APS & diagnosing learning disabilities

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am sorry your child's learning disabilities weren't identified earlier and it's great he is now getting the support he needs. That said, I would be surprised if most parents (who are lucky enough to have the resources to do so) didn't already know how important private testing can be. You blame APS and you are so "livid at their ignorance" that you are warning other parents to "lawyer up" but perhaps deep down you are angry at your own ignorance and failure to advocate for your child as strongly as you could have. Teachers aren't diagnosticians who can tease out every special need, as much as we wish this were the case. Given your own concerns, you should have requested an evaluation from the school, which they would have been required to do. Without that, you don't know if and how they could have accommodated your child. I know schools can and often should do better but I don't think it's fair or helpful to lay blame in thie way that OP has done.

NP. My kid’s story is similar to OPs. And yes, I am angry at myself for not being a better advocate but I am also angry with APS. My kid has a lot of issues that get tangled together and it is not the school’s job to fix them all but teaching him to read should squarely fall in their wheelhouse. He’s behind in reading- failing SOLs and all assessments below grade level but not enough to qualify for extra help, which he hasn’t received at APS since 1st grade. He’s extremely behind in writing and can barely write at a level about 3 grades below grade level. When we requested special education assessment, we were told he just didn’t try hard in the sections he didn’t pass (something we heard consistently all through elementary).

When we paid for a private assessment, we were told they wouldn’t accept it and that they would need to redo it themselves. Every advocate and experienced parent we talked to said that we shouldn’t even bother trying to get APS to remediate dyslexia. So our options are either paying $100+/hour for private tutoring multiple days a week after he has already struggled through school all day or is all the money we have saved to send him to private school that costs more than most university tuition.

I think the teachers and administrators don’t mean to harm but way the system is set up let’s a lot of kids fail. It is completely justified to blame APS for that.

I'm sorry for these stories regarding APS dropping the ball on learning disabilities. It really makes me wonder why APS is held in such high regard. Why are house prices so extreme, aside of the proximity to DC and great (although incredibly expensive) neighborhoods, what is the draw for families? I have friends in other areas of the country that are getting a much better quality education, assistance with diagnosing disabilities and collaborating on an IEP/recovery measures, etc. Especially since COVID, APS has been consistently going downhill. So many families have left for private education. Why pay Arlington prices if you need to send your kids to private school? All of this makes no sense to me, but maybe I'm missing something.

I don't think you're missing anything. APS is held in high regard because the families are generally wealthy. Children whose parents are wealthy do better in school. There is nothing great about any APS school.

and of course wealthy parents of kids with learning differences send them to private schools. APS loves it that way.

Or they pay for private testing, tutoring and services.
APS doesn't want to pay for reading tutoring because they said it's too expensive and tutors for reading charge $100 per hr. So they are ok with parents paying for it and for those who can't well those kids just don't learn to read

This is false. APS has many OG trained educators and reading specialists on staff in every school and many children are regularly identitied for reading interventions. I'm speaking as a former staff member.

then you should know that the only reason APS has OG trained teachers now is because parents spent years and years fighting for that. And the OG training is still pretty minimal compared to what private OG tutors have. And sooooo many kids were missed for being identified for special education for dyslexia.

No again, not true. APS has had reading specialists the entire time I worked there, which includes the last 10 years. It's too bad that some posters have had bad experiences, but that's not the norm.

yes and the reading specialists were not trained in OG. Wake up!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am sorry your child's learning disabilities weren't identified earlier and it's great he is now getting the support he needs. That said, I would be surprised if most parents (who are lucky enough to have the resources to do so) didn't already know how important private testing can be. You blame APS and you are so "livid at their ignorance" that you are warning other parents to "lawyer up" but perhaps deep down you are angry at your own ignorance and failure to advocate for your child as strongly as you could have. Teachers aren't diagnosticians who can tease out every special need, as much as we wish this were the case. Given your own concerns, you should have requested an evaluation from the school, which they would have been required to do. Without that, you don't know if and how they could have accommodated your child. I know schools can and often should do better but I don't think it's fair or helpful to lay blame in thie way that OP has done.

NP. My kid’s story is similar to OPs. And yes, I am angry at myself for not being a better advocate but I am also angry with APS. My kid has a lot of issues that get tangled together and it is not the school’s job to fix them all but teaching him to read should squarely fall in their wheelhouse. He’s behind in reading- failing SOLs and all assessments below grade level but not enough to qualify for extra help, which he hasn’t received at APS since 1st grade. He’s extremely behind in writing and can barely write at a level about 3 grades below grade level. When we requested special education assessment, we were told he just didn’t try hard in the sections he didn’t pass (something we heard consistently all through elementary).

