It is certainly legal to ask the question in that setting as they are trying to develop an IEP for your child. You don't have to answer, just as you can refuse to have an IEP for your child. But the IEP may be less effective if the people designing it don't have all the facts. Being on medication for ADD or anxiety or depression is nothing to be ashamed of. I am an adult and take medication for all three conditions. I'm willing to tell anyone because I don't have anything to be embarrassed about.

If you choose to lie on your medical forms for the school, or if you somehow convince your doctor to lie on the forms, then by all means keep up the lies with the people who will be educating your child.
In all seriousness, what do you expect to gain from this?

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I just would like to know whether a) it is legal for the school to ask about medication if it's not to be given at school and b) whether I am required to answer the question.

Different families can make different choices about who all they tell about things. My questions are about the legalities, not whether you think I'm right or wrong.

Thanks so much.

Yikes! OP the legality of this issue is not the point. You just marked your kid as having an irrational and combative parent who does not wish to partner with the school to get the proper services for her son. IF your child was on meds they would want to know to keep you posted about averse side effects and for emergency purposes, and they would take into account changes when on and off meds... they are not collecting info against your son, they are trying to help.

I would not ask for legal advice on DCUM. As an attorney (not in this field, but as an attorney generally), I would not provide legal advice in this forum either.

op, when you fill out your child's medical forms for the school, do you plan to list the medication? What if your child has some suddenr eaction tot eh meds while at school? what if he has an unrelated medical emergency at school, and the nurse or EMTs need to know what medications he is on?

I don't believe you're required to tell them anything, other than where you live (so you qualify for that school). For the purposes of the IEP, they can (and are required to) do all the testing necessary to qualify your child for services, although if you want to be a part of that process, it's generally a good idea to give them info from your own sources as well. If your child has an anxiety issue, you might want to raise that so it can be addressed in his IEP -- you don't have to tell them you're medicating.

I personally do not understand the reluctance to talk about medication -- when I send my medicated kid to school, I'm actually happy to have them know what medications she is taking in case there is an emergency, etc. Also, I don't think medication is something to be ashamed of.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I just would like to know whether a) it is legal for the school to ask about medication if it's not to be given at school and b) whether I am required to answer the question.

Different families can make different choices about who all they tell about things. My questions are about the legalities, not whether you think I'm right or wrong.

Thanks so much.

I can't imagine why they thought you had an attitude. This seems to be a trend with you - get snippy and unnecessarily defensive with people from whom you are asking for help. So, you shoudl probably hire a lawyer. When you're paying someone, they have a much greater tolerance for your BS.

OP here. I just would like to know whether a) it is legal for the school to ask about medication if it's not to be given at school and b) whether I am required to answer the question.

Different families can make different choices about who all they tell about things. My questions are about the legalities, not whether you think I'm right or wrong.

Thanks so much.

It seems to me that you started out your post -- the frame on this picture, if you will -- with the information that you are heartbroken to have your son in the public school system. With that in mind, you go this meeting and are asked a question about your son's medications. Your answer IS combative. It would be hard for anyone to take.

OP, if you want to get along, you have to get along. Whether or not you are legally obligated to give this information is a question you can certainly research but does the answer to that question help you or your son? How does your self-presentation assist your son's transition to this classroom and ease your heartache?

I think it might behoove you to call or email, apologize, explain your feelings, and ask to start again. If and when these people have shown they don't deserve your trust, act accordingly.

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I don't know the people on this IEP team at all - they are entirely new to us. I will certainly share with anyone we become close to (his current teachers know, as does the school director of his current private school), but I don't see how this belongs as a question in an initial meeting. Am I wrong?

They are gathering information to provide services for your son, I feel that this is pertinent to helping come up with an action plan. The reason they looked at you funny is because you were unnecessarily defensive and difficult.

OP here - I don't know the people on this IEP team at all - they are entirely new to us. I will certainly share with anyone we become close to (his current teachers know, as does the school director of his current private school), but I don't see how this belongs as a question in an initial meeting. Am I wrong?

I dont know but not sure why you wouldn't share that info with people who are trying to work with your child. We always shared it because we aimed for a team rather than an adversarial approach.