PG County schools have utterly failed a bright but troubled kid

[Anonymous]

I am not talking about pass/fail, but an utter failure to support a child. Does anyone know of elementary school alternatives in that area that are affordable (or free) that could be an alternative? Don't talk to me about IEPs and all that - the school district has dragged its heels for going on two years, and the problem is just getting worse. Something needs to be done, and I just don't know what. Any ideas?

[Anonymous]

I don't know any alternatives that are affordable or free and I doubt anyone else does. So, that leaves you with your local school, IEPs and 504s. I agree that two years is much too long but as your child's best advocate you need to do the best with what you've got. If you, yourself, can't move the school, you need to hire someone who can. Off the top of my head, I can't recall a single person in the tri-state area that didn't have problems getting their child the accomodations and servcies they needed. We've stopped contributing to our oldest's education fund and are using the money for an education consultant to get an IEP, private tutoring and other services. We may as well spend the money now because if we don't, the kid won't learn to his potential and certainly won't be going to college.

[Anonymous]

What part of PG County? It's a huge place. I know some stuff in College Park and Laurel, would that help?

[Anonymous]

Depending what the issues are, I would look at some of the privates that specialize in the areas where he needs assistant. Many of these schools do offer financial aid, which might make them more affordable for you.

[Anonymous]

College Park or Laurel would help. Does anyone know anything about the High Roads schools?

[Anonymous]

how old is your child?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:College Park or Laurel would help. Does anyone know anything about the High Roads schools?

if it's the same high roads that used to be in DC, just don't!

[Anonymous]

The universty of Maryland school of education sometime has free or cheap pograma running, taught of T.a.'s working on their phds, or other students.

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure what you mean by "troubled", but have you considered counseling or therapy? There are some problems that schools just can't solve alone, and I can't tell if this is one of them.

[Anonymous]

The child is elementary school age - and getting therapy. It's not a question of solving the problem, per se. The classroom he's in is not conducive, to say the least, to his anxiety disorder. The classroom is overcrowded (around 30 kids), about 1/2 of which are children with special needs and 1/2 in the general population. He has a helper, but the situation itself is magnifying his conditions. I am so sad for him (he's not my child), and I was hoping that there was a solution that did not involve him spending yet another year getting reamed for his behavior (he acts out because of his anxiety and depression) and feeling down on himself. I don't know if he can take another year of it.

[Anonymous]

You'll need to get an attorney to get into the High Road schools. Students are funded by individual counties, so the child would have to have an IEP before even being able to go that route.

[Anonymous]

Can the parents get some kind of advocate to help get the child a better placement? 30 kids -- half with special needs -- for a child with anxiety disorder -- there must be something better they can offer him that that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can the parents get some kind of advocate to help get the child a better placement? 30 kids -- half with special needs -- for a child with anxiety disorder -- there must be something better they can offer him that that.

in THIS economy with the budget crisis?

You're kidding, right?

Despite what research goes into the philosophy behind inclusion, in many ways it eases the budget b/c you can collapse two classes into one. So, using research behind inclusive measure, they'll tell you that this child IS in the best placement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You'll need to get an attorney to get into the High Road schools. Students are funded by individual counties, so the child would have to have an IEP before even being able to go that route.

I thought High Roads was for dyslexic kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can the parents get some kind of advocate to help get the child a better placement? 30 kids -- half with special needs -- for a child with anxiety disorder -- there must be something better they can offer him that that.

in THIS economy with the budget crisis?

You're kidding, right?

Despite what research goes into the philosophy behind inclusion, in many ways it eases the budget b/c you can collapse two classes into one. So, using research behind inclusive measure, they'll tell you that this child IS in the best placement.

OK, but my bright kid -- with no anxiety disorder -- is in a PG County elementary classroom with 22 kids, with few special needs kids. Maybe some advocacy could get this kid switched to a class like my kid is in, even if it is across the county or whatever? Just trying to think of alternatives....