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[quote=Anonymous]There is a difference between kids who, say, need special help in certain subjects and/or require learning accommodations, and kids who are gyrating on top of the desks during class time and threatening other kids in the hallways.  I agree that, OF COURSE, BASIS needs to make every attempt to meet children with special learning needs "where they are" and provide tutoring, special help, resources, and reasonable accommodations.  I also know that some special needs (ADHD being only one example) come out behaviorally, and that schools need to find ways to educate all children with disabilities to the extent possible within the standard classroom.

However, sometimes classroom management, accommodations and learning support are either not enough to remedy the issue, or are actually beside the point because the child has a conduct disorder or some other type of behavioral issue that renders the standard school environment inappropriate.  It is only common sense to realize that children must not be allowed to hurt, harass, or intimidate teachers or their classmates.  If the special needs are coming out behaviorally to the point that no student in the class (including the "disruptive" child) is able to concentrate, learn or remain safe, then the child needs to be placed in another environment.  If the behavior is being caused by a special learning need that cannot be accommodated in the charter (or public) school, then the parent should seek out an option that does work for their child.  S/he may need to be in a much smaller class, and/or attend a specialized school, and we all need to demand more from DCPS by the way of providing specialized programs for any number of special needs b/c DCPS is woefully inadequate in this regard.

I think it is important for parents to ask themselves how much of the child's behavior the child CAN be expected to control.   If the public or charter school system is not currently providing any options that work for your child, then bring a suit and demand that those services your child requires to learn be provided.  If more parents did this -- accepted that their child needs a different environment and demanded that DCPS provide it in any number of specializing settings, much like Montgomery or some of the other surrounding counties does -- we would have many more options for special needs children and our educational system would be enriched.

My original post was making a different point, though.  Not all children who are disrespectful, hostile and badly behaved have special needs per se.  In some cases, parents seem to be blaming the school when (as was the case this year) a child literally cursed out a teacher in the middle of class and received in-school suspension.  I say, good for BASIS for addressing the problem in this way.  My point was the school actually should have gone even further and, after this incident was repeated, removed that particular student from the school.  In another delightful example, a child intimated to another child they may have a weapon, and my thought is that this child should have been expelled as well, or at the very least, the parents should have supported the SCHOOL in disciplining the child.  Parents need to say to their kids, you know, it is unacceptable to threaten, hit, bully, or treat another person with hostility or disrespect.  If you continue to act in this way, you will lose privileges at home and I will have to take you out of BASIS and find another place to send you.  A school cannot be all things to all people, and some kids are not a good fit for an environment where most of the kids or their families have self-selected the school on the basis of its high academic expectations.

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