Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am genuinely concerned about how much more prevalent situations like this will become as FCPS moves towards 100% inclusion. I’ve already seen classrooms fall into complete chaos as parents of EAC kids at the school I teach at push for their kids to be placed in gen ed classrooms and specials rooms despite the fact that it is a completely inappropriate placement. OP, I’m so sorry your daughter is going through this. I know it’s hard, but please continue to advocate for her and the other kids in her room, and try to get the other parents involved as well. They won’t listen to teachers, but they will listen to parents if they’re loud enough.

This is genuine curiosity - why do parents push for gen ed when their children clearly have special needs? Isn't there more of a chance of that child getting a good education or making progress on challenges in a specialized setting?

Teacher here. They are in denial. They don’t want the kid labeled.

Don’t you realize that a kid can have an IEP and also be academically gifted? My child with autism and ADHD did not belong in a “specialized setting” unless that setting was advanced. Remedial classes or a slow pace would exacerbate any problematic behaviors. Don’t lump all special Ed students together. The I in IEP is individualized.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am genuinely concerned about how much more prevalent situations like this will become as FCPS moves towards 100% inclusion. I’ve already seen classrooms fall into complete chaos as parents of EAC kids at the school I teach at push for their kids to be placed in gen ed classrooms and specials rooms despite the fact that it is a completely inappropriate placement. OP, I’m so sorry your daughter is going through this. I know it’s hard, but please continue to advocate for her and the other kids in her room, and try to get the other parents involved as well. They won’t listen to teachers, but they will listen to parents if they’re loud enough.

This is genuine curiosity - why do parents push for gen ed when their children clearly have special needs? Isn't there more of a chance of that child getting a good education or making progress on challenges in a specialized setting?

Teacher here. They are in denial. They don’t want the kid labeled.

Don’t you realize that a kid can have an IEP and also be academically gifted? My child with autism and ADHD did not belong in a “specialized setting” unless that setting was advanced. Remedial classes or a slow pace would exacerbate any problematic behaviors. Don’t lump all special Ed students together. The I in IEP is individualized.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am genuinely concerned about how much more prevalent situations like this will become as FCPS moves towards 100% inclusion. I’ve already seen classrooms fall into complete chaos as parents of EAC kids at the school I teach at push for their kids to be placed in gen ed classrooms and specials rooms despite the fact that it is a completely inappropriate placement. OP, I’m so sorry your daughter is going through this. I know it’s hard, but please continue to advocate for her and the other kids in her room, and try to get the other parents involved as well. They won’t listen to teachers, but they will listen to parents if they’re loud enough.

This is genuine curiosity - why do parents push for gen ed when their children clearly have special needs? Isn't there more of a chance of that child getting a good education or making progress on challenges in a specialized setting?

Teacher here. They are in denial. They don’t want the kid labeled.

Don’t you realize that a kid can have an IEP and also be academically gifted? My child with autism and ADHD did not belong in a “specialized setting” unless that setting was advanced. Remedial classes or a slow pace would exacerbate any problematic behaviors. Don’t lump all special Ed students together. The I in IEP is individualized.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am genuinely concerned about how much more prevalent situations like this will become as FCPS moves towards 100% inclusion. I’ve already seen classrooms fall into complete chaos as parents of EAC kids at the school I teach at push for their kids to be placed in gen ed classrooms and specials rooms despite the fact that it is a completely inappropriate placement. OP, I’m so sorry your daughter is going through this. I know it’s hard, but please continue to advocate for her and the other kids in her room, and try to get the other parents involved as well. They won’t listen to teachers, but they will listen to parents if they’re loud enough.

This is genuine curiosity - why do parents push for gen ed when their children clearly have special needs? Isn't there more of a chance of that child getting a good education or making progress on challenges in a specialized setting?

Teacher here. They are in denial. They don’t want the kid labeled.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you spend a little time on the Kids with Special Needs forum you’ll find that many of us are desperate for our children to be placed in more appropriate settings. Sometimes that is self contained, sometimes that is an alternate school. I’m sure there are parents out there who deny their kids needs, but often it is the school that refuses to provide the expensive services/placement that will allow the child to succeed. This child’s parents may already be pleading with the school to do more. We don’t know, so please don’t assume.

+1 My child has SN as well. I wouldn't want him in this situation described either. Unfortunately, there is a series of events that must occur before kids get placed in more appropriate setting. I would do as others have suggested and be persistent. Like anytime your daughter complains. They need to build a case and complaints/legal threats from other parents help. Remember, you aren't disparaging another child, you are providing data for them to get a better placement.

Anonymous wrote:You need to put your concerns in writing to the principal, region superintendent, and every member of the school board. You also need to file a state complaint that your child is not receiving a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) in this classroom. The other child is clearly in need of a more restrictive environment and possibly hospitalization.

I would also request that your child’s schedule be changed so that the other student is not in the same classes, and/or that the school resource office be required to stand outside the classroom door. Additionally, Behavior Intervention Services should be involved, and the student in crisis should be put on homebound services for now.

