size, have you talked to anyone in the school admin to express your concerns?

[Anonymous]

How old is the child? Does she have an IEP? Just what is so wrong about the new class? Is the new class still part of the program your child qualifies for?

If she's in preschool, she doesn't have to be in any school. You also have her in private. County services are not boutique. They give what they are obligated to provide, and they have to balance the needs of all eligible kids. Ratios are important, and if they're over, someone's kid has to move, as long as it's to a program that meets the needs of the legally obligated services. Absent specifics about why the new class is bad, you sound a little off.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like the OP from this thread:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/408270.page

[Anonymous]

So take her out and provide your child with private services that you pay for.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like OP has decided that the ECSE class is a "bad fit" based on her mommy intuition, bts night, and the open house and not her child actually attending the class.

Good luck finding another ECSE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How old is the child? Does she have an IEP? Just what is so wrong about the new class? Is the new class still part of the program your child qualifies for?

If she's in preschool, she doesn't have to be in any school. You also have her in private. County services are not boutique. They give what they are obligated to provide, and they have to balance the needs of all eligible kids. Ratios are important, and if they're over, someone's kid has to move, as long as it's to a program that meets the needs of the legally obligated services. Absent specifics about why the new class is bad, you sound a little off.

Better take that back and give OP a belly rub before your post gets deleted for being "mean" on the SN board.

Well I have a special needs kid and was basically given the finger prior to kindergarten. He wasn't special needs "enough". Once he entered kindergarten and they had to deal with him, the on the schools were like "did you know your kid needs help?" No kidding, that's why I brought him to Child Find. OP is getting taxpayer provided services and doesn't like her kid's new teacher, even though she has the resources to pay for private, which she is doing. I'm having a hard time feeling the outrage.

[Anonymous]

OP, please calm down and actually give this classroom a chance. You have no chance without doing that. Really.

[Anonymous]

My child does have an IEP. She received it through this county earlier this year and was in an ECSE class she was thriving in to be pulled out and put in this one. I don't want to give the specific reasons as it will make the class recognizable and while I doubt the teachers read here, I don't want to risk it because it isn't about them personally. There are a handful of reasons I do not want her in this class and they are valid. I DO want her in an ECSE class now that I've seen the progress she can make, so I wouldn't be pulling her from this one if I didn't have good reasons. To the PP who suggested private services, we are willing to go that route but the county's policy is you can request transfers to schools with room through September 15 so I am going that route instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child does have an IEP. She received it through this county earlier this year and was in an ECSE class she was thriving in to be pulled out and put in this one. I don't want to give the specific reasons as it will make the class recognizable and while I doubt the teachers read here, I don't want to risk it because it isn't about them personally. There are a handful of reasons I do not want her in this class and they are valid. I DO want her in an ECSE class now that I've seen the progress she can make, so I wouldn't be pulling her from this one if I didn't have good reasons. To the PP who suggested private services, we are willing to go that route but the county's policy is you can request transfers to schools with room through September 15 so I am going that route instead.

Good luck, OP. Hope it works out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How old is the child? Does she have an IEP? Just what is so wrong about the new class? Is the new class still part of the program your child qualifies for?

If she's in preschool, she doesn't have to be in any school. You also have her in private. County services are not boutique. They give what they are obligated to provide, and they have to balance the needs of all eligible kids. Ratios are important, and if they're over, someone's kid has to move, as long as it's to a program that meets the needs of the legally obligated services. Absent specifics about why the new class is bad, you sound a little off.

Better take that back and give OP a belly rub before your post gets deleted for being "mean" on the SN board.

Well I have a special needs kid and was basically given the finger prior to kindergarten. He wasn't special needs "enough". Once he entered kindergarten and they had to deal with him, the on the schools were like "did you know your kid needs help?" No kidding, that's why I brought him to Child Find. OP is getting taxpayer provided services and doesn't like her kid's new teacher, even though she has the resources to pay for private, which she is doing. I'm having a hard time feeling the outrage.

It's not that I don't like the teacher. She is just very new to this and prior to teaching this class taught older elementary kids. The aide is not ECSE certified but has a teaching license. I did not really love the main teacher's demeanor with the kids and this was after spending an hour at open house, not minutes. She was brusque with parents at bts and not very warm with the children at open house. There are several kids with very severe disabilities in this class and watching her try to interact with them did not give me faith that she will be able to successfully juggle everyone's needs in the class. I simply do not think she has the experience to adequately service everyone in this class given how severe some of the kids' disabilities are (including physical). Perhaps that's an assumption but she did exude confidence about the situation. She could not assuage parents' concerns (and I don't mean mine- I mean other parents who voiced theirs to her). She and her aide seemed completely disconnected and disengaged and not a "team." I think my child would founder in this class and I'm not willing to risk missing the September 15th cutoff for transfer requests to give it a chance.

[Anonymous]

Did not exude *

[Anonymous]

I am in a similar boat after LCPS placed my daughter in a new school/class last month due to a full class at the school she had been attending for ECSE (she is moving into the k-5 class). I am also refusing the placement due to significant safety concerns for my daughter. You need to contact the Special Ed Supervisor for your school cluster and determine the reasons behind the change/new placement. Explain your concerns and ask if a transfer is possible - demanding one is not going to go over well. I am beyond livid at my daughters's placement (there are legitimate life and death safety concerns) but am trying to work nicely within the confines of the process. My next step will be an advocate.
I loved my daughter's ECSE class but for the same privacy concerns you state am reluctant to name the school/teacher. Also, as you don't share your dd's needs, it would be impossible for me to judge whether the class would be appropriate for your child. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am in a similar boat after LCPS placed my daughter in a new school/class last month due to a full class at the school she had been attending for ECSE (she is moving into the k-5 class). I am also refusing the placement due to significant safety concerns for my daughter. You need to contact the Special Ed Supervisor for your school cluster and determine the reasons behind the change/new placement. Explain your concerns and ask if a transfer is possible - demanding one is not going to go over well. I am beyond livid at my daughters's placement (there are legitimate life and death safety concerns) but am trying to work nicely within the confines of the process. My next step will be an advocate.
I loved my daughter's ECSE class but for the same privacy concerns you state am reluctant to name the school/teacher. Also, as you don't share your dd's needs, it would be impossible for me to judge whether the class would be appropriate for your child. Good luck.

Thanks for the advice. I am certainly going to be nice when I talk to the special education office, but firm. I have never rejected a class placement before and this will be her fourth preschool class. They aren't idle concerns. Please let me know how your situation develops. I know it can come across on this board like I'm being a drama queen but I think all parents with SN kids just want the best environment possible for their child. That's all I'm trying to achieve here. I'm just trying to be a good advocate for her needs.

[Anonymous]

OP your concerns seem legitimate but highly premature.