What is going on with the Office of Special Education?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was there an announcement for the new Acting Associate Superintendent? This is the second Acting Associate Superintendent in two years and Ty get new Acting Superintendent was the Resolution and Compliance Director hired by MCPS last October. So who is now the Director for Resolution and Compliance?

And what about all the vacancies for Special Education Teachers and Para Educators at the school level? Did MCPS just give up on finding employees for those positions as well?

McKnight brought in an enforcer. A lawyer with lots of litigation experience and zero experience in special education.

Does this mean MCPS will actually start following the law or is it a signal that they intend to play hardball and force parents to lawyer up to get anything.

We have had success over the years writing letters to the associate superintendent for special ed and getting immediate corrections.

Who is the enforcer?

That is just one PP's take. And it is false to allege "zero experience in special education" when in fact she was a special educator herself, then later became a lawyer.

Here is the staff directory page with contact info:

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/directory/directory_Boxoffice.aspx?processlevel=34511

She does say she's a former spec ed teacher, but she's been a litigator for the past 13 years, right? Divorce attorney and defending Baltimore County and PGCPS from parents?

Do you think that's in the best interests of sp ed kids? Yikes.

You clearly have an agenda and aren’t going to see anything beyond MCPS does nothing. But bottom line, standard isn’t best interests of special Ed kids. Standard is what is a kid entitled to under the law and the answer is NOT everything the parent asks for.

So the answer isn't to hire more special ed resources, but to spend it on bocce ball and defeat parents in court seeking help for their children???

YOU ARE PURE EVIL.

No actually I support giving people what they are entitled to receive. But I have no qualms in saying limit it to what they are entitled to receive. If you want more, use your health insurance or whatever money you have to get it.

Bocce made it possible for many disabled children to participate in PE. Why are you against spending money to help disabled students?

Maybe because MCPS is spent federal covid grant money on bocce ball and pulled legal defense money from the county (11m?) THE SAME YEAR it had a huge number of open Department of Education OCR cases for failures (such as to provide basic special education services)?

It's shameful. Absolutely shameful. There is no defense for this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was there an announcement for the new Acting Associate Superintendent? This is the second Acting Associate Superintendent in two years and Ty get new Acting Superintendent was the Resolution and Compliance Director hired by MCPS last October. So who is now the Director for Resolution and Compliance?

And what about all the vacancies for Special Education Teachers and Para Educators at the school level? Did MCPS just give up on finding employees for those positions as well?

McKnight brought in an enforcer. A lawyer with lots of litigation experience and zero experience in special education.

Does this mean MCPS will actually start following the law or is it a signal that they intend to play hardball and force parents to lawyer up to get anything.

We have had success over the years writing letters to the associate superintendent for special ed and getting immediate corrections.

Who is the enforcer?

That is just one PP's take. And it is false to allege "zero experience in special education" when in fact she was a special educator herself, then later became a lawyer.

Here is the staff directory page with contact info:

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/directory/directory_Boxoffice.aspx?processlevel=34511

She does say she's a former spec ed teacher, but she's been a litigator for the past 13 years, right? Divorce attorney and defending Baltimore County and PGCPS from parents?

Do you think that's in the best interests of sp ed kids? Yikes.

You clearly have an agenda and aren’t going to see anything beyond MCPS does nothing. But bottom line, standard isn’t best interests of special Ed kids. Standard is what is a kid entitled to under the law and the answer is NOT everything the parent asks for.

So the answer isn't to hire more special ed resources, but to spend it on bocce ball and defeat parents in court seeking help for their children???

YOU ARE PURE EVIL.

No actually I support giving people what they are entitled to receive. But I have no qualms in saying limit it to what they are entitled to receive. If you want more, use your health insurance or whatever money you have to get it.

Bocce made it possible for many disabled children to participate in PE. Why are you against spending money to help disabled students?

Didn’t Bocce ball get paid for out of the COVID relief fund, not the Special Ed budget?

+1

I’m not against spending money to help disabled students. If they need Bocce, I want them to have it. I’d be happy to allocate Bocce funding and additional funding on top of that. I just think it should come out of the MCPS budget and not use funds earmarked for COVID relief for expenses that are unrelated to COVID.

The same could be said for the Kid’s Museum that MCPS gave $2 million dollars to. A no bid contract which is run by a Board Member’s wife. However, the addition of Bocce Ball was an attempt to have a sport that students with disabilities would have an opportunity to participate in like the opportunities their non-disabled peers have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was there an announcement for the new Acting Associate Superintendent? This is the second Acting Associate Superintendent in two years and Ty get new Acting Superintendent was the Resolution and Compliance Director hired by MCPS last October. So who is now the Director for Resolution and Compliance?

