Special Education in MCPS

[Anonymous]

I suspect DD in has a learning disability in math. She is in 2nd grade and young for her grade. We've been communicating with her teacher and working with a tutor. Her teacher and tutor have expressed concern that she's not picking up fundamental skills (e.g. place value) and she transposes numbers, which also makes place value difficult. Her tutor suggested that she may have a learning disability, but that it is still early to know and lots of kids her age transpose numbers. I'm taking her advice and won't push for testing yet, but I'd like to know what's in store if/when we decide to go that route. I understand that special education is not the curse is used to be, but I am nervous about the stigma anyway (if there is one). Growing up, special ed was the land of low expectations and behavioral problems. I want DD to love school and become confident in her abilities, not feel isolated and embarrassed about being different. Please tell me that her future is brighter than when we were kids. And if not, please share advice on navigating the system. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I suspect DD in has a learning disability in math. She is in 2nd grade and young for her grade. We've been communicating with her teacher and working with a tutor. Her teacher and tutor have expressed concern that she's not picking up fundamental skills (e.g. place value) and she transposes numbers, which also makes place value difficult. Her tutor suggested that she may have a learning disability, but that it is still early to know and lots of kids her age transpose numbers. I'm taking her advice and won't push for testing yet, but I'd like to know what's in store if/when we decide to go that route. I understand that special education is not the curse is used to be, but I am nervous about the stigma anyway (if there is one). Growing up, special ed was the land of low expectations and behavioral problems. I want DD to love school and become confident in her abilities, not feel isolated and embarrassed about being different. Please tell me that her future is brighter than when we were kids. And if not, please share advice on navigating the system. Thanks!

OP again: We are barely affording a tutor and private school is not an option, so we're committed to working within MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Try another tutor. It is possible that your child may work better with someone who can approach things differently.
Sometimes one of my children gets concept after watching 4 different videos (they all seem almost identical to me.)
Try Discover Education, online math videos ( just google and preiview first.). Try IXL.com
Another advice: tutor who is exposed to foreign countries approaches (forget MCPS way, even smartest person would be lost.) but you need someone without accent! (Consider people who got some education in Russia, China, Korea but speak English almost like native)
Some middle schooler or high schooler may be better tutor for your child (since they can relate to kid)
Try to find MATHEMATICIAN (not teacher!) who may use unusuall approaches.

[Anonymous]

I don't think special ed is the way it was. It may be 2 extra hours a week with resource teacher. It maybe extra time on assignments. For my child however, mcps really didn't provide much and we relied on extensive tutoring for my dyslexic child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think special ed is the way it was. It may be 2 extra hours a week with resource teacher. It maybe extra time on assignments. For my child however, mcps really didn't provide much and we relied on extensive tutoring for my dyslexic child.

OP here: Did the tutoring help? Was it always a struggle? My brother and I were both dyslexic in school. I gravitated to the subjects that were hard for me in an attempt to master them, while my brother favored the subjects that came easily. DD wants to be a doctor or a vet someday. I know dreams change (I wanted to join the circus when I was 7), but I'd never want DD to feel she needs to limit her dreams because math is hard for her. I want her to feel that with enough work and support, she can achieve anything. But is that true?

BTW, we love her tutor. She's a former MCPS teacher and DD loves working with her. We felt it was important to work with someone familiar with 2.0 (not a HS student, mathematician, or someone unfamiliar with the way math is taught now). DH is a gifted scientist and can't help her, either.

[Anonymous]

NP here. MCPS does what it can, but it seems to me that the classes are designated for English-learners and SEVERELY learning impaired, and my child is just struggling. Would love a tutor--how/where do I find one that specializes in learning disabilities and attention issues?

[Anonymous]

If you and your bother both had issues, I would not be surprised if something came up with your daughter. I would do private testing, then bring it to the school for extra support as a baseline to know what is going on. The sooner you get help, the better.

