Educational Testing through MCPS
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Anonymous
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My son has ADHD, depression, anxiety and probably other issues.
He has a lot of trouble reading, understanding directions, remembering, recalling and focusing He is 7th grade and all teachers agree and offer a lot of help. I have requested an educational hearing because it's pretty clear there is something else that is interfering with his learning - something that the above symptoms would be explained by (possibly dyslexia) We have a hearing set up but the counselor said it's unlikely he will get testing because he gets As and Bs. This is really because we spend a ton of time with him and so do his teachers. He retakes tests and gets extra time. At some point when the curriculum gets more challenging, we simply wont be able to keep up and his grades will tank. The crash is coming and I'd like to help him before it happens. I was told MCPS will only test if he is failing (but they make it almost impossible to fail and I think telling my son not to retake tests or get extra help so he can fail is a terrible message and will make his anxiety and depression worse. I was also told if we can show how much help he requires to function that we stand a chance. I'm thinking of hiring and advocate to come with us too of course since I know this can be a big help navigating the system. Any tips to help us qualify for testing through MCPS? Kaiser won't help at all - they did a basic screening for psychological issues and once diagnosed, they don't have any plan to help him. |
Anonymous
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When you request testing, the first thing that will happen is a meeting to discuss whether it's reasonable to suspect that he has an interfering disability. You need to go to that meeting with specific examples of how whatever disability he has is interfering with his ability to access the curriculum. Document the extra help that you are providing him. Show how many times he needs to retake a test. Document how long it takes him to do his work.
ADHD could explain all the problems you list and could qualify him for an IEP. But full testing is always the first step. If they deny you testing, you can request an independent education evaluation, where the school system pays for an outside evaluation (up to a certain amount, which may or may not cover the whole cost). They would have to take you to due process if they want to deny it. |
Anonymous
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Is the ADHD diagnosed, or you're guessing?
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Anonymous
| Don't waste your time trying to get testing from MCPS. Go ahead, save up and do your own private testing. A good neuropsych is invaluable. MCPS will use the cheapest test -- and frankly there is nothing the county schools offer for a child who learns differently except frustration. If your child has dyslexia there is no intervention that MCPS offers (here is where they are borderline criminal organization because they will make it seem like they can assist -- and just socially promote). You need to get an ASDEC tutor - and fast. Between $60-120 an hour for O-G tutoring three times a week or take classes yourself in O-G. You are the best thing that ever happened to your kid -- not MCPS. He will succeed -- and sounds like he is succeeding despite that place -- because of you. Keep educating yourself even more about learning disorders. Forget lawyers, advocates and other parents who will either take advantage of the situation -- or tell you to 'push' more. The odds of you winning a private placement in Maryland are very slim. Homeschool if necessary. You can do this. But you have to educate yourself in the latest cognitive research if you don't want to pay for a place like Sienna at $40,000 a year. Start by reading the book 'Learn Better' by Ulrich Boser. MCPS is sub-optimal for bright kids -- they use them as PR window dressing for Central office -- and an unmitigated disaster for anyone with a learning disorder. Yep 2.7 billion dollar jobs program....built for the 'Apple Ballot' adults. |
Anonymous
| With the psychological stuff, I would do private testing also. You aren’t going to get a full picture from the schools testing. |
Anonymous
