Substitute Special Ed Teacher

[Anonymous]

We are fairly new to the IEP process and our daughter has been receiving Special Ed services since October. Our special ed teacher will be going out on Mat leave in a few weeks. Is there any requirement for FCPS to provide a sub teacher that is specially trained in Special Ed. services to fill the role. It seems like the second half of the year will be lost if they filling a special ed role with any old substitute teacher.

[Anonymous]

We had this issue in MCPS. I have no idea if our sub is trained in Sp. Ed.

My son is in 3rd and in a self contained classroom. The class has 2 sp ed. teachers and 2 paras. 3/4 of the class adults are still in place. There is a sub teacher. I haven't noticed much of a change except most of my communication now goes through the para instead of the sub teacher.

[Anonymous]

They are really really hard to find. The pay and nonexistent benefits for long term subs already make it a job no one wants. To then find a certified special ed teacher among that limited pool is really difficult. They will try but may not be able to. You could maybe sue for compensatory services afterward if you can demonstrate that your child did not make any gains or regressed. But the pay for the people who give the compensatory hours is also bad—it’s not even their regular salary rate.

[Anonymous]

I had this problem when my kid was little too (and I got totally flamed for expressing concern about having a long-term sub on here also). In MCPS the principal is the one who finds the sub. I was also told it was very hard to find a credentialed teacher to fill infor a maternity leave but guess what? After I talked with the principal she found one and the sub turned out to be better than the regular teacher. Talk to the principal and ask what the policy is. Explain your concerns (what you are really doing is putting subtle pressure on her to find someone decent).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had this issue in MCPS. I have no idea if our sub is trained in Sp. Ed.

My son is in 3rd and in a self contained classroom. The class has 2 sp ed. teachers and 2 paras. 3/4 of the class adults are still in place. There is a sub teacher. I haven't noticed much of a change except most of my communication now goes through the para instead of the sub teacher.

A W middle school in MCPS had a special ed teacher go on maternity leave in Oct. The rest of the year there were subs or “coverage”.

[Anonymous]

There's no likelihood you'll get a special ed teacher sub. I'd be shocked if you did. I'd let the principal know you want to know what the plans are. I'd call the admin over the principal if you don't get answers.