When we paid for a private assessment, we were told they wouldn’t accept it and that they would need to redo it themselves. Every advocate and experienced parent we talked to said that we shouldn’t even bother trying to get APS to remediate dyslexia. So our options are either paying $100+/hour for private tutoring multiple days a week after he has already struggled through school all day or is all the money we have saved to send him to private school that costs more than most university tuition.

I think the teachers and administrators don’t mean to harm but way the system is set up let’s a lot of kids fail. It is completely justified to blame APS for that.

I'm sorry for these stories regarding APS dropping the ball on learning disabilities. It really makes me wonder why APS is held in such high regard. Why are house prices so extreme, aside of the proximity to DC and great (although incredibly expensive) neighborhoods, what is the draw for families? I have friends in other areas of the country that are getting a much better quality education, assistance with diagnosing disabilities and collaborating on an IEP/recovery measures, etc. Especially since COVID, APS has been consistently going downhill. So many families have left for private education. Why pay Arlington prices if you need to send your kids to private school? All of this makes no sense to me, but maybe I'm missing something.

I don't think you're missing anything. APS is held in high regard because the families are generally wealthy. Children whose parents are wealthy do better in school. There is nothing great about any APS school.

and of course wealthy parents of kids with learning differences send them to private schools. APS loves it that way.

Or they pay for private testing, tutoring and services.
APS doesn't want to pay for reading tutoring because they said it's too expensive and tutors for reading charge $100 per hr. So they are ok with parents paying for it and for those who can't well those kids just don't learn to read

This is false. APS has many OG trained educators and reading specialists on staff in every school and many children are regularly identitied for reading interventions. I'm speaking as a former staff member.

then you should know that the only reason APS has OG trained teachers now is because parents spent years and years fighting for that. And the OG training is still pretty minimal compared to what private OG tutors have. And sooooo many kids were missed for being identified for special education for dyslexia.

No again, not true. APS has had reading specialists the entire time I worked there, which includes the last 10 years. It's too bad that some posters have had bad experiences, but that's not the norm.

yes and the reading specialists were not trained in OG. Wake up!

I see we have an APS apologist on this thread, ha ha.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am sorry your child's learning disabilities weren't identified earlier and it's great he is now getting the support he needs. That said, I would be surprised if most parents (who are lucky enough to have the resources to do so) didn't already know how important private testing can be. You blame APS and you are so "livid at their ignorance" that you are warning other parents to "lawyer up" but perhaps deep down you are angry at your own ignorance and failure to advocate for your child as strongly as you could have. Teachers aren't diagnosticians who can tease out every special need, as much as we wish this were the case. Given your own concerns, you should have requested an evaluation from the school, which they would have been required to do. Without that, you don't know if and how they could have accommodated your child. I know schools can and often should do better but I don't think it's fair or helpful to lay blame in thie way that OP has done.

NP. My kid’s story is similar to OPs. And yes, I am angry at myself for not being a better advocate but I am also angry with APS. My kid has a lot of issues that get tangled together and it is not the school’s job to fix them all but teaching him to read should squarely fall in their wheelhouse. He’s behind in reading- failing SOLs and all assessments below grade level but not enough to qualify for extra help, which he hasn’t received at APS since 1st grade. He’s extremely behind in writing and can barely write at a level about 3 grades below grade level. When we requested special education assessment, we were told he just didn’t try hard in the sections he didn’t pass (something we heard consistently all through elementary).

When we paid for a private assessment, we were told they wouldn’t accept it and that they would need to redo it themselves. Every advocate and experienced parent we talked to said that we shouldn’t even bother trying to get APS to remediate dyslexia. So our options are either paying $100+/hour for private tutoring multiple days a week after he has already struggled through school all day or is all the money we have saved to send him to private school that costs more than most university tuition.

I think the teachers and administrators don’t mean to harm but way the system is set up let’s a lot of kids fail. It is completely justified to blame APS for that.