So, I'm writing the below because it sounds like you don't already have an IEP? It's not clear to me that the "educational hearing" you think is scheduled is an IEP meeting. Sometimes MCPS tries to convince parents that they are doing their best by holding an EMT meeting and telling the parents during the meeting that they can't get an IEP or testing because there's no disorder, no adverse educational impact (the no failing grades argument) or no need for special instruction (because they are already helping him). All these tactics are illegal but happening outside of any formal recorded channels if you haven't asked for an IEP in writing. If you haven't made a written a formal request for an IEP meeting and full educational assessment in a letter or email that includes 1) what his disorder is 2) what the adverse impact on education is (doesn't have to be grades) and 3) what the need for special instruction is, write the following: "Dear Principal: I am writing to request an initial evaluation for an IEP (to include a full educational assessment in all areas of suspected disability) for my son, Larlo, who is in 7th grade. Larlo has been diagnosed by his physician with ADHD, depression and anxiety. Our family is addressing Larlo's medical needs with his treating physician, but we find that Larlo also has educational needs related to his disability. We suspect that, in addition to ADHD, depression and anxiety, he may have dyslexia or some other undiagnosed learning disability. Larlo has great trouble trouble reading, understanding directions, remembering, recalling and focusing. As parents, we spend an unusually large amount of time at home supporting Larlo in doing his homework and preparing for exams -- far beyond what seems reasonable given his age and intelligence level. Larlo's teachers agree that he is having difficulty and are doing them best to offer him help informally - he is offered chances to retake exams and gets extra time. It is only through this extremely high level of effort by us -- Larlo, his parents and teachers --- that Larlo has been able to maintain As and Bs in his classwork. We believe that, although Larlo's teachers are doing their best to support him, Larlo may need special instruction in reading or special instruction in methods to organize and express his thoughts, break tasks into manageable parts, and use of graphic organizers for writing. Larlo may also need accommodations that he currently receives (extra time, test retakes) formalized on an IEP plan as well as other accommodations. I have been informed by Ms. Counselor that Larlo is unlikely to receive educational testing because he is getting As and Bs. I was told by Ms. XXX that MCPS will only conduct educational testing if Larlo is failing. It seems like an unwise idea to tell Larlo to forgo all the help he is already receiving in order to allow his grades to fall and therefore qualify for an IEP. The advice we are receiving that Larlo must have failing grades is exacerbating Larlo's depression and anxiety. I'm sure you, Mr. Principal, know that under IDEA, Section 300.101(c)(1) "Each State must ensure that FAPE is available to any individual child with a disability who needs special education and related services, even though the child has not failed or been retained in a course or grade, and is advancing from grade to grade." Therefore, MCPS may not require students to have failing grades in order to qualify for an IEP or educational assessment. Many students with As and Bs in MCPS have IEPs. I am sure you are also aware that under disability law, MCPS has an obligation to evaluate Larlo's impairment in his unmitigated state or what is assumed to be his unmitigated state -- that is to say that if Larlo manages to achieve As and Bs only with mitigating measures, then we cannot say that there is no adverse educational impact. In addition, IDEA section 300.304(b)(2)states that the public agency must, "Not use any single measure or assessment as the sole criterion for determining whether a child is a child with a disability ". Thus, looking only at Larlo's grades to determine IEP eligibility and educational testing is impermissible. A meeting has been scheduled to discuss Larlo's needs. I look forward to meeting the members of the IEP team. I will be participating as well as (fill in the blank -- Larlo's educational advocate, Larlo's dad, Larlo's dog, whatever.....). We will be taping the meeting and look forward to receiving the required paperwork and data the team wishes to discuss at the meeting in advance of the meeting as required by law. Specific data to be provided in advance to us should include, inter alia: teacher referral forms prepared for the IEP meeting, any data regularly collected by the school such as MAP-R and MAP-M scores, PARCC scores, any other data that will be discussed at the meeting, etc. I look forward to working together collaboratively to address Larlo's educational disability so that I do not have to resort to due process options. Sincerely, Larlo's mom" I got so freaking tired of hearing that MCPS is pulling the same old $%^&$* that I wrote the entire letter for you...... sorry, I got carried away. Adapt as necessary for your specific situation. The letter makes a clear case for an IEP and testing and also politely gets it on the record that the school is lying to you about what it takes to qualify for an IEP, that you know your rights and that you are prepared to go to due process (i.e. sue or otherwise file complaint) if you have to. Hire an advocate if you think you need to! Good luck! An MCPS mom who has heard all of the above and more in the past 10 years and is pretty sick of it. |
Anonymous
