IEP’s & private schools
I am new to all of this. I have some questions. Does anyone have an IEP in place at a private school? Also, do IEPs include behavior plans? My son's teacher just set in place some goals for him and one includes not fidgeting too much. what is that?? Jodi
I am also new to this. My daughter goes to a private school. I don`t have an IEP for her but I had an evaluation done and they listed recommendations for the school to follow. I think each school is different. At her school, they will follow them but I have to keep tabs on them to make sure they are following the recommendations. She does much better in smaller class sizes. I'm not positive so don't quoute me on this but I think the main difference between private and public schools in terms of help they are required to give is that by law public schools have to offer assitance whether it's following an IEP or Sect 504 and private schools don't.Yes, that is my understanding from what I have read. Tha private schools do not have to under law follow 504 or IDEA laws and under IDEA one is able to get an IEP. The reason is that public schools get extra funding for children to provide services for their needs under 504 and IDEA. Private schools do not. I was wondering though if anyone had a IEP put in place anyway at a private school.
A psychologist hasn't written out the recommendations for my son yet as the actual eval isn't totally completed. The teacher set in place lots of organzational things and today set in place some behavioral goals for him in which he can earn stickers and we will let him get things with these. But I just thought the trying to not be as fidgety one was unrealistic. My husband didnt'. I have a great resource for teachers which has examples of 504 plans which I will copy for her. It is the most amazing copy to get the most out of the system for your adhd child.
another question: has anyone gotten anything like a computer for their child or keyboard lessons under these provisions?
Again, all information woudl be greatly appreciated. Handwriting is such a problem. Although today, we are set up for a OT evaluation. Jodi
Even in public schools so much depends on the teacher and how willing she is to work with you. Sounds like you have had luck with a good teacher that is willing to work with you. Even if you don't use a formal plan (although it can offer some great guidlines) I'm sure you will be able to work out a system or program with this teacher that will benefit your son. Sounds like you are on the right track.
I don't know how often he will acheive the not fidgeting goal. Even as an ADHD adult I find it hard to stop moving so it is understandable that a child wouldn't be able to keep it up for long. However as long as there are also many attainable goals listed I wouldn't worry about the not fidgeting one too much. He will still be able to succeed at many of the more realistic goals with some practice and determination. Maybe down the road a bit the fidegty goal will be more attainable, maybe not. Either way if he sees every accaptable behavoir on the list he will at least understand what is expected of him and other kids in the class. (Of course expectations are a bit different but kids don't see it that way)
Thanks, I just wonder whether I should point that out to the teacher. The one thing that you do get with an IEP is guaranteed parent involvement. I am trying not to be too assertive (I can be very assertive). The teacher and I do communicate often (usually daily via email) now to clarify. He goes to a small private school. There are 12 kids in his class and he has one of the bigger classes. My daughter has 10 kids in her class. The most they take is 15 in a class. The smallest class is 8 kids,. Most I guess probably have 10. I am a very involved volunteer mother there with the lunch program, parents associaion etc. etc. I am just not sure how much the teacher is familiar with ADHD to have even listed that there. She was giving me a hard time about the recess issue. But we had a meeting with her, the principal, my husband and I and she had to come up with a dfferent plan (ie. this) based on our meeting, my insistence and basically me saying to the teacher with the principal there how taking away recess wasn't a recommended consequence for ADHD kids and why etc. etc. In addition, the principal said that they would have the counselor set up a plan to work with my son. But I am concerned that this teacher just isn't that famliar. The other goals seem ok: paying attention to teacher instruction and she has 1, 2 , 3 by each of them for seldom, sometimes and usually./always. I took time to think about consequences of my actions before acting. I liked that one. and I remembered academic instructions and directions without needing extra reminders. again, probably ok. And the fidgeting or moving says this exaclty: I sat in class without fidgeting or moving around too much. so maybe it is ok. I hope to show them to the psychologist also. JodiTo all IEP and 504 Parents
When you are sitting at an IEP meeting. Make the team slow down. YOU decide if you like a goal and if you do not agree you MUST tell them. Give the team a chance to rewrite the goals. At least in CA you are supposed to develop the goals together. Do not allow them to pick the easy goals. To choose a goal in only math for instance may or may not be appropriate. To choose a goal about fidgitting is not a bad thing. It shows that they will continue to help your child learn to be able to learn. If you are always out of your seat or whatever, how do you learn. YOU the PARENTS have so much more power than you think that you do.
Good luck
Sally
My son is in Private School. We paid for the evaluation ourselves (That check hurt alot...Until I read the report) Even though the evaluation was the schools I was not at all pleased with how the lower school adhered to the reccomendations in the report. I have been really pleased with the school overall but I was frustrated with their inability to implement the guidelines in the report. I tool the specifics up with the head of the lower school to no avail. When he switched from 2nd to 3rd grade it all changed for the better. The teacher and adminsitrators were very open and we have had a great year. Also I think Nikhil and I are dooing well teaching each other. Not sure if that helps To reinforce what Ruth said, Not only is every school different, but each year is different. Active participation is the key. I have bet with the head of middle school and his current teacher to participate in the selection of his next teacher.Jodi-
I can relate. My dd is in a private school with very small classes too. Her teacher, however, is completely clueless when it comes to ADHD. She knows NOTHING!!!. Our daily reports concerning our dd's behavior are a littany of the things that she does wrong....even though almost all of them are related to her ADHD. We have had numerous meetings with the teacher and the Principal. The principal is very knowledgeable and even sent her teacher to an ADHD seminar, but she just doesn't seem to get it.
It is a very hard situation for us, we feel that we cannot complain about the teacher because our dd is on such thin ice at school. We are terrified that she is going to get kicked out. We feel like we just have to grin and bear it, although I am so upset right now that I am going to try to talk dh into meeting with the principal to discuss the teacher and not our daughter. The saving grace is that the principal has promised us placement with an experienced teacher for Kindergarten. I hope and pray!
Suzi
Hi everyone-My son is in a private school and has an IEP! My younger son is at the same school and is currently getting screened and tested for his IEP. In my area the school district needs to provide the same services no matter what school you go to-I think this is fairly common. Everything happens through the school district-not the individual school. The private school may not have to follow the IDEA or 504 laws but the district in which you pay taxes does need to provide these services for you and I would be concerned and surprised if a private school was not on board!
My 2nd grader has a special education teacher with him 30 min everyday! She works on keeping him on task, helping him self-regulate,re-explaining and simplifying the directions for him, helps him socially learn the cues, she also steps back and lends a hand with the other students as to not single my son out and embarrass him. My son also gets ot 2x30 and we are now in the screening process for assistive technology. I have met with the asssistive tech teacher and she told me part of the services would be teaching my son what he needs to use the tech like keyboearding.
As for the figeting-it may help your child to concentrate! If he needs movement perhaps they can build it into his day movement breaks. My son's teachers understand that there are times when he needs to move. We have set up a goal sheet that allows him to earn a sticker when he gets up for a break without bothering the other students. Initially he was getting up to go talk or poke a friend. Now he can get up to move or switch to a new position or use a bean bag or lay on the floor-all of these things have helped enormously. A goal to "stop figeting' seems too general-you need to know what the plan is to implement that and who is going to do it?
Everything I have mentioned including socially goals and movement breaks are listed on my sons IEP. Jodi-if you would like more information about how these goals are written on his IEP I would be more than happen to provide that. Good luck with your journey-you sound like you are on the right path!
Enter Your Email below to claim your Free Book