Ethics of MCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS routinely denies students an evaluation for disabilities when a private evaluation identified a disability. It’s a system designed to ignore problems students are having with accessing the curriculum and basic skills. Staff pass students from grade to grade without addressing student needs. Even when a child has a 504 plan or IEP, schools spend hours at meetings just to not follow through with implementation.

Telling lies of omission, ignoring the data for the child, and failing to implement 504 plans and IEPs are all examples of unethical practices by MCPS.

With the 300% increase over the past decade in these private diagnoses that anyone can buy for $5k to $10k it isn't really surprising.

And who do you think has $5K to $10K to pay for a “fake” evaluation?

MCPS labeled my child with the wrong disability which was corrected when I had him fully evaluated by a PhD neuropsychologist. Worth the money to have a road map for his needs. We used the private evaluation to fix his IEP which the school didn’t implement. The only value of the private evaluation was to guide us to pay for private services because that’s what my child needed when the IEP was not implemented.

If the PR people MCPS hired are the ones on this site blaming everything on the people who are unhappy by saying: "They're racist, or they're culture warriors, or they're paying for "fake" outside evaluations," etc. then choose another tactic. Ask any MCPS employee. All the people I know who are complaining are justified. The system is designed to be miserly about accommodations and to make it exceedingly difficult for anyone to appeal, get a COSA, get an IEP, you name it. Dr. McKnight has surrounded herself with "yes" people who tell her she is doing a good job, when she would be better off owning her mistakes and hearing the truth. The principals and teachers are still waiting for her to acknowledge that they gave her a vote of no confidence and to hear how she plans to improve her relationship with her own (non Central) staff. She has repairing to do with staff in Central Office too, at least those who were not her personal picks.

since there's 3X more kids with issues just in the last decade, especially at more affluent schools, they just don't have the resources to support everyone like they used to

Are you innumerate? They spend nearly 5 billion - 3.1 maintenance and 1.6 operating - a year. This has very little to do with resources unfortunately and much more to do with culture. Classic Moco response - spend more money on bureaucracy.

That's aside the point there is a well documented and massive increase in "diagnosed" cases in upper middle class schools over the past decade which strains there ability to support people with actual problems.

Makes sense

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s unethical for MCPS to put families in the position of paying for private evaluations and services then only reimburse for a small fraction of the expense families pay. That is a denial of FAPE because the expense families are forced into paying even for compensatory services MCPS agrees students qualify for.

Be grateful if mcps pays or reimburses. Mcps did nothing for my kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And don't forget spending covid money on Kid Museum and bocce ball.

Mcps feels that’s more important than kids reading, talking, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS routinely denies students an evaluation for disabilities when a private evaluation identified a disability. It’s a system designed to ignore problems students are having with accessing the curriculum and basic skills. Staff pass students from grade to grade without addressing student needs. Even when a child has a 504 plan or IEP, schools spend hours at meetings just to not follow through with implementation.

Telling lies of omission, ignoring the data for the child, and failing to implement 504 plans and IEPs are all examples of unethical practices by MCPS.

With the 300% increase over the past decade in these private diagnoses that anyone can buy for $5k to $10k it isn't really surprising.

And who do you think has $5K to $10K to pay for a “fake” evaluation?

MCPS labeled my child with the wrong disability which was corrected when I had him fully evaluated by a PhD neuropsychologist. Worth the money to have a road map for his needs. We used the private evaluation to fix his IEP which the school didn’t implement. The only value of the private evaluation was to guide us to pay for private services because that’s what my child needed when the IEP was not implemented.

If the PR people MCPS hired are the ones on this site blaming everything on the people who are unhappy by saying: "They're racist, or they're culture warriors, or they're paying for "fake" outside evaluations," etc. then choose another tactic. Ask any MCPS employee. All the people I know who are complaining are justified. The system is designed to be miserly about accommodations and to make it exceedingly difficult for anyone to appeal, get a COSA, get an IEP, you name it. Dr. McKnight has surrounded herself with "yes" people who tell her she is doing a good job, when she would be better off owning her mistakes and hearing the truth. The principals and teachers are still waiting for her to acknowledge that they gave her a vote of no confidence and to hear how she plans to improve her relationship with her own (non Central) staff. She has repairing to do with staff in Central Office too, at least those who were not her personal picks.

since there's 3X more kids with issues just in the last decade, especially at more affluent schools, they just don't have the resources to support everyone like they used to

Are you innumerate? They spend nearly 5 billion - 3.1 maintenance and 1.6 operating - a year. This has very little to do with resources unfortunately and much more to do with culture. Classic Moco response - spend more money on bureaucracy.

That's aside the point there is a well documented and massive increase in "diagnosed" cases in upper middle class schools over the past decade which strains there ability to support people with actual problems.

Is not easy and definitely not cheep to get a diagnosis and an IEP or 504 plan. Have you ever attended a MCPS team meeting?

