DCPS IS halting all therapy services for kids in private schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hmmmm...I wonder if there's any case for bringing a material misrepresentation/detrimental reliance suit against DCPS for telling you you'd get X services, than pulling the rug after you'd already materially changed positions (committed to paying for private school) in reliance on that representation?
Or can you not bring that kind of tort claim against a government?

My personal opinion is that this would be very expensive and time consuming and the parents dealing with this need to focus that time and money on now securing private therapies to replace what has now been taken. Maybe it's possible in theory but it's one more thing to deal with that people in a panic scramble can't deal with.

How do you think change is made! IDEA is an intensely litigated area and there may well be any number of nonprofit legal organizations willing to take this on. Being a plaintiff in a case like this doesn't take a ton of effort. Just gather up all the documents you have and probably have a couple of long conversations with the attorneys. I don't have any opinion on whether there is a strong legal case here - but absolutely people should get together and explore this. It's not going to get you services next week, but maybe in a year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hmmmm...I wonder if there's any case for bringing a material misrepresentation/detrimental reliance suit against DCPS for telling you you'd get X services, than pulling the rug after you'd already materially changed positions (committed to paying for private school) in reliance on that representation?
Or can you not bring that kind of tort claim against a government?

My personal opinion is that this would be very expensive and time consuming and the parents dealing with this need to focus that time and money on now securing private therapies to replace what has now been taken. Maybe it's possible in theory but it's one more thing to deal with that people in a panic scramble can't deal with.

How do you think change is made! IDEA is an intensely litigated area and there may well be any number of nonprofit legal organizations willing to take this on. Being a plaintiff in a case like this doesn't take a ton of effort. Just gather up all the documents you have and probably have a couple of long conversations with the attorneys. I don't have any opinion on whether there is a strong legal case here - but absolutely people should get together and explore this. It's not going to get you services next week, but maybe in a year.

I get what you're saying but seriously, some people don't have the extra time/energy/money in litigating for "change." It takes so much time and effort just to figure out how to get your kid what they need that devoting any of that to tort reform... Yeah. No. Speaking for myself and probably many other SN parents. You do it if you're so gung ho about it.

[Anonymous]

I am shocked. Just appalled at the parents on this forum who are so insensitive. This particular forum is supposed to be a place of support for parents who have kids who need extra help. I think what is going on here is similar to what happens on the private school forum, where parents bicker over the choice of private over public. Public school parents feel as though families who choose private over their public school are somehow snobby or too good for their public school. And now this is the public school population striking back at those private school parents...even on the special needs forum!! Come on people. These are children with special needs. They are entitled and NEED these services because a lot of private schools (especially the inexpensive parochial ones) do not have the resources!! OP does not have to explain why she chose private. But it appears she had good reason. Even if the reason was because she just wanted her DC to have a religious education, it should NOT matter. She chose this private school based on the fact that those services were available to her. Now she may have to send her child back to public only to have to withstand bullying again. How sad, and shocking that you people have no compassion for this child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Their choice. You either go to public school or pay for private services.

Doesn't matter that these families are tax payers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, it would make sense to me that public school districts provide services to public school students. Why should tax payers fund services for students not in public school? Imagine how much more resources public school students could have if funds were not funneled into providing services to those NOT in public school!

If the only way for parents to get services for their child is to enroll them in public school, the public schools are going to get a larger share of kids with SN. Making public schools responsible for some services, but not the entire education of kids with SN is a compromise that lowers the overall cost for the public school system.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am shocked. Just appalled at the parents on this forum who are so insensitive. This particular forum is supposed to be a place of support for parents who have kids who need extra help. I think what is going on here is similar to what happens on the private school forum, where parents bicker over the choice of private over public. Public school parents feel as though families who choose private over their public school are somehow snobby or too good for their public school. And now this is the public school population striking back at those private school parents...even on the special needs forum!! Come on people. These are children with special needs. They are entitled and NEED these services because a lot of private schools (especially the inexpensive parochial ones) do not have the resources!! OP does not have to explain why she chose private. But it appears she had good reason. Even if the reason was because she just wanted her DC to have a religious education, it should NOT matter. She chose this private school based on the fact that those services were available to her. Now she may have to send her child back to public only to have to withstand bullying again. How sad, and shocking that you people have no compassion for this child.