And what about all the vacancies for Special Education Teachers and Para Educators at the school level? Did MCPS just give up on finding employees for those positions as well?

McKnight brought in an enforcer. A lawyer with lots of litigation experience and zero experience in special education.

Does this mean MCPS will actually start following the law or is it a signal that they intend to play hardball and force parents to lawyer up to get anything.

We have had success over the years writing letters to the associate superintendent for special ed and getting immediate corrections.

Who is the enforcer?

That is just one PP's take. And it is false to allege "zero experience in special education" when in fact she was a special educator herself, then later became a lawyer.

Here is the staff directory page with contact info:

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/directory/directory_Boxoffice.aspx?processlevel=34511

She does say she's a former spec ed teacher, but she's been a litigator for the past 13 years, right? Divorce attorney and defending Baltimore County and PGCPS from parents?

Do you think that's in the best interests of sp ed kids? Yikes.

You clearly have an agenda and aren’t going to see anything beyond MCPS does nothing. But bottom line, standard isn’t best interests of special Ed kids. Standard is what is a kid entitled to under the law and the answer is NOT everything the parent asks for.

So the answer isn't to hire more special ed resources, but to spend it on bocce ball and defeat parents in court seeking help for their children???

YOU ARE PURE EVIL.

No actually I support giving people what they are entitled to receive. But I have no qualms in saying limit it to what they are entitled to receive. If you want more, use your health insurance or whatever money you have to get it.

Bocce made it possible for many disabled children to participate in PE. Why are you against spending money to help disabled students?

Didn’t Bocce ball get paid for out of the COVID relief fund, not the Special Ed budget?

+1

I’m not against spending money to help disabled students. If they need Bocce, I want them to have it. I’d be happy to allocate Bocce funding and additional funding on top of that. I just think it should come out of the MCPS budget and not use funds earmarked for COVID relief for expenses that are unrelated to COVID.

Bocce balls cost $40 or $50. You can order them from Amazon. MCPS uses PVC tubes and traffic cones in the gym to play. BTW - all this was in place for HS BEFORE receiving $1M covid grant.

Go read the ESSER III covid grant and look at all the goodies that MCPS asked for. Then ask yourself where all the money went. Ex. See any bocce ball courts at your local MS lately? And even if they were built, you think the school year bocce ball tournaments will be held outdoors, do you? No, they're held indoors.

Playing bocce ball in the school gym is about 40x(50x2 + 100). Round it up to 10K to give out nice trophies. In my opinion, this was a total slush fund and if this money was spent, I hope someone saved all the receipts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was there an announcement for the new Acting Associate Superintendent? This is the second Acting Associate Superintendent in two years and Ty get new Acting Superintendent was the Resolution and Compliance Director hired by MCPS last October. So who is now the Director for Resolution and Compliance?

And what about all the vacancies for Special Education Teachers and Para Educators at the school level? Did MCPS just give up on finding employees for those positions as well?

McKnight brought in an enforcer. A lawyer with lots of litigation experience and zero experience in special education.

Does this mean MCPS will actually start following the law or is it a signal that they intend to play hardball and force parents to lawyer up to get anything.

We have had success over the years writing letters to the associate superintendent for special ed and getting immediate corrections.

Who is the enforcer?

That is just one PP's take. And it is false to allege "zero experience in special education" when in fact she was a special educator herself, then later became a lawyer.

Here is the staff directory page with contact info:

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/directory/directory_Boxoffice.aspx?processlevel=34511

She does say she's a former spec ed teacher, but she's been a litigator for the past 13 years, right? Divorce attorney and defending Baltimore County and PGCPS from parents?

Do you think that's in the best interests of sp ed kids? Yikes.

You clearly have an agenda and aren’t going to see anything beyond MCPS does nothing. But bottom line, standard isn’t best interests of special Ed kids. Standard is what is a kid entitled to under the law and the answer is NOT everything the parent asks for.

So the answer isn't to hire more special ed resources, but to spend it on bocce ball and defeat parents in court seeking help for their children???

YOU ARE PURE EVIL.

No actually I support giving people what they are entitled to receive. But I have no qualms in saying limit it to what they are entitled to receive. If you want more, use your health insurance or whatever money you have to get it.