I'm sorry for these stories regarding APS dropping the ball on learning disabilities. It really makes me wonder why APS is held in such high regard. Why are house prices so extreme, aside of the proximity to DC and great (although incredibly expensive) neighborhoods, what is the draw for families? I have friends in other areas of the country that are getting a much better quality education, assistance with diagnosing disabilities and collaborating on an IEP/recovery measures, etc. Especially since COVID, APS has been consistently going downhill. So many families have left for private education. Why pay Arlington prices if you need to send your kids to private school? All of this makes no sense to me, but maybe I'm missing something.

I don't think you're missing anything. APS is held in high regard because the families are generally wealthy. Children whose parents are wealthy do better in school. There is nothing great about any APS school.

and of course wealthy parents of kids with learning differences send them to private schools. APS loves it that way.

Or they pay for private testing, tutoring and services.
APS doesn't want to pay for reading tutoring because they said it's too expensive and tutors for reading charge $100 per hr. So they are ok with parents paying for it and for those who can't well those kids just don't learn to read

This is false. APS has many OG trained educators and reading specialists on staff in every school and many children are regularly identitied for reading interventions. I'm speaking as a former staff member.

then you should know that the only reason APS has OG trained teachers now is because parents spent years and years fighting for that. And the OG training is still pretty minimal compared to what private OG tutors have. And sooooo many kids were missed for being identified for special education for dyslexia.

No again, not true. APS has had reading specialists the entire time I worked there, which includes the last 10 years. It's too bad that some posters have had bad experiences, but that's not the norm.

yes and the reading specialists were not trained in OG. Wake up!

I don't know if why you are claiming they aren't. That's not my experience and where is you proof. APS is always offering staff trainings in OG.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am sorry your child's learning disabilities weren't identified earlier and it's great he is now getting the support he needs. That said, I would be surprised if most parents (who are lucky enough to have the resources to do so) didn't already know how important private testing can be. You blame APS and you are so "livid at their ignorance" that you are warning other parents to "lawyer up" but perhaps deep down you are angry at your own ignorance and failure to advocate for your child as strongly as you could have. Teachers aren't diagnosticians who can tease out every special need, as much as we wish this were the case. Given your own concerns, you should have requested an evaluation from the school, which they would have been required to do. Without that, you don't know if and how they could have accommodated your child. I know schools can and often should do better but I don't think it's fair or helpful to lay blame in thie way that OP has done.

NP. My kid’s story is similar to OPs. And yes, I am angry at myself for not being a better advocate but I am also angry with APS. My kid has a lot of issues that get tangled together and it is not the school’s job to fix them all but teaching him to read should squarely fall in their wheelhouse. He’s behind in reading- failing SOLs and all assessments below grade level but not enough to qualify for extra help, which he hasn’t received at APS since 1st grade. He’s extremely behind in writing and can barely write at a level about 3 grades below grade level. When we requested special education assessment, we were told he just didn’t try hard in the sections he didn’t pass (something we heard consistently all through elementary).

When we paid for a private assessment, we were told they wouldn’t accept it and that they would need to redo it themselves. Every advocate and experienced parent we talked to said that we shouldn’t even bother trying to get APS to remediate dyslexia. So our options are either paying $100+/hour for private tutoring multiple days a week after he has already struggled through school all day or is all the money we have saved to send him to private school that costs more than most university tuition.

I think the teachers and administrators don’t mean to harm but way the system is set up let’s a lot of kids fail. It is completely justified to blame APS for that.

I'm sorry for these stories regarding APS dropping the ball on learning disabilities. It really makes me wonder why APS is held in such high regard. Why are house prices so extreme, aside of the proximity to DC and great (although incredibly expensive) neighborhoods, what is the draw for families? I have friends in other areas of the country that are getting a much better quality education, assistance with diagnosing disabilities and collaborating on an IEP/recovery measures, etc. Especially since COVID, APS has been consistently going downhill. So many families have left for private education. Why pay Arlington prices if you need to send your kids to private school? All of this makes no sense to me, but maybe I'm missing something.

I don't think you're missing anything. APS is held in high regard because the families are generally wealthy. Children whose parents are wealthy do better in school. There is nothing great about any APS school.

and of course wealthy parents of kids with learning differences send them to private schools. APS loves it that way.

Or they pay for private testing, tutoring and services.
APS doesn't want to pay for reading tutoring because they said it's too expensive and tutors for reading charge $100 per hr. So they are ok with parents paying for it and for those who can't well those kids just don't learn to read

This is false. APS has many OG trained educators and reading specialists on staff in every school and many children are regularly identitied for reading interventions. I'm speaking as a former staff member.

then you should know that the only reason APS has OG trained teachers now is because parents spent years and years fighting for that. And the OG training is still pretty minimal compared to what private OG tutors have. And sooooo many kids were missed for being identified for special education for dyslexia.

