Special Education at Lafayette

[Anonymous]

We have been running into enormous frustration due to non-compliance. As newcomers to DC we are somewhat shocked because services were far superior in our prior public school in NY. Is this school specific or just how the District of Columbia handles matters?

[Anonymous]

Can’t speak for all of DC but Lafayette ES has many many deficiencies with how they handle Special Ed. I suggest you lawyer up and quickly!

[Anonymous]

NY is known to have some of the best special ed services in the country -- along with NJ and Mass. So almost anywhere you go with be inferior. DC doesn't have a great reputation, but neither does Montgomery County Maryland, for example.

But if they are not in compliance you should take action.

This is a good no-cost group that will advocate for you http://www.aje-dc.org/

You can also use the DC OSSE ombudsman or a private attorney or advocate. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have been running into enormous frustration due to non-compliance. As newcomers to DC we are somewhat shocked because services were far superior in our prior public school in NY. Is this school specific or just how the District of Columbia handles matters?

I'm a teacher but not at Lafayette (I'm at a far less resourced school). We are in utter non-compliance and I keep getting told different things. They basically didn't hire enough staff to service all the hours so they are just not. Most of my IEPs are not being followed. Please get an advocate and a lawyer. Stay on top of things and demand what your child is legally entitled to!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have been running into enormous frustration due to non-compliance. As newcomers to DC we are somewhat shocked because services were far superior in our prior public school in NY. Is this school specific or just how the District of Columbia handles matters?

I'm a teacher but not at Lafayette (I'm at a far less resourced school). We are in utter non-compliance and I keep getting told different things. They basically didn't hire enough staff to service all the hours so they are just not. Most of my IEPs are not being followed. Please get an advocate and a lawyer. Stay on top of things and demand what your child is legally entitled to!

Does DC hire part time special education teachers? We just moved here and I have an out of state license but I'm not ready to jump in full time.

[Anonymous]

You need to lawyer up. Look up your rights as a parent. IDEA, LRE, IEP and 504 information. Get an advocate and demand a meeting as soon as possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have been running into enormous frustration due to non-compliance. As newcomers to DC we are somewhat shocked because services were far superior in our prior public school in NY. Is this school specific or just how the District of Columbia handles matters?

I'm a teacher but not at Lafayette (I'm at a far less resourced school). We are in utter non-compliance and I keep getting told different things. They basically didn't hire enough staff to service all the hours so they are just not. Most of my IEPs are not being followed. Please get an advocate and a lawyer. Stay on top of things and demand what your child is legally entitled to!

Does DC hire part time special education teachers? We just moved here and I have an out of state license but I'm not ready to jump in full time.

Almost certainly. There is a severe shortage of good teachers. Mid year hires are next to impossible to find.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have been running into enormous frustration due to non-compliance. As newcomers to DC we are somewhat shocked because services were far superior in our prior public school in NY. Is this school specific or just how the District of Columbia handles matters?

I am also a SN parent at Lafayette. Things are particularly bad this year because so many of the special ed teachers are new, but from what I can tell, special ed is terrible throughout DC. I recommend getting an advocate. Laura Solomon did wonders for us. Although some here will say that she's unnecessarily aggressive, I think a strong, adversarial voice is what you need in the shit show that is Lafayette special ed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have been running into enormous frustration due to non-compliance. As newcomers to DC we are somewhat shocked because services were far superior in our prior public school in NY. Is this school specific or just how the District of Columbia handles matters?

I'm a teacher but not at Lafayette (I'm at a far less resourced school). We are in utter non-compliance and I keep getting told different things. They basically didn't hire enough staff to service all the hours so they are just not. Most of my IEPs are not being followed. Please get an advocate and a lawyer. Stay on top of things and demand what your child is legally entitled to!

Does DC hire part time special education teachers? We just moved here and I have an out of state license but I'm not ready to jump in full time.

Almost certainly. There is a severe shortage of good teachers. Mid year hires are next to impossible to find.

Thank you. I come from a school with a principal with high expectations so I am ready to work hard. I just don't think I'm ready for full time after a cross country move. I'll try to figure out how to apply and everything.

[Anonymous]

The special education system at Lafayette is just way in over their heads. With all of these new classrooms, new teachers, and new students being bussed in from all over the city with a wide range of disabilities and medical needs : the staff was completely unprepared and illy equipped to handle such students in the mass numbers that they are coming in at. Therefore, a lot of the special education students in regular classrooms are falling through the cracks. Teachers are sick or take off and are not serviced for days or weeks, instructional assistants are at a bare minimum, and if you’ve ever been in a meeting with Dr. B., she acts like a genius when it comes to your kid. Laura Solomon is absolutely who you should contact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have been running into enormous frustration due to non-compliance. As newcomers to DC we are somewhat shocked because services were far superior in our prior public school in NY. Is this school specific or just how the District of Columbia handles matters?

I'm a teacher but not at Lafayette (I'm at a far less resourced school). We are in utter non-compliance and I keep getting told different things. They basically didn't hire enough staff to service all the hours so they are just not. Most of my IEPs are not being followed. Please get an advocate and a lawyer. Stay on top of things and demand what your child is legally entitled to!

Does DC hire part time special education teachers? We just moved here and I have an out of state license but I'm not ready to jump in full time.

Almost certainly. There is a severe shortage of good teachers. Mid year hires are next to impossible to find.

Thank you. I come from a school with a principal with high expectations so I am ready to work hard. I just don't think I'm ready for full time after a cross country move. I'll try to figure out how to apply and everything.

Success in DCPS has less to do with how hard you are willing to work and more with how much dysfunction you are willing to put up with. You really can't fathom the stuff that happens and doesn't happen here. I'm a few years in and think nothing will surprise me and yet, it still does. But we desperately need good teachers willing to work hard. I would start by researching schools you'd be willing to commute to and emailing principals directly. At the same time start the online DCPS application to get the process going.

[Anonymous]

Former DCPS teacher, I concur with the PP teacher said. DCPS is not about working hard, it is about working smart and knowing all things are politically motivated and connected. DCPS teachers get paid hazardous pay not necessarily because DCPS thinks the teachers deserve it. To the parents concerned about services I definitely say get a parent advocate but please not private schools are no better for services. The suburbs are often better because of the quality of parental community (if you are not at a high FARMS or ESOL school). Decide what’s best for your family though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The special education system at Lafayette is just way in over their heads. With all of these new classrooms, new teachers, and new students being bussed in from all over the city with a wide range of disabilities and medical needs : the staff was completely unprepared and illy equipped to handle such students in the mass numbers that they are coming in at. Therefore, a lot of the special education students in regular classrooms are falling through the cracks. Teachers are sick or take off and are not serviced for days or weeks, instructional assistants are at a bare minimum, and if you’ve ever been in a meeting with Dr. B., she acts like a genius when it comes to your kid. Laura Solomon is absolutely who you should contact.

Laura Solomon is a truly fantastic first rate advocate!

[Anonymous]

Why are there so many new teachers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are there so many new teachers?

For the inclusion teachers, two of last year's special ed teachers moved to gen ed. Plus there was churn among the teachers in the special ed classrooms. Plus the third special ed coordinator in as many years.