Bocce made it possible for many disabled children to participate in PE. Why are you against spending money to help disabled students?

Didn’t Bocce ball get paid for out of the COVID relief fund, not the Special Ed budget?

+1

I’m not against spending money to help disabled students. If they need Bocce, I want them to have it. I’d be happy to allocate Bocce funding and additional funding on top of that. I just think it should come out of the MCPS budget and not use funds earmarked for COVID relief for expenses that are unrelated to COVID.

The same could be said for the Kid’s Museum that MCPS gave $2 million dollars to. A no bid contract which is run by a Board Member’s wife. However, the addition of Bocce Ball was an attempt to have a sport that students with disabilities would have an opportunity to participate in like the opportunities their non-disabled peers have.

I think it was 4+2? Covid ESSER III asked for 4m. Then this year there was a 2.something request.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was there an announcement for the new Acting Associate Superintendent? This is the second Acting Associate Superintendent in two years and Ty get new Acting Superintendent was the Resolution and Compliance Director hired by MCPS last October. So who is now the Director for Resolution and Compliance?

And what about all the vacancies for Special Education Teachers and Para Educators at the school level? Did MCPS just give up on finding employees for those positions as well?

McKnight brought in an enforcer. A lawyer with lots of litigation experience and zero experience in special education.

Does this mean MCPS will actually start following the law or is it a signal that they intend to play hardball and force parents to lawyer up to get anything.

We have had success over the years writing letters to the associate superintendent for special ed and getting immediate corrections.

Who is the enforcer?

That is just one PP's take. And it is false to allege "zero experience in special education" when in fact she was a special educator herself, then later became a lawyer.

Here is the staff directory page with contact info:

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/directory/directory_Boxoffice.aspx?processlevel=34511

She does say she's a former spec ed teacher, but she's been a litigator for the past 13 years, right? Divorce attorney and defending Baltimore County and PGCPS from parents?

Do you think that's in the best interests of sp ed kids? Yikes.

You clearly have an agenda and aren’t going to see anything beyond MCPS does nothing. But bottom line, standard isn’t best interests of special Ed kids. Standard is what is a kid entitled to under the law and the answer is NOT everything the parent asks for.

So the answer isn't to hire more special ed resources, but to spend it on bocce ball and defeat parents in court seeking help for their children???

YOU ARE PURE EVIL.

No actually I support giving people what they are entitled to receive. But I have no qualms in saying limit it to what they are entitled to receive. If you want more, use your health insurance or whatever money you have to get it.

Bocce made it possible for many disabled children to participate in PE. Why are you against spending money to help disabled students?

Didn’t Bocce ball get paid for out of the COVID relief fund, not the Special Ed budget?

+1

I’m not against spending money to help disabled students. If they need Bocce, I want them to have it. I’d be happy to allocate Bocce funding and additional funding on top of that. I just think it should come out of the MCPS budget and not use funds earmarked for COVID relief for expenses that are unrelated to COVID.

The same could be said for the Kid’s Museum that MCPS gave $2 million dollars to. A no bid contract which is run by a Board Member’s wife. However, the addition of Bocce Ball was an attempt to have a sport that students with disabilities would have an opportunity to participate in like the opportunities their non-disabled peers have.

pp here - I have said the same thing about the Kid’s Museum. I’m not sure it was a good allocation of funds, but if it was, we should have taken it out of the operating budget. Whatever the expense, if it’s worth funding, then let MCPS fund it. They may have to prioritize and make some choices, but if Bocce and The Kid’s Museum are the biggest priorities, by all means move them to the top of the list. However, emergency funds designated to address an emergency, in this case COVID, shouldn’t be used for unrelated expenses. Worthy though Bocce and the Kid’s Museum might be, how were they related to COVID?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was there an announcement for the new Acting Associate Superintendent? This is the second Acting Associate Superintendent in two years and Ty get new Acting Superintendent was the Resolution and Compliance Director hired by MCPS last October. So who is now the Director for Resolution and Compliance?

And what about all the vacancies for Special Education Teachers and Para Educators at the school level? Did MCPS just give up on finding employees for those positions as well?

McKnight brought in an enforcer. A lawyer with lots of litigation experience and zero experience in special education.

Does this mean MCPS will actually start following the law or is it a signal that they intend to play hardball and force parents to lawyer up to get anything.

We have had success over the years writing letters to the associate superintendent for special ed and getting immediate corrections.

Who is the enforcer?

That is just one PP's take. And it is false to allege "zero experience in special education" when in fact she was a special educator herself, then later became a lawyer.

