Compensatory Services

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone explain:

1) Why did FCPS sign this voluntary agreement?

2) Why was FCPS singled out for an OCR investigation? What happened in FCPS to special education students from 2020-2022 was not terribly unique.

I do not understand the dynamic and politics of the settlement at all.

They picked a few large school districts in the US for this investigation. School districts all over the US did WAAAAAAY less than FCPS did but because we're big and always in the news, we got singled out. FCPS was following the guidance they were given by VDOE but someone decided that wasn't good enough.

where is this data? it is hard to do less than nothing.

[Anonymous]

One thing to watch for with these compensatory services is that IEP teams always tend to paint a rosy picture of progress. Collect your own data! My child has an IEP and we have already received comp services (by way of one on one tutoring before school) but we fought hard the minute the schools opened their doors for this. Many others kids at our schools got this as well so we aren't alone here. I still think what FCPS did during COVID was criminal though.

[Anonymous]

I am pretty certain parents reached out to VDOE and OCR to complain. I don't think OCR singled FCPS out because they are big.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone explain:

1) Why did FCPS sign this voluntary agreement?

2) Why was FCPS singled out for an OCR investigation? What happened in FCPS to special education students from 2020-2022 was not terribly unique.

I do not understand the dynamic and politics of the settlement at all.

They picked a few large school districts in the US for this investigation. School districts all over the US did WAAAAAAY less than FCPS did but because we're big and always in the news, we got singled out. FCPS was following the guidance they were given by VDOE but someone decided that wasn't good enough.

where is this data? it is hard to do less than nothing.

Yeah, okay...the teachers did nothing. My kids were online every, single day with their teachers learning the curriculum. My child who receives special education services was pulled into small groups online just like she would have been had she been in person. She got her accommodations and she got instruction. You people who keep saying the teachers did nothing are flat out lying. I simply do not believe you. I understand that some related services such as speech and OT got the shaft, particularly since it's hard to provide those services virtually. But do not lie and say your kid literally got no instruction for a year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone explain:

1) Why did FCPS sign this voluntary agreement?

2) Why was FCPS singled out for an OCR investigation? What happened in FCPS to special education students from 2020-2022 was not terribly unique.

I do not understand the dynamic and politics of the settlement at all.

They picked a few large school districts in the US for this investigation. School districts all over the US did WAAAAAAY less than FCPS did but because we're big and always in the news, we got singled out. FCPS was following the guidance they were given by VDOE but someone decided that wasn't good enough.

where is this data? it is hard to do less than nothing.

Yeah, okay...the teachers did nothing. My kids were online every, single day with their teachers learning the curriculum. My child who receives special education services was pulled into small groups online just like she would have been had she been in person. She got her accommodations and she got instruction. You people who keep saying the teachers did nothing are flat out lying. I simply do not believe you. I understand that some related services such as speech and OT got the shaft, particularly since it's hard to provide those services virtually. But do not lie and say your kid literally got no instruction for a year.

Good for you. My kid got no special education services.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone explain:

1) Why did FCPS sign this voluntary agreement?

2) Why was FCPS singled out for an OCR investigation? What happened in FCPS to special education students from 2020-2022 was not terribly unique.

I do not understand the dynamic and politics of the settlement at all.

They picked a few large school districts in the US for this investigation. School districts all over the US did WAAAAAAY less than FCPS did but because we're big and always in the news, we got singled out. FCPS was following the guidance they were given by VDOE but someone decided that wasn't good enough.

where is this data? it is hard to do less than nothing.

Yeah, okay...the teachers did nothing. My kids were online every, single day with their teachers learning the curriculum. My child who receives special education services was pulled into small groups online just like she would have been had she been in person. She got her accommodations and she got instruction. You people who keep saying the teachers did nothing are flat out lying. I simply do not believe you. I understand that some related services such as speech and OT got the shaft, particularly since it's hard to provide those services virtually. But do not lie and say your kid literally got no instruction for a year.

It depends on the school and the family. There is no blanket statement that can be made across FCPS.

I have friends who are SPED Teachers. They were telling me stories of logging on, saying hi to the student they were meeting with, and the student simply turning off the screen or walking away from the screen. emailing or calling the parents and getting no response. I am sure that there are parents who will swear that their kid received no services when the Teachers were trying to provide services but there was no one there to get the child online or to stay in the session. And I am sure some of the arguments there will be the Parents were working and couldn't be sitting there making their kid do everything but that doesn't mean that some Teachers were trying to do their best with the crappy hand that they were dealt.

And I am sure that there are schools and/or that legitimately did nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone explain:

1) Why did FCPS sign this voluntary agreement?

2) Why was FCPS singled out for an OCR investigation? What happened in FCPS to special education students from 2020-2022 was not terribly unique.

I do not understand the dynamic and politics of the settlement at all.

They picked a few large school districts in the US for this investigation. School districts all over the US did WAAAAAAY less than FCPS did but because we're big and always in the news, we got singled out. FCPS was following the guidance they were given by VDOE but someone decided that wasn't good enough.

where is this data? it is hard to do less than nothing.

