Coming into FCPS from a special-ed school (Oakwood)

[Anonymous]

We will be trying to bring our then-11yo daughter into FCPS after the following (2018-19) school year. She is 2E, gifted plus dyslexic. What do we have to do to get her where she needs to go? We were new to the area when we enrolled her in Oakwood so please assume I know little about FCPS :/ so this is my beginning ask as to where we should begin and what we should expect/request. Should we look into an educational consultant? If so, when? Pretty soon, so I can make sure she gets the right testing done in between now and then? And,if so, do you have any suggestions as to where to look for these consultants? Thank you in advance for any and all nudges in the right direction -- eek.

[Anonymous]

You will probably want to hire a private tutor for the dyslexia.

What do her current teachers think would be a good fit for her? Can she function in a mainstream classroom?

[Anonymous]

Oakwood should be your resource for this as they have the most experience. They will know if you need to fight for a 504 or IEP. Qualifying for AAP is another process and you will need some testing for that.

There are no real options in FCPS. You go to your neighborhood school. If your DC qualifies for AAP, your child will qualify to go to the AAP Center school - which may be your neighborhood school.

Is your DC going to go to 6th or 7th grade? Is she in an accelerated math program at Oakwood?

[Anonymous]

Get private testing done in the Fall. Email your base elementary school principal by December to start the IEP/504 process. Apply to AAP in January if necessary for 6th grade. It will take several months to put the IEP in place, they will help you with the middle school transition.

[Anonymous]

My response vanished. FCPS now has a dyslexia expert. Contact her. Also, contact the office of speced about upcoming seminars on dyslexia. They usually give good advise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My response vanished. FCPS now has a dyslexia expert. Contact her. Also, contact the office of speced about upcoming seminars on dyslexia. They usually give good advise.

Unfortunately, she just left that position for another in the county and they are looking to fill the position. Should happen over the summer.

[Anonymous]

I would call the local school now and ask for a meeting while teachers are still in the building and the special ed department chair/lead teacher is still around. You want her placed in a class with an experienced teacher. Don't surprise them in August. Also, bring a list of recommendations from Oakwood. What worked well? What specialized reading program? Insist on a specialized reading program. What is your neighborhood school?