[Anonymous]

If you are able to document a learning disability you may be eligible for a 504 plan or an IEP. A 504 could provide accommodations during tests, modifications to assignments. An IEP would provide more structured help by a special education teacher.
If you do decide to do testing, you can get tested by the school but I recommend going private to get a more detailed and useful report as well as recommendations. FYI - private testing can be expensive and it is hard to find a good center that takes insurance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think special ed is the way it was. It may be 2 extra hours a week with resource teacher. It maybe extra time on assignments. For my child however, mcps really didn't provide much and we relied on extensive tutoring for my dyslexic child.

OP here: Did the tutoring help? Was it always a struggle? My brother and I were both dyslexic in school. I gravitated to the subjects that were hard for me in an attempt to master them, while my brother favored the subjects that came easily. DD wants to be a doctor or a vet someday. I know dreams change (I wanted to join the circus when I was 7), but I'd never want DD to feel she needs to limit her dreams because math is hard for her. I want her to feel that with enough work and support, she can achieve anything. But is that true?

BTW, we love her tutor. She's a former MCPS teacher and DD loves working with her. We felt it was important to work with someone familiar with 2.0 (not a HS student, mathematician, or someone unfamiliar with the way math is taught now). DH is a gifted scientist and can't help her, either.

New PP - You need to have someone who isn't affiliated or has been affiliated with MCPS to take a look at your daughter. From your post - you have a history of a learning disability in your family which would increase the odds of having a child with a learning disability. There are windows of opportunity that get smaller and harder to fix the older children become, so early intervention is always best.

If you need guidance on how to get a professional private evaluation, start with a discussion with your pediatrician. They could guide you to whom is reputable in your area.

MCPS is terrible at identifying disabilities and terrible at working with children with disabilities.

[Anonymous]

OP, get your kid tested. More than likely she has dyscalculia, which is incorporated in "Disorders of Written Expression" in the latest DSM. You can ask the school to test, but having BTDT, go private. Your kid needs a neuropsych evaluation.

http://www.ldonline.org/indepth/math

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here. MCPS does what it can, but it seems to me that the classes are designated for English-learners and SEVERELY learning impaired, and my child is just struggling. Would love a tutor--how/where do I find one that specializes in learning disabilities and attention issues?

Special ed classes are not designated for English learners. Is that what you mean? There's a difference between struggling/not gifted (or.. well, not very bright) and having a disability. Not every kid is super smart.

[Anonymous]

If you're talking about the dedicated classrooms/programs you're probably right that they are usually for children who have greater needs. However many children receive special ed services in the general education setting and sometimes many of those children have mild issues and those services can be as infrequent as a few times a month. There are also lots of students who receive no special ed services but get accommodations due to LDs and those children are mainstreamed as well. You probably wouldn't be able to pick out those kids from ones who don't have LDs even if you tried very hard. It could be a little extra time on tests or preferential seating.

Anonymous wrote:NP here. MCPS does what it can, but it seems to me that the classes are designated for English-learners and SEVERELY learning impaired, and my child is just struggling. Would love a tutor--how/where do I find one that specializes in learning disabilities and attention issues?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here. MCPS does what it can, but it seems to me that the classes are designated for English-learners and SEVERELY learning impaired, and my child is just struggling. Would love a tutor--how/where do I find one that specializes in learning disabilities and attention issues?

I can second this observation. DS is in SpEd, pull out for math, reading and english. His class consists of ESOL students and those students functioning at a much lower level. Add to that, Common Core and its a disaster. He has an IEP, has been in SpEd since 1st grade. We are now looking at private school options.

[Anonymous]

You should maybe ask your question in the Kids With Special Needs forum. Given the history of dyslexia I would pursue some testing if I were you. How is her reading? Just math is the problem? Given what you describe she wouldn't end up in "Special Ed" she would end up with an IEP.

I help out a lot in my son's first grade class and I don't see many kids transposing numbers, but I have no idea how common that is.

[Anonymous]

I would start jumping through the hoops now for the testing. It will take a LONG time for MCPS to finally come to the conclusion that your child needs testing. It isn't going to happen right away. If you start the process now, maybe in about 6 months to a year, MCPS will test if certain conditions are met. I wouldn't worry about any stigma. If your child needs help, she needs help. There is nothing wrong with accurately diagnosing a disability and getting the help you need. To not figure out that your kid has a disability because you are worried about a nonexistent stigma would be a travesty of the worst kind.