Here is the staff directory page with contact info:

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/directory/directory_Boxoffice.aspx?processlevel=34511

She does say she's a former spec ed teacher, but she's been a litigator for the past 13 years, right? Divorce attorney and defending Baltimore County and PGCPS from parents?

Do you think that's in the best interests of sp ed kids? Yikes.

You clearly have an agenda and aren’t going to see anything beyond MCPS does nothing. But bottom line, standard isn’t best interests of special Ed kids. Standard is what is a kid entitled to under the law and the answer is NOT everything the parent asks for.

So the answer isn't to hire more special ed resources, but to spend it on bocce ball and defeat parents in court seeking help for their children???

YOU ARE PURE EVIL.

No actually I support giving people what they are entitled to receive. But I have no qualms in saying limit it to what they are entitled to receive. If you want more, use your health insurance or whatever money you have to get it.

Bocce made it possible for many disabled children to participate in PE. Why are you against spending money to help disabled students?

Didn’t Bocce ball get paid for out of the COVID relief fund, not the Special Ed budget?

+1

I’m not against spending money to help disabled students. If they need Bocce, I want them to have it. I’d be happy to allocate Bocce funding and additional funding on top of that. I just think it should come out of the MCPS budget and not use funds earmarked for COVID relief for expenses that are unrelated to COVID.

Bocce balls cost $40 or $50. You can order them from Amazon. MCPS uses PVC tubes and traffic cones in the gym to play. BTW - all this was in place for HS BEFORE receiving $1M covid grant.

Go read the ESSER III covid grant and look at all the goodies that MCPS asked for. Then ask yourself where all the money went. Ex. See any bocce ball courts at your local MS lately? And even if they were built, you think the school year bocce ball tournaments will be held outdoors, do you? No, they're held indoors.

Playing bocce ball in the school gym is about 40x(50x2 + 100). Round it up to 10K to give out nice trophies. In my opinion, this was a total slush fund and if this money was spent, I hope someone saved all the receipts.

So basically MCPS used funds that were supposed to go toward Special Ed for whatever else they wanted? And expected zero accountability? The usual? Except maybe no fake documentation that it went toward SE?

[Anonymous]

A better use of COVID funds would have been for Special Education staff to provide the compensatory services awarded for lack of special education services and accommodations during COVID. Students with disabilities fell behind during COVID at higher rates than their non-disabled peers. Yet the Office of Special Education can’t find people to provide compensatory services and demand to only reimburse parents for private services at 1/4 the market rate.

Bocce Ball, Kids Museum, or instruction to help students catch up to where they should have been if services and accommodations were provided? Most parents would choose the instruction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent who filed and won state and federal complaints against MCPS, the current administrators have not steered the school system into greater compliance. It’s the exact opposite. MCPS blatantly discriminates against students with disabilities knowing only a small percentage will file complaints or sue. This approach has negatively impacted most students with disabilities throughout MCPS.

So, so true. Beyond blatant. I'd label it pathologically sadistic. Also allows some folx (employed/pensioned for life) who are sociopathic and/or sadistic to know they'll have zero accountability for what they do to bully their easy targets.

+1000. Hats off for suing and winning. The culture was so bad we just left - and child is thriving. Sadistic is the word though - this is an institution, I swear, who profits off of spec Ed money while largely ignoring spec Ed needs. Then they’re shocked when confronted. Most of these posters either never had a spec Ed child in MCPS or suck off the excess and work for MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent who filed and won state and federal complaints against MCPS, the current administrators have not steered the school system into greater compliance. It’s the exact opposite. MCPS blatantly discriminates against students with disabilities knowing only a small percentage will file complaints or sue. This approach has negatively impacted most students with disabilities throughout MCPS.

So, so true. Beyond blatant. I'd label it pathologically sadistic. Also allows some folx (employed/pensioned for life) who are sociopathic and/or sadistic to know they'll have zero accountability for what they do to bully their easy targets.

+1000. Hats off for suing and winning. The culture was so bad we just left - and child is thriving. Sadistic is the word though - this is an institution, I swear, who profits off of spec Ed money while largely ignoring spec Ed needs. Then they’re shocked when confronted. Most of these posters either never had a spec Ed child in MCPS or suck off the excess and work for MCPS.