No again, not true. APS has had reading specialists the entire time I worked there, which includes the last 10 years. It's too bad that some posters have had bad experiences, but that's not the norm.

yes and the reading specialists were not trained in OG. Wake up!

I don't know if why you are claiming they aren't. That's not my experience and where is you proof. APS is always offering staff trainings in OG.

Which school has OG-trained reading specialists? That’s new to me.

[Anonymous]

^ and we might need to transfer there

[Anonymous]

The reading specialist was definitely not trained in OG when my kid needed it.

Which APS schools have reading specialists currently trained in OG? Is APS requiring that reading specialists be trained in OG now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am sorry your child's learning disabilities weren't identified earlier and it's great he is now getting the support he needs. That said, I would be surprised if most parents (who are lucky enough to have the resources to do so) didn't already know how important private testing can be. You blame APS and you are so "livid at their ignorance" that you are warning other parents to "lawyer up" but perhaps deep down you are angry at your own ignorance and failure to advocate for your child as strongly as you could have. Teachers aren't diagnosticians who can tease out every special need, as much as we wish this were the case. Given your own concerns, you should have requested an evaluation from the school, which they would have been required to do. Without that, you don't know if and how they could have accommodated your child. I know schools can and often should do better but I don't think it's fair or helpful to lay blame in thie way that OP has done.

NP. My kid’s story is similar to OPs. And yes, I am angry at myself for not being a better advocate but I am also angry with APS. My kid has a lot of issues that get tangled together and it is not the school’s job to fix them all but teaching him to read should squarely fall in their wheelhouse. He’s behind in reading- failing SOLs and all assessments below grade level but not enough to qualify for extra help, which he hasn’t received at APS since 1st grade. He’s extremely behind in writing and can barely write at a level about 3 grades below grade level. When we requested special education assessment, we were told he just didn’t try hard in the sections he didn’t pass (something we heard consistently all through elementary).

When we paid for a private assessment, we were told they wouldn’t accept it and that they would need to redo it themselves. Every advocate and experienced parent we talked to said that we shouldn’t even bother trying to get APS to remediate dyslexia. So our options are either paying $100+/hour for private tutoring multiple days a week after he has already struggled through school all day or is all the money we have saved to send him to private school that costs more than most university tuition.

I think the teachers and administrators don’t mean to harm but way the system is set up let’s a lot of kids fail. It is completely justified to blame APS for that.

I'm sorry for these stories regarding APS dropping the ball on learning disabilities. It really makes me wonder why APS is held in such high regard. Why are house prices so extreme, aside of the proximity to DC and great (although incredibly expensive) neighborhoods, what is the draw for families? I have friends in other areas of the country that are getting a much better quality education, assistance with diagnosing disabilities and collaborating on an IEP/recovery measures, etc. Especially since COVID, APS has been consistently going downhill. So many families have left for private education. Why pay Arlington prices if you need to send your kids to private school? All of this makes no sense to me, but maybe I'm missing something.

I don't think you're missing anything. APS is held in high regard because the families are generally wealthy. Children whose parents are wealthy do better in school. There is nothing great about any APS school.

and of course wealthy parents of kids with learning differences send them to private schools. APS loves it that way.

Or they pay for private testing, tutoring and services.
APS doesn't want to pay for reading tutoring because they said it's too expensive and tutors for reading charge $100 per hr. So they are ok with parents paying for it and for those who can't well those kids just don't learn to read

This is false. APS has many OG trained educators and reading specialists on staff in every school and many children are regularly identitied for reading interventions. I'm speaking as a former staff member.

then you should know that the only reason APS has OG trained teachers now is because parents spent years and years fighting for that. And the OG training is still pretty minimal compared to what private OG tutors have. And sooooo many kids were missed for being identified for special education for dyslexia.

No again, not true. APS has had reading specialists the entire time I worked there, which includes the last 10 years. It's too bad that some posters have had bad experiences, but that's not the norm.

yes and the reading specialists were not trained in OG. Wake up!

I don't know if why you are claiming they aren't. That's not my experience and where is you proof. APS is always offering staff trainings in OG.