Parents - record all the meetings so you can provide the recording to the MSDE. Be prepared so you have proof of the lies you were told in the process.

We had no issue getting an iep but they school would not follow the one they wrote and insisted on. They kept pushing different diagnosis so they could get more special Ed teachers but refused more services.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And don't forget spending covid money on Kid Museum and bocce ball.

Mcps feels that’s more important than kids reading, talking, etc.

Not more important, but part of a well rounded program. Or shall we cut PE and Music, too?

[Anonymous]

If IEP and 504 implementation is so horrible why haven’t some of the families joined together and sued for their rights to services being implemented, reimbursement for outside sources and outplacement to other facilities or just to get a whole special needs school built or better special needs programs incorporated into each school?? Until you do that nothing will change, as soon as you lawyer up they have to listen because IEP laws are federal and they’re in violation of those laws.

[Anonymous]

Because as the parent of a young special needs child we are not only exhausted all the time, we have spent nearly every penny and then some on private services to help our child. There is nothing left to give, not the time, energy or money.

Not to mention many special Ed students end up as single family households. Not all, so please don't jump down my throat. But the reality is, if you have money, you go private and get what your child needs. And if you don't have money, many of cannot add even one more thing to our plate. So we get what we get and try not to get to upset

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because as the parent of a young special needs child we are not only exhausted all the time, we have spent nearly every penny and then some on private services to help our child. There is nothing left to give, not the time, energy or money.

Not to mention many special Ed students end up as single family households. Not all, so please don't jump down my throat. But the reality is, if you have money, you go private and get what your child needs. And if you don't have money, many of cannot add even one more thing to our plate. So we get what we get and try not to get to upset

+1 Public school families do not have unlimited financial resources. To legally fight MCPS, an entity with unlimited funds for legal fights, parents weigh the cost with the benefits. Often, the best course of action is paying for private services for our children.

It’s disgusting that MCPS doesn’t focus on the needs of the child. They fight to deny services and then when families prevail, MCPS struggles systemwide to implement IEPs.

Free routes for recourse is filing a state complaint or an OCR complaint. It doesn’t take a lawyer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because as the parent of a young special needs child we are not only exhausted all the time, we have spent nearly every penny and then some on private services to help our child. There is nothing left to give, not the time, energy or money.

Not to mention many special Ed students end up as single family households. Not all, so please don't jump down my throat. But the reality is, if you have money, you go private and get what your child needs. And if you don't have money, many of cannot add even one more thing to our plate. So we get what we get and try not to get to upset

+1 Public school families do not have unlimited financial resources. To legally fight MCPS, an entity with unlimited funds for legal fights, parents weigh the cost with the benefits. Often, the best course of action is paying for private services for our children.

It’s disgusting that MCPS doesn’t focus on the needs of the child. They fight to deny services and then when families prevail, MCPS struggles systemwide to implement IEPs.

Free routes for recourse is filing a state complaint or an OCR complaint. It doesn’t take a lawyer.

THe problem is with the massive 3X proliferation in private diagnosis that has plagued the upper-middle-class schools this past decade MCPS just doesn't have the resources to do this even if they wanted to. Something like 80% of my child's W feeder now has a 504 or IEP. They just can't keep up. Their budget is from the days when there were maybe 1 in30 kids not 25/30.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because as the parent of a young special needs child we are not only exhausted all the time, we have spent nearly every penny and then some on private services to help our child. There is nothing left to give, not the time, energy or money.

Not to mention many special Ed students end up as single family households. Not all, so please don't jump down my throat. But the reality is, if you have money, you go private and get what your child needs. And if you don't have money, many of cannot add even one more thing to our plate. So we get what we get and try not to get to upset

+1 Public school families do not have unlimited financial resources. To legally fight MCPS, an entity with unlimited funds for legal fights, parents weigh the cost with the benefits. Often, the best course of action is paying for private services for our children.

It’s disgusting that MCPS doesn’t focus on the needs of the child. They fight to deny services and then when families prevail, MCPS struggles systemwide to implement IEPs.

Free routes for recourse is filing a state complaint or an OCR complaint. It doesn’t take a lawyer.

THe problem is with the massive 3X proliferation in private diagnosis that has plagued the upper-middle-class schools this past decade MCPS just doesn't have the resources to do this even if they wanted to. Something like 80% of my child's W feeder now has a 504 or IEP. They just can't keep up. Their budget is from the days when there were maybe 1 in30 kids not 25/30.

Please site your source because I believe you are spreading a false claim based on your personal implicit biases.

There’s no justification for a public school system to break the law and discriminate children with disabilities. That’s why there are Civil Rights Laws to protect students with disabilities.

[Anonymous]

WJLA has a Crisis in the Classroom tip line. Perhaps problems need media coverage for MCPS to change the unethical practices.

703-831-7374

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WJLA has a Crisis in the Classroom tip line. Perhaps problems need media coverage for MCPS to change the unethical practices.