+1 million. Let's keep it supportive here!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, it would make sense to me that public school districts provide services to public school students. Why should tax payers fund services for students not in public school? Imagine how much more resources public school students could have if funds were not funneled into providing services to those NOT in public school!

If the only way for parents to get services for their child is to enroll them in public school, the public schools are going to get a larger share of kids with SN. Making public schools responsible for some services, but not the entire education of kids with SN is a compromise that lowers the overall cost for the public school system.

+1

Exactly. Penny wise and pound foolish.

[Anonymous]

I am out of the area and did alert a key person in the Washington Post's education section who said it would be looked into to see if the public should be informed. I came at it from an initial post indicating that the Archdiocese was suing the DCPS about not being willing to provide services to children in DC who have an IEP, but go to a private school for various reasons. They were basing it on the fact that services are provided by Montgomery County for children at parochial school sites. It certainly seemed like a win in giving more families options and possibly for DCPS with fewer legal cases. We get the Washington Post where we live, but I guess it did not come up to the level of a big story as it seems one can coast by legally with "coaching."

However, my daughter who is a therapist in a preschool setting has said they all had to attend a workshop on Coaching and not just the idea of a PT. OT or ST coaching a parent on what to do an EI setting, which she agreed is often a part of the model of direct in-home therapy, but rather they are now to be viewed as "EI Coaches on all therapies" - without any need to even take any online training in what each other does in the most basic sense. Further more in a school setting you have to consider "who" you are coaching to work with a child - and many at least assistants or child care teachers themselves may not have that much of a formal education. In her view it would be "dumbing down" and taking direct services away from children. She is looking to get out to go to a private practice or hospital based program where therapists are still going to be providing services one is trained for.

[Anonymous]

This is very concerning. I think since this is a federal law, that the Department of Education needs to be alerted as well. I can totally see MCPS and other school districts following this practice since if it's allowed in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP and any others in similar situation,
I'm late to the party here as I was on vacation when we received our similar letter, plus it took me a few days to realize it actually meant what it meant (you are cutting all my preK 4 daughter's services - 8 hours a month of direct therapy which to me is a meaningful amount - after we just agreed to this a month ago)? My main issue is with the timing of how this is all communicated. I have already signed a contract with the private pre-school - I might have made a different decision if DCPS had been upfront about not providing the services this year. I know it won't make a lick of difference but I will feel better if I complain to someone - have you contacted anyone in the DC government, council, media etc. as was suggested by many? Or pursued legal options? I would love to add our voice to whatever chorus has already been started (if any).
Thank you,
Amanda[/quote

Hello Amanda this is OP. I starting to think my family was the only one who got the letter! I think many more parents are in for a rude awakening once they try to schedule services. Wevhave contacted city council, deputy mayor for education, and US Dept. Of Ed. Feel we have very strong procedural arguments over lack of consultation and notice. Archdiocese is suing. Would love to connect with all parents who have been blindsided like I was. Trying to think of best way to share my contact info without giving it to the trolls?

[Anonymous]

Hi OP & all this is Amanda,

Wanted to share this update that I received from Child Find (Brigid Cafferty) explaining the policy change - in case you haven't already had this same info shared:

"The consultation model provides for 1 consultative visit per month (minimum of 30mins/maximum of 60 mins) in each of the disciplines the student qualifies for services. As your daughter qualifies for speech, occupational therapy, and physical therapy she would receive 1 consultative visit by each related service provider, for a total of 3 consultative visits per month. The DCPS related service providers will come to <your School> for these visits and coordinate with the school's staff schedule. The consultation model consists of the DCPS related service provider first observing the student in the private school classroom, then modeling and discussing strategies the private school teacher can use to support the student in the classroom.

I see that <your daughter's> ISP was completed this summer by DCPS Early Stages. I appreciate that the timing of this practice change is frustrating. Unfortunately, a state complaint was filed against DCPS with the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). In OSSE's letter of decision, OSSE determined that DCPS's previous equitable services practice of providing direct services at a DCPS local school placed an unfair burden on parents. OSSE ordered DCPS to change our delivery model for equitable services. This consultation model relieves that burden on parents and allows for greater integration of the student's private school curriculum into their ISP service goals."