Filing a State Complaint and a Federal Complaint is not a Due Process Hearing or a lawsuit. They are free avenues of help that you don’t need a lawyer to file. Worth the time and effort when you can’t afford a lawyer or advocate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent who filed and won state and federal complaints against MCPS, the current administrators have not steered the school system into greater compliance. It’s the exact opposite. MCPS blatantly discriminates against students with disabilities knowing only a small percentage will file complaints or sue. This approach has negatively impacted most students with disabilities throughout MCPS.

So, so true. Beyond blatant. I'd label it pathologically sadistic. Also allows some folx (employed/pensioned for life) who are sociopathic and/or sadistic to know they'll have zero accountability for what they do to bully their easy targets.

+1000. Hats off for suing and winning. The culture was so bad we just left - and child is thriving. Sadistic is the word though - this is an institution, I swear, who profits off of spec Ed money while largely ignoring spec Ed needs. Then they’re shocked when confronted. Most of these posters either never had a spec Ed child in MCPS or suck off the excess and work for MCPS.

Filing a State Complaint and a Federal Complaint is not a Due Process Hearing or a lawsuit. They are free avenues of help that you don’t need a lawyer to file. Worth the time and effort when you can’t afford a lawyer or advocate.

All of those things take years and these kids need and deserve help now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A better use of COVID funds would have been for Special Education staff to provide the compensatory services awarded for lack of special education services and accommodations during COVID. Students with disabilities fell behind during COVID at higher rates than their non-disabled peers. Yet the Office of Special Education can’t find people to provide compensatory services and demand to only reimburse parents for private services at 1/4 the market rate.

Bocce Ball, Kids Museum, or instruction to help students catch up to where they should have been if services and accommodations were provided? Most parents would choose the instruction.

See, this would have made sense.

Aside from the problem I have using designated money for alternate purposes, I get frustrated that actual learning often seems to be the lowest priority. I want all MCPS kids to have all the extras, but let’s start with teaching them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent who filed and won state and federal complaints against MCPS, the current administrators have not steered the school system into greater compliance. It’s the exact opposite. MCPS blatantly discriminates against students with disabilities knowing only a small percentage will file complaints or sue. This approach has negatively impacted most students with disabilities throughout MCPS.

So, so true. Beyond blatant. I'd label it pathologically sadistic. Also allows some folx (employed/pensioned for life) who are sociopathic and/or sadistic to know they'll have zero accountability for what they do to bully their easy targets.

+1000. Hats off for suing and winning. The culture was so bad we just left - and child is thriving. Sadistic is the word though - this is an institution, I swear, who profits off of spec Ed money while largely ignoring spec Ed needs. Then they’re shocked when confronted. Most of these posters either never had a spec Ed child in MCPS or suck off the excess and work for MCPS.

Filing a State Complaint and a Federal Complaint is not a Due Process Hearing or a lawsuit. They are free avenues of help that you don’t need a lawyer to file. Worth the time and effort when you can’t afford a lawyer or advocate.

All of those things take years and these kids need and deserve help now.

State Complaints are investigated by the Maryland Department of Education in 60 days. The Federal investigations are not as cursory but can take longer. However, filing can be of benefit when you don’t have funds for an attorney.

[Anonymous]

Whose going to help if you don’t file a complaint? Not the Office of Special Education including the Resolution and Compliance Unit. Not the Board of Education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A better use of COVID funds would have been for Special Education staff to provide the compensatory services awarded for lack of special education services and accommodations during COVID. Students with disabilities fell behind during COVID at higher rates than their non-disabled peers. Yet the Office of Special Education can’t find people to provide compensatory services and demand to only reimburse parents for private services at 1/4 the market rate.

Bocce Ball, Kids Museum, or instruction to help students catch up to where they should have been if services and accommodations were provided? Most parents would choose the instruction.

See, this would have made sense.

Aside from the problem I have using designated money for alternate purposes, I get frustrated that actual learning often seems to be the lowest priority. I want all MCPS kids to have all the extras, but let’s start with teaching them.

MCPS had a budget surplus for FY21, the year students were virtual and students with disabilities didn’t receive special education services and accommodations. MCPS received COVID relief funds which they squandered on pet projects. Very little actually went to addressing learning loss due to online learning.

Pet projects line the pockets of those who get the contracts. New positions in Central Office give promotions and high salaries. MCPS lowest priorities are teaching students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately this has always been the culture of MCPS. I’ve said it before and I will say it again: 11 million spent in 2017 in outside counsel to fight families of children on IEPs. That is the school system you choose to support with your tax dollars? Well I don’t anymore. You shouldn’t either.

Do you have a source for this?