Offering staff training in OG is not the same thing as requiring reading specialists to be OG certified. Truly you are pretty dense.

[Anonymous]

Still waiting to hear which APS schools have OG trained reading specialists.....


waiting....

waiting...

[Anonymous]

Is OG something you can include on an IEP? Is that offered in MS?

We are prepping for our first IEP meeting and not sure what to ask for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Still waiting to hear which APS schools have OG trained reading specialists.....


waiting....

waiting...

Ashlawn has had OG trained reading specialists for at least the last 6 years. Students who are at-risk (not only students with IEPs) have been given OG, Wilson, or a combo of those as an intervention routinely on a pull-out basis. I know this is not the case at all schools but OG has definitely been offered in APS depending on the school. My own child received this intervention for 2 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Still waiting to hear which APS schools have OG trained reading specialists.....


waiting....

waiting...

Ashlawn has had OG trained reading specialists for at least the last 6 years. Students who are at-risk (not only students with IEPs) have been given OG, Wilson, or a combo of those as an intervention routinely on a pull-out basis. I know this is not the case at all schools but OG has definitely been offered in APS depending on the school. My own child received this intervention for 2 years.

Just in last couple of years my dyslexic child received reading recovery - killed his reading self confidence because he wanted to learn how to
Read and it taught him to guess. Teacher during virtual school was full on balanced literacy. Didn’t realize at time but the pull-outs with “OG trained staff” were still heavy on things like running records, leveled books and other things I’m hearing in this podcast. And we had to take our concerns to school - they never brought them to us despite a couple of years of struggles in reading. And then wanted to cut his hours last spring even though he was still behind grade level.

APS might be getting better but we still had to pull our son for private. Now he’s reading and confident again.

[Anonymous]

This is not unique to APS and is probably worse at most mainstream private schools. A lot of parents do not want to hear about their child’s issues and will put their heads in the sand and blame teachers, the school, etc. until it gets so bad the child can’t keep up. If your child is falling behind or you have a gut feeling something isn’t right, take matters into your own hands and don’t count on the school, public or private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is not unique to APS and is probably worse at most mainstream private schools. A lot of parents do not want to hear about their child’s issues and will put their heads in the sand and blame teachers, the school, etc. until it gets so bad the child can’t keep up. If your child is falling behind or you have a gut feeling something isn’t right, take matters into your own hands and don’t count on the school, public or private.

Most mainstream private schools are at least teaching phonics and handwriting. My kid was getting more Lexia… but he’s at private school for dyslexic kids now and his growth since summer is amazing. Tapping what little we had starting saving for college to help pay for it and that’s with financial assistance. Best decision we’ve made.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is not unique to APS and is probably worse at most mainstream private schools. A lot of parents do not want to hear about their child’s issues and will put their heads in the sand and blame teachers, the school, etc. until it gets so bad the child can’t keep up. If your child is falling behind or you have a gut feeling something isn’t right, take matters into your own hands and don’t count on the school, public or private.

Most mainstream private schools are at least teaching phonics and handwriting. My kid was getting more Lexia… but he’s at private school for dyslexic kids now and his growth since summer is amazing. Tapping what little we had starting saving for college to help pay for it and that’s with financial assistance. Best decision we’ve made.

Yes but you’ll read the same things on the private school board. Some private schools are very light on academics until 3rd-4th grade so issues are missed. Also, private schools are a business that often cater to parents and tell them what they want to hear for as long as they can. It’s sad all around because these issues are best addressed early.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is not unique to APS and is probably worse at most mainstream private schools. A lot of parents do not want to hear about their child’s issues and will put their heads in the sand and blame teachers, the school, etc. until it gets so bad the child can’t keep up. If your child is falling behind or you have a gut feeling something isn’t right, take matters into your own hands and don’t count on the school, public or private.

Most mainstream private schools are at least teaching phonics and handwriting. My kid was getting more Lexia… but he’s at private school for dyslexic kids now and his growth since summer is amazing. Tapping what little we had starting saving for college to help pay for it and that’s with financial assistance. Best decision we’ve made.

I bet s/he did make a lot of progress with basically an all day SPED class. You are right 40 hours a week of SPED is not something public schools give. Maybe however, if APS joined with FCPS they could have a school for dyslexic children and meet these kids needs (Kind of like TJ, but for dyslexic students). That would be something to lobby for. Does the private school your child attends have a full K class with diagnosed dyslexic kids or when do most kids join?