IEP at Lafayette/other DCPS
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Anonymous
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I'm going to out myself here for everyone who knows me, but here goes: my child has dyslexia, ADHD, and mild autism. She needs specialized instruction in reading, perhaps small group instruction in math, and support in social skills/pragmatic language and organization. We are considering going to our neighborhood DCPS next year, when our child will be in mid-elementary. I am concerned about the quality of services as well as quantity -- I am both concerned that she won't get enough services and also that she will get too many services so that she will feel "different." We are just starting the IEP process, so don't know yet what will be offered.
Can anyone who knows specifically about Lafayette talk about the quality of services? And for anyone whose child has similarly needed support across more than one subject area, can you talk about how your child feels about it? |
Anonymous
| Where are you now? Have you contacted the school or private and religious school office to see what they can offer? |
Anonymous
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I think the quality of the services at Lafayette are fine. They have good providers and good teachers.
Depending on the details of what your child needs, it may or may not be appropriate. In my experience, it's not really appropriate for children who need near full-time special ed. It seems better for kids who just need some support in a general ed setting. |
Anonymous
| Our child suffered thru 3 horrible years in Lafayette, despite his IEP. The only decent special ed teacher left and or experience with the recent teachers was beyond terrible. The IEP would be great if they followed it but it is just words. They use old program despite new programs being rated much more effective because DCPS is too cheap to train the teachers on the newer better programs. Our child made no progress in her final year and a half-ZERO, in fact she lost some ground. The gap between her and her same age peers continued to widen. Lafayette sped teachers just follow the lousy DCPS protocol and kick the can down the road. The teachers are robots who don't want to rock the boat for fear of transfer to a less desirable school/neighborhood. All The good special ed teachers leave because they have a conscious and can't keep putting these kids thru the motions when they all know these kids have little chance of improving using antiquated programs. That god our DS was accepted at a private with adequate services. |
Anonymous
| Um, DCPS can't just arbitrarily move a teacher to a different school. |
Anonymous
| PP above -- did you private school with adequate services you were accepted to get funded by DCPS if the home school was failing your child? |
Anonymous
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OP, did you know DC is voting on special education services tomorrow? I just posted something to the regular DC forum, check it out here. Maybe you can support this?
http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/416237.page |
Anonymous
| Also OP, I know that the new Lafayette Principal is a former Special Ed teacher. Might be worth talking to Dr. Broquard about what she thinks the school can offer. |
Anonymous
Watch the movie Waiting for Superman. It profiles DCPS and how DC schools move teachers from school to school because they are trouble makers or don't follow protocol. The practice of moving teachers from school to school actually has a name, it's called "the chicken dance". It is almost impossible to fire teachers in DCPS. They don't fire, they relocate. |
Anonymous
Yes. I was aware and I am a huge supporter of Catania, who is the only hope for special needs kids. I hope this passes! |
Anonymous
We were at Lafayette while Ms. Main was the principal. She, too started her career in special ed, so we thought she'd want to do a decent job making sure special ed students received FAPE, the free and appropriate education they were entitled to by law. Let's just say she was no help. Our child was nothing but collateral damage to Ms. Main. After trusting DCPS & letting our child linger without progress at Lafayette for 3 years, we moved on to a special ed school where Our child is FINALLY making a tremendous amount of progress. We are paying ourselves, for now and it is pricey but worth every penny. We were fools for staying in DCPS for so long and I personally feel a ton if guilt for letting our child lose those critical years. |
Anonymous
Pp here- Our child was accepted at a private school even though he was more than two years behind, thanks to the lousy services at Lafayette. We got very lucky to gain admission- Initially, he was wait listed. After 3 horrid years at Lafayette, we were not even sure he could learn. Now, we are floored by how fast He is catching up with the proper programs, trained teachers and small classes. His new school totally understand his strengths and weaknesses and has a variety of teaching methods which he responds to. He is a bright kid but simply learns differently. No, DC does not fund him. We've heard too many horror stories about due process hearings. Several friends have spent away too much $$$ on lawyers, expert witnesses and costly lawsuits with no luck. If new laws are passed (thanks to Councilman Catania) things may change and we may reconsider. For now, it looks the the Deck is stacked against parents. |
Anonymous
PP, would you feel comfortable sharing the private school at which your son has flourished. It seems as though they provided the support he needed. |
Anonymous
| New poster here: Yes, PLEASE tell us what school works for your elementary school child. I am agonizing--my DD has so many friends where she is, but learning she is NOT. |
Anonymous
Waiting for Superman is 5 years old. I have seen it. I also know things are different now. I am a dcps teacher and I have seen colleagues get fired for getting not effective ratings twice in a row. |