703-831-7374

What unethical practices are you referring to? Is this about bocce ball again?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because as the parent of a young special needs child we are not only exhausted all the time, we have spent nearly every penny and then some on private services to help our child. There is nothing left to give, not the time, energy or money.

Not to mention many special Ed students end up as single family households. Not all, so please don't jump down my throat. But the reality is, if you have money, you go private and get what your child needs. And if you don't have money, many of cannot add even one more thing to our plate. So we get what we get and try not to get to upset

+1 Public school families do not have unlimited financial resources. To legally fight MCPS, an entity with unlimited funds for legal fights, parents weigh the cost with the benefits. Often, the best course of action is paying for private services for our children.

It’s disgusting that MCPS doesn’t focus on the needs of the child. They fight to deny services and then when families prevail, MCPS struggles systemwide to implement IEPs.

Free routes for recourse is filing a state complaint or an OCR complaint. It doesn’t take a lawyer.

THe problem is with the massive 3X proliferation in private diagnosis that has plagued the upper-middle-class schools this past decade MCPS just doesn't have the resources to do this even if they wanted to. Something like 80% of my child's W feeder now has a 504 or IEP. They just can't keep up. Their budget is from the days when there were maybe 1 in30 kids not 25/30.

Please site your source because I believe you are spreading a false claim based on your personal implicit biases.

There’s no justification for a public school system to break the law and discriminate children with disabilities. That’s why there are Civil Rights Laws to protect students with disabilities.

There was an article in the NYT about this which was posted here a week or two agon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because as the parent of a young special needs child we are not only exhausted all the time, we have spent nearly every penny and then some on private services to help our child. There is nothing left to give, not the time, energy or money.

Not to mention many special Ed students end up as single family households. Not all, so please don't jump down my throat. But the reality is, if you have money, you go private and get what your child needs. And if you don't have money, many of cannot add even one more thing to our plate. So we get what we get and try not to get to upset

+1 Public school families do not have unlimited financial resources. To legally fight MCPS, an entity with unlimited funds for legal fights, parents weigh the cost with the benefits. Often, the best course of action is paying for private services for our children.

It’s disgusting that MCPS doesn’t focus on the needs of the child. They fight to deny services and then when families prevail, MCPS struggles systemwide to implement IEPs.

Free routes for recourse is filing a state complaint or an OCR complaint. It doesn’t take a lawyer.

THe problem is with the massive 3X proliferation in private diagnosis that has plagued the upper-middle-class schools this past decade MCPS just doesn't have the resources to do this even if they wanted to. Something like 80% of my child's W feeder now has a 504 or IEP. They just can't keep up. Their budget is from the days when there were maybe 1 in30 kids not 25/30.

Please site your source because I believe you are spreading a false claim based on your personal implicit biases.

There’s no justification for a public school system to break the law and discriminate children with disabilities. That’s why there are Civil Rights Laws to protect students with disabilities.

There was an article in the NYT about this which was posted here a week or two agon.

Yes, the article documented the massive increase in private diagnosis at upper middle class schools over the past decade and their impact on student services.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because as the parent of a young special needs child we are not only exhausted all the time, we have spent nearly every penny and then some on private services to help our child. There is nothing left to give, not the time, energy or money.

Not to mention many special Ed students end up as single family households. Not all, so please don't jump down my throat. But the reality is, if you have money, you go private and get what your child needs. And if you don't have money, many of cannot add even one more thing to our plate. So we get what we get and try not to get to upset

+1 Public school families do not have unlimited financial resources. To legally fight MCPS, an entity with unlimited funds for legal fights, parents weigh the cost with the benefits. Often, the best course of action is paying for private services for our children.

It’s disgusting that MCPS doesn’t focus on the needs of the child. They fight to deny services and then when families prevail, MCPS struggles systemwide to implement IEPs.

Free routes for recourse is filing a state complaint or an OCR complaint. It doesn’t take a lawyer.

THe problem is with the massive 3X proliferation in private diagnosis that has plagued the upper-middle-class schools this past decade MCPS just doesn't have the resources to do this even if they wanted to. Something like 80% of my child's W feeder now has a 504 or IEP. They just can't keep up. Their budget is from the days when there were maybe 1 in30 kids not 25/30.

Please site your source because I believe you are spreading a false claim based on your personal implicit biases.

There’s no justification for a public school system to break the law and discriminate children with disabilities. That’s why there are Civil Rights Laws to protect students with disabilities.

There was an article in the NYT about this which was posted here a week or two agon.

Yes, the article documented the massive increase in private diagnosis at upper middle class schools over the past decade and their impact on student services.

The article did not have specific reference to MCPS or a specific school in MCPS. PP claimed 80% of child’s W feeder school has a 504 plan or an IEP. That’s not from the NYT article so I asked for the source. If none can be given then there’s no support for the false claim.