Yeah, okay...the teachers did nothing. My kids were online every, single day with their teachers learning the curriculum. My child who receives special education services was pulled into small groups online just like she would have been had she been in person. She got her accommodations and she got instruction. You people who keep saying the teachers did nothing are flat out lying. I simply do not believe you. I understand that some related services such as speech and OT got the shaft, particularly since it's hard to provide those services virtually. But do not lie and say your kid literally got no instruction for a year.

So do you think the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Education just made this up that special ed services were not given? I am confused.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone explain:

1) Why did FCPS sign this voluntary agreement?

2) Why was FCPS singled out for an OCR investigation? What happened in FCPS to special education students from 2020-2022 was not terribly unique.

I do not understand the dynamic and politics of the settlement at all.

They picked a few large school districts in the US for this investigation. School districts all over the US did WAAAAAAY less than FCPS did but because we're big and always in the news, we got singled out. FCPS was following the guidance they were given by VDOE but someone decided that wasn't good enough.

where is this data? it is hard to do less than nothing.

Yeah, okay...the teachers did nothing. My kids were online every, single day with their teachers learning the curriculum. My child who receives special education services was pulled into small groups online just like she would have been had she been in person. She got her accommodations and she got instruction. You people who keep saying the teachers did nothing are flat out lying. I simply do not believe you. I understand that some related services such as speech and OT got the shaft, particularly since it's hard to provide those services virtually. But do not lie and say your kid literally got no instruction for a year.

So do you think the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Education just made this up that special ed services were not given? I am confused.

DP, I think the office could have picked any school district and gotten the same findings, they just choose a large on that is in the news.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone explain:

1) Why did FCPS sign this voluntary agreement?

2) Why was FCPS singled out for an OCR investigation? What happened in FCPS to special education students from 2020-2022 was not terribly unique.

I do not understand the dynamic and politics of the settlement at all.

They picked a few large school districts in the US for this investigation. School districts all over the US did WAAAAAAY less than FCPS did but because we're big and always in the news, we got singled out. FCPS was following the guidance they were given by VDOE but someone decided that wasn't good enough.

where is this data? it is hard to do less than nothing.

Yeah, okay...the teachers did nothing. My kids were online every, single day with their teachers learning the curriculum. My child who receives special education services was pulled into small groups online just like she would have been had she been in person. She got her accommodations and she got instruction. You people who keep saying the teachers did nothing are flat out lying. I simply do not believe you. I understand that some related services such as speech and OT got the shaft, particularly since it's hard to provide those services virtually. But do not lie and say your kid literally got no instruction for a year.

So do you think the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Education just made this up that special ed services were not given? I am confused.

DP, I think the office could have picked any school district and gotten the same findings, they just choose a large on that is in the news.

they have made judgements against several. They do actually have to do due-diligence and make sure it is true. FCPS usually avoids publicity like this because there are top lobbyists working for them and they have lots of lawyers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would really like to see the training sessions for staff. Are they open to the public or posted somewhere?

Calm down. They are highly scripted and have to be approved by the Office of Civll Rights.

Okay, then where can we find this?

The training for staff on how to run the IEP meetings will be key for parents to see. They need to know what metrics the staff are using and what types of services will be covered. How much discretion do the IEP teams really have?

Say there was a child who had an IEP whose parents placed them at a private school for 2020-2022? What amount would be covered based on how high of a need there was? If a child only has an IEP for speech (ie can’t say their Rs), would the private school be fully covered? What about a child who had significant needs (ESY, virtually all of their hours were in Special Education, etc). How will the IEP team treat 2020-21 vs 2021-2022?

All of this needs to be clear to parents. It seems like FCPS would want to make the guidelines clear to their staff but keep parents in the dark. Right?

Would like to see the staff training and materials as well.

There has got to be a teacher somewhere who will screen record and leak it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone explain:

1) Why did FCPS sign this voluntary agreement?

2) Why was FCPS singled out for an OCR investigation? What happened in FCPS to special education students from 2020-2022 was not terribly unique.

I do not understand the dynamic and politics of the settlement at all.

They picked a few large school districts in the US for this investigation. School districts all over the US did WAAAAAAY less than FCPS did but because we're big and always in the news, we got singled out. FCPS was following the guidance they were given by VDOE but someone decided that wasn't good enough.

where is this data? it is hard to do less than nothing.

Yeah, okay...the teachers did nothing. My kids were online every, single day with their teachers learning the curriculum. My child who receives special education services was pulled into small groups online just like she would have been had she been in person. She got her accommodations and she got instruction. You people who keep saying the teachers did nothing are flat out lying. I simply do not believe you. I understand that some related services such as speech and OT got the shaft, particularly since it's hard to provide those services virtually. But do not lie and say your kid literally got no instruction for a year.

So do you think the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Education just made this up that special ed services were not given? I am confused.