This child could be quickly transferred to Quander Road School so that a higher level of service could be provided. It’s insane that they aren’t doing so, and the IA should file assault charges immediately. That’s what gets things moving.

You should also directly email Michelle Reid about this.

-veteran special education teacher

Anonymous wrote:If you spend a little time on the Kids with Special Needs forum you’ll find that many of us are desperate for our children to be placed in more appropriate settings. Sometimes that is self contained, sometimes that is an alternate school. I’m sure there are parents out there who deny their kids needs, but often it is the school that refuses to provide the expensive services/placement that will allow the child to succeed. This child’s parents may already be pleading with the school to do more. We don’t know, so please don’t assume.

Anonymous wrote:You need to put your concerns in writing to the principal, region superintendent, and every member of the school board. You also need to file a state complaint that your child is not receiving a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) in this classroom. The other child is clearly in need of a more restrictive environment and possibly hospitalization.

I would also request that your child’s schedule be changed so that the other student is not in the same classes, and/or that the school resource office be required to stand outside the classroom door. Additionally, Behavior Intervention Services should be involved, and the student in crisis should be put on homebound services for now.

This child could be quickly transferred to Quander Road School so that a higher level of service could be provided. It’s insane that they aren’t doing so, and the IA should file assault charges immediately. That’s what gets things moving.

You should also directly email Michelle Reid about this.

-veteran special education teacher

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am genuinely concerned about how much more prevalent situations like this will become as FCPS moves towards 100% inclusion. I’ve already seen classrooms fall into complete chaos as parents of EAC kids at the school I teach at push for their kids to be placed in gen ed classrooms and specials rooms despite the fact that it is a completely inappropriate placement. OP, I’m so sorry your daughter is going through this. I know it’s hard, but please continue to advocate for her and the other kids in her room, and try to get the other parents involved as well. They won’t listen to teachers, but they will listen to parents if they’re loud enough.

This is genuine curiosity - why do parents push for gen ed when their children clearly have special needs? Isn't there more of a chance of that child getting a good education or making progress on challenges in a specialized setting?

A lot of it is unwillingness on the parts of parents to accept that their kid has different needs and is unable to thrive in a traditional classroom environment. And there are plenty of educational advocates willing to charge exorbitant prices to prey on their worry over their kids futures.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am genuinely concerned about how much more prevalent situations like this will become as FCPS moves towards 100% inclusion. I’ve already seen classrooms fall into complete chaos as parents of EAC kids at the school I teach at push for their kids to be placed in gen ed classrooms and specials rooms despite the fact that it is a completely inappropriate placement. OP, I’m so sorry your daughter is going through this. I know it’s hard, but please continue to advocate for her and the other kids in her room, and try to get the other parents involved as well. They won’t listen to teachers, but they will listen to parents if they’re loud enough.

This is genuine curiosity - why do parents push for gen ed when their children clearly have special needs? Isn't there more of a chance of that child getting a good education or making progress on challenges in a specialized setting?

Teacher here. They are in denial. They don’t want the kid labeled.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am genuinely concerned about how much more prevalent situations like this will become as FCPS moves towards 100% inclusion. I’ve already seen classrooms fall into complete chaos as parents of EAC kids at the school I teach at push for their kids to be placed in gen ed classrooms and specials rooms despite the fact that it is a completely inappropriate placement. OP, I’m so sorry your daughter is going through this. I know it’s hard, but please continue to advocate for her and the other kids in her room, and try to get the other parents involved as well. They won’t listen to teachers, but they will listen to parents if they’re loud enough.

This is genuine curiosity - why do parents push for gen ed when their children clearly have special needs? Isn't there more of a chance of that child getting a good education or making progress on challenges in a specialized setting?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am genuinely concerned about how much more prevalent situations like this will become as FCPS moves towards 100% inclusion. I’ve already seen classrooms fall into complete chaos as parents of EAC kids at the school I teach at push for their kids to be placed in gen ed classrooms and specials rooms despite the fact that it is a completely inappropriate placement. OP, I’m so sorry your daughter is going through this. I know it’s hard, but please continue to advocate for her and the other kids in her room, and try to get the other parents involved as well. They won’t listen to teachers, but they will listen to parents if they’re loud enough.

PLease tell me how you know FCPS is “moving towards 100% inclusion.” Who said it, what slide presentation said it, what memo said it? I’m asking because it’s 100% false. Does FCPS need to do a better job at inclusion? Absolutely. But to say that we’re going to 100% inclusion is a lie. VDOE is requiring 80% of students with IEPs spend a minimum of 80% of their day in an inclusion/gen ed setting. That means 20% of students cannot and should not be accessing gen ed to that extent. Nowhere does it say 100%. Stop spreading falsehoods.

It was at our latest STAC meeting. There was quite an uproar, and many of us were talking about leaving the profession if this becomes the new norm. I wish I was fear mongering and spreading misinformation, but it will be public soon enough.