Reply to When a grade has a lot of challenging kids

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP -- Based on my DC's experience many years ago with a very disruptive and intermittently violent child in their ES class (sent one kid to the ER), I want to suggest that the teacher and admin may well be taking efforts to address at least some of what's happening, but for privacy reasons can't share that and for bureaucratic reasons might take time to work through.  Providing additional documentation could well support their efforts to obtain addition in-class resources or, if warranted, move a child who needs a different environment to that environment.
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I would suggest documenting any harmful (violence, theft, etc) events in an email to the principal, cc'ing the teacher, in as factual, dispassionate and non-accusatory way as possible, with the stated goal being to ensure that the teacher and all students get whatever help is needed to support them, whether it is additional in-class or in-school resources or transfer elsewhere.   I would not name the particular students involved and would complement both teacher and paras on their efforts if that's warranted, but leave no doubt that admin has a record of what is going on -- again, assuming that it truly is an out of control situation.
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In our case, it was clear after the fact that the teacher and admin knew the kid needed more, but the clear record made by parents was part of what enabled them to get a full time shadow for the kid at issue and then ultimately move them to a classroom program that was able to support their needs.
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OP, I’m a former teacher who had a class like this. The advice I bolded above is the best advice on the thread. Document how the chaos is affecting your child’s education or wellbeing. It will allow the school to add more supports more quickly by clearing some legal hurdles. (Note I didn’t say it would be quick. Think months instead of years.) If you can get any other parents in the class to write similar letters, encourage them to do so too. Be sure to support that teacher. They usually give the most difficult kids to the best teachers. Your active, expressed support will go a long way towards keeping her in the profession. I guarantee you that she’s crying after school and is possibly considering a career change.[/quote]

Can you give a little more detail about the legal hurdles/what needs to be demonstrated in order to get the additional supports?  [/quote]

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