DP, I think the office could have picked any school district and gotten the same findings, they just choose a large on that is in the news.

they have made judgements against several. They do actually have to do due-diligence and make sure it is true. FCPS usually avoids publicity like this because there are top lobbyists working for them and they have lots of lawyers.

Why didn’t FCPS fight it? It seems like the school system in Ohio who was also in the cross hairs of OCR is fighting.

They seemed to put so much energy into fighting parents at every turn. Why roll over and play dead to OCR?

[Anonymous]

What do you think will be the process? Convene current IEP team or previous IEP team (IF staff are still there?) and figure out compensatory services? Hold meetings to check the box and then just carry on?

This could’ve been avoided if FCPS (administration) had put forth ANY effort in supporting students with disabilities. Let’s face it, the directions were coming from the top and when the top throws up their hands and says, “We can’t really do anything,” it came down to a school by school, teacher by teacher, student by student type of response.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone explain:

1) Why did FCPS sign this voluntary agreement?

2) Why was FCPS singled out for an OCR investigation? What happened in FCPS to special education students from 2020-2022 was not terribly unique.

I do not understand the dynamic and politics of the settlement at all.

They picked a few large school districts in the US for this investigation. School districts all over the US did WAAAAAAY less than FCPS did but because we're big and always in the news, we got singled out. FCPS was following the guidance they were given by VDOE but someone decided that wasn't good enough.

where is this data? it is hard to do less than nothing.

Yeah, okay...the teachers did nothing. My kids were online every, single day with their teachers learning the curriculum. My child who receives special education services was pulled into small groups online just like she would have been had she been in person. She got her accommodations and she got instruction. You people who keep saying the teachers did nothing are flat out lying. I simply do not believe you. I understand that some related services such as speech and OT got the shaft, particularly since it's hard to provide those services virtually. But do not lie and say your kid literally got no instruction for a year.

So do you think the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Education just made this up that special ed services were not given? I am confused.

DP, I think the office could have picked any school district and gotten the same findings, they just choose a large on that is in the news.

they have made judgements against several. They do actually have to do due-diligence and make sure it is true. FCPS usually avoids publicity like this because there are top lobbyists working for them and they have lots of lawyers.

Why didn’t FCPS fight it? It seems like the school system in Ohio who was also in the cross hairs of OCR is fighting.

They seemed to put so much energy into fighting parents at every turn. Why roll over and play dead to OCR?

Bad publicity

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would really like to see the training sessions for staff. Are they open to the public or posted somewhere?

Calm down. They are highly scripted and have to be approved by the Office of Civll Rights.

Okay, then where can we find this?

The training for staff on how to run the IEP meetings will be key for parents to see. They need to know what metrics the staff are using and what types of services will be covered. How much discretion do the IEP teams really have?

Say there was a child who had an IEP whose parents placed them at a private school for 2020-2022? What amount would be covered based on how high of a need there was? If a child only has an IEP for speech (ie can’t say their Rs), would the private school be fully covered? What about a child who had significant needs (ESY, virtually all of their hours were in Special Education, etc). How will the IEP team treat 2020-21 vs 2021-2022?

All of this needs to be clear to parents. It seems like FCPS would want to make the guidelines clear to their staff but keep parents in the dark. Right?

My kid has an IEP in FCPS, received services from his school during distance learning, and made progress on his goals. I doubt he will get any compensatory services. Why do you think a child whose parents pulled them out of the Public School system would get services to make up for what they lost when they were not in the Public Schools at that time? You choose to send your kid to Private School, that school is responsible for your child's education during that time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would really like to see the training sessions for staff. Are they open to the public or posted somewhere?

Calm down. They are highly scripted and have to be approved by the Office of Civll Rights.

Okay, then where can we find this?

The training for staff on how to run the IEP meetings will be key for parents to see. They need to know what metrics the staff are using and what types of services will be covered. How much discretion do the IEP teams really have?

Say there was a child who had an IEP whose parents placed them at a private school for 2020-2022? What amount would be covered based on how high of a need there was? If a child only has an IEP for speech (ie can’t say their Rs), would the private school be fully covered? What about a child who had significant needs (ESY, virtually all of their hours were in Special Education, etc). How will the IEP team treat 2020-21 vs 2021-2022?

All of this needs to be clear to parents. It seems like FCPS would want to make the guidelines clear to their staff but keep parents in the dark. Right?

My kid has an IEP in FCPS, received services from his school during distance learning, and made progress on his goals. I doubt he will get any compensatory services. Why do you think a child whose parents pulled them out of the Public School system would get services to make up for what they lost when they were not in the Public Schools at that time? You choose to send your kid to Private School, that school is responsible for your child's education during that time.

Based on what parents were told in the information meeting, this is actually exactly what will likely happen.

Parents who bring receipts will get reimbursed. If they hired tutors or switched to private school, they are set.

If you helped your child access their education and they made progress, no money will be forthcoming. This is where my family is and it stinks.

Maybe staff are being told something different or there is something I’m missing.