| I’ve never seen MCPS refuse to test. I have seen test results not qualify a child for an IEP or 504. I have seen children retested every year. |
Anonymous
| To start the process all you need to do is ask the principal to have your child assessed because you believe that he has a disability that is adversely impacting his ability to learn. You do it red to write a lot letter like a PP suggests. Isn’t even imagine it to be advisable to lay everything out in writing at this stage - if ever. |
Anonymous
I have personally experienced MCPS refusing to test. I have also heard many other parents get the exact same line as OP did. I have also experienced MCPS agree to "test' and the assessment they did was a natural language sample and NOT the full assessment required by law in all areas of suspected disability. I have seen them try to substitute testing like MAP-R instead of doing WJ-III to test reading, etc. I have also personally experienced MCPS turning down qualified students for an IEP or 504 plan on the basis of "no bad grades," which is, as pointed out above, illegal. IME, MCPS does a lot of shady things to avoid passing kids at the screening eligibility meeting or refusing to fully assess. |
Anonymous
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MCPS will absolutely refuse to test because your child is on grade level (Cs and above). You'll go to the meeting, Larlo's teachers will be there, as will the school Psychologist, and they will go around the table and ask, "Is Larlo on grade level?" Each will say, "Yes," and the meeting will be over in 10 minutes.
Save up your money and get the testing done privately. FYI, it is cheaper to get it done in Baltimore than around here. And the wait is still 2-3 months wherever you go. Been there, done that, and wish you well. |
Anonymous
OP here. ADHD is formally diagnosed through two specialists and nobody disagrees with it. Of course he could have something else wrong with him that is confused for ADHD but at this point, it's what his diagnosis is |
Anonymous
OP Here. Thank you SO much. Your incredible effort is very much appreciated. We already have a 504. My main goal is to get more information about what else is wrong since it seems to be more than ADHD (or an extreme case of ADHD perhaps). We've been going to therapists and psychiatrists and I can honestly say we are no better off than we were three years ago. In fact things are worse in just about every way. We had a basic neuropsych test through Kaiser but I know it didn't really look for everything. We may go the private route but I feel like MCPS should be trying to help kids who are working so hard and who just can't seem to do it all without some additional assistance at school. Our son asks for (and gets) a lot of help from his teachers. Last year only one teacher refused to follow his 504 so they switched him to another teacher who also refused to follow the 504. She just gave him As on everything so she didn't have to deal with it and hoping I'd stay quiet. This is what kills me about MCPS. They hand out As so easily so kids with real issues are tucked away and parents think all is well. I know better. I appreciate the opportunity for kids to retake tests because I feel like they do learn it in the end. However, it is used against them when they need help and in some cases, gives them a false sense of confidence about how well they are coping with the curriculum. His reading scores were average to above average early on at his private elementary school but started to plummet in 4th or 5th grade. His Lexile scores are in the 4th grade range despite him being in 7th grade. That has to indicate something!! His vocabulary is excellent but his actual reading skills stink and we require him to read 20 minutes a night so it's not from lack of trying. thanks again! Thank you for your letter. I will definitely use it. |
Anonymous
This is the worst advice ever. If you don't put something in writing, it didn't happen. The school has to respond to your request within a certain number of days, but the clock only starts with a written request. |
Anonymous
| OP, I’d really focus on getting a private neuropsych. If you have a 504 he was tested at school. You should have the results. I can access that sort of thing online. Another thought is that I’d get a reading assessment. If his scores are as you say, I’m surprised he isn’t being offered Read 180. |
Anonymous
Many kids in MCPS are given 504 plans without any testing conducted by the school. Many students with medical disabilities present only information from their treating physician and get no further "assessment" by MCPS. In fact, MCPS often tells parents that they are not legally obligated to assess a student asking for a 504 plan (not quite an accurate statement of the law). Many other students do have assessments done for 504 plans -- often when MCPS turns them down for an IEP and offers a 504 plan in order to try to convince the parens that MCPS is doing what it can. Sometimes the school has done the assessment. Sometimes the parent provides a private assessment. |