I understand that some have had success with the coaching model but we have found it quite stressful in our family when Early Intervention started to transition to it during our daughter's last year with them. We don't have the resources in our family to properly implement the training, and I'm not sure my daughter's school will either. It is a terrific school but we have been pioneers in the inclusion model there and her teacher does not have a background or extensive experience with special needs children. I really respect the education that therapists have; I have watched them work miracles with my daughter, where she acquired a new skill in only several sessions with them that we had been trying for months to get her to learn.

Anyway at the risk of having my email blow up (this is too important!), I can be reached at amandajprovostATyahooDOTcom. I would love to connect directly with you to learn more about your advocacy and strategies for getting the best possible outcomes for our children.

Thanks,
Amanda

[Anonymous]

You said your daughter was bullied and did not have a good experience in her DC public school. If you are in DC, can you not lottery for a better public school option?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP & all this is Amanda,

Wanted to share this update that I received from Child Find (Brigid Cafferty) explaining the policy change - in case you haven't already had this same info shared:

"The consultation model provides for 1 consultative visit per month (minimum of 30mins/maximum of 60 mins) in each of the disciplines the student qualifies for services. As your daughter qualifies for speech, occupational therapy, and physical therapy she would receive 1 consultative visit by each related service provider, for a total of 3 consultative visits per month. The DCPS related service providers will come to <your School> for these visits and coordinate with the school's staff schedule. The consultation model consists of the DCPS related service provider first observing the student in the private school classroom, then modeling and discussing strategies the private school teacher can use to support the student in the classroom.

I see that <your daughter's> ISP was completed this summer by DCPS Early Stages. I appreciate that the timing of this practice change is frustrating. Unfortunately, a state complaint was filed against DCPS with the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). In OSSE's letter of decision, OSSE determined that DCPS's previous equitable services practice of providing direct services at a DCPS local school placed an unfair burden on parents. OSSE ordered DCPS to change our delivery model for equitable services. This consultation model relieves that burden on parents and allows for greater integration of the student's private school curriculum into their ISP service goals."

I understand that some have had success with the coaching model but we have found it quite stressful in our family when Early Intervention started to transition to it during our daughter's last year with them. We don't have the resources in our family to properly implement the training, and I'm not sure my daughter's school will either. It is a terrific school but we have been pioneers in the inclusion model there and her teacher does not have a background or extensive experience with special needs children. I really respect the education that therapists have; I have watched them work miracles with my daughter, where she acquired a new skill in only several sessions with them that we had been trying for months to get her to learn.

Anyway at the risk of having my email blow up (this is too important!), I can be reached at amandajprovostATyahooDOTcom. I would love to connect directly with you to learn more about your advocacy and strategies for getting the best possible outcomes for our children.

Thanks,
Amanda

This is really weird. So in answer to the complaint that it was burdensome to have to travel to a DCPS to get actual services (for however many hours) they now have "coaches" travel to the private schools instead? That really makes no sense and seems like it is in retaliation for whatever that complaint was.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am shocked. Just appalled at the parents on this forum who are so insensitive. This particular forum is supposed to be a place of support for parents who have kids who need extra help. I think what is going on here is similar to what happens on the private school forum, where parents bicker over the choice of private over public. Public school parents feel as though families who choose private over their public school are somehow snobby or too good for their public school. And now this is the public school population striking back at those private school parents...even on the special needs forum!! Come on people. These are children with special needs. They are entitled and NEED these services because a lot of private schools (especially the inexpensive parochial ones) do not have the resources!! OP does not have to explain why she chose private. But it appears she had good reason. Even if the reason was because she just wanted her DC to have a religious education, it should NOT matter. She chose this private school based on the fact that those services were available to her. Now she may have to send her child back to public only to have to withstand bullying again. How sad, and shocking that you people have no compassion for this child.

Many of us who are at private schools pay for private therapies (private pay or insurance). I understand why OP picked private as did we but then we are responsible for the services and meeting our child's individual needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

This is really weird. So in answer to the complaint that it was burdensome to have to travel to a DCPS to get actual services (for however many hours) they now have "coaches" travel to the private schools instead? That really makes no sense and seems like it is in retaliation for whatever that complaint was.

Didn't OP originally say that it was the Archdioscese of Washington that complained about the undue burden being created by requiring parents to transport their kids to a DCPS school? And was asking for therapists to be sent to the parochial schools?

What a mess.