Help! IEP Question

[mckenziecat]

Dd is in second grade and has an iep though is in reg ed all day. We have had an ongoing saga with her teacher being out. She was there for one week of school and has been absent ever since (this is the 5th week she is out). We have had rotating subs - did have one for a week and a half but yet another NEW one today. The reg ed teacher was supposed to return today - everyone told all the kids they were so excited. etc. So, she's not there, school is just as lost as we are. I think their hands are tied and they can't fire her or replace her and they are just as irritated as we are. I'm over it and want a new teacher. Like yesterday. There is no way a revolving cast of subs has been implementing her iep. SO, any advice on how to fix this?? I'm searching online and just not seeing this situation. I can't figure out what my rights are here?
thanks,
beth

[amarie1]

Can she change classrooms?

I'm a novice on IEP/Wrightslaw etc, but changing classrooms seems like a straight forward move. That is of course if 1) there is another classroom to change to and 2) they'd follow the IEP in another classroom 3)a change of classmates would be ok with your dd and you.

Sorry I don't have any concrete suggestions.

Anne

[mckenziecat]

well this is my first choice

I am waiting to hear back from the school. The thing is 20 other kids are also going to want to get moved if they move my kid so I think they will want to avoid the "precedent". This is a class that has 5-6 kids with ieps, so even that is a precedent they'd have to deal with. This is so frustrating. We don't even know WHO her teacher will be TOMORROW.
Thanks for the response,
beth

[AmandaG]

I don't have any idea what your specific rights are either (I am in Canada, so there is a whole different approach taken here) but I think your dd needs to be in another classroom. If you think the school would be amenable to your request, I would ask she be transferred to another classroom. If you think the school is unlikely to comply (and they might be relucant to because I bet there are a whole bunch of other parents who aren't happy about this situation, even if their children do not have special needs) then I would go about it through the IEP.

I don't know what your dd's dx is or what is in her IEP but if you feel her current teacher or classroom placement is not meeting her needs (or the accomodations specified) then I would (in writing) ask for a transfer based on her learning needs, and request that an additional clause be placed in her IEP which speaks to her placement in relation to her learning needs and style. My ds (who has Aspergers but is in a regular classroom) has such a clause because the type of teacher and classroom environment he is in makes a big difference to his level of functioning (he needs structure and consistancy or he has problems with anxiety and I also wanted to ensure that any teacher he was placed with was supported by the school and the school district to access special needs specialists or professional development opportunities in regards to my ds's dx, since I am sure he will not be the only child with this diagnosis they must interact with in their careers). I am not sure how IEP's are handled, but here an IPP is reviewed 4 times a year and requires a parent signature to say that they are in agreement with the IPP. If you are not in agreement, you state why and the school must attempt to resolve the issue and get a signature. If a resolution cannot be made between the parents and the school, the unsigned IPP goes to the school board and they become involved. This is a stronghanded way of going about it, but it is important that your dd gets the best possible school experience and the current situation sounds very poor right now.

Amanda

[Troy]

Some thoughts. No doubt, what is happening now is a function of personnel policies that are either preventing the school or the district from hiring a more permanent substitute, or that are causing the district to "hold off," which suggests that there is a fair amount of uncertainty, that is probably a function of the teacher's fitness or status itself.

So, under the theory that the squeaky wheel is most likely going to get attention, I would suggest that you write a letter to the superintendent, and every appropriate cc, laying out the situation as well as suggesting that this situation is causing the district to fail in its implementation of IEPs and asking for either a permanent sub if Teacher does not return by a date certain, and get every parent in the room to sign it, and then have parents start calling every member of the school board.

This is one of those no-win situations where, no doubt, the teacher keeps saying something like, "well probably next week" so the district holds off and then next week comes and goes. They need to be more accountable to their students and make the teacher take st or lt disability or just suck it up and get a more permanent replacement.

My sister is a "permanent sub", and I suspect what they don't want to do is contract with a sub for a longer period of time if the permanent teacher might return.

[justour2boys]

I only have a minute to reply, but I wanted to make a suggestion... I would not focus on the teacher issue directly... but indirectly thru the fact that your DD's IEP is not being followed.

Make the issue the IEP not the teacher. Spin it that the solution to ensure the IEP is followed could be to move her to a classroom that has a teacher with the ability to follow the IEP as laid out.

Just a quick thought.

-Robin

[BriNJ]

I think the answer depends on the IEP itself. I think you should contact the head of special services or the person you are assigned to (we have a contact here in NJ) and ask them how your daughters IEP is being implemented, given that she does not have a consistent teacher. I think alot will depend on the IEP itself and who is working with your child. After the school answers and it is not satisfactory, then go ahead and ask them to rectify it- which may mean switching classes or may not. Again, it all depends on her IEP and what should be done for her. You can ask to move your child now- but be prepared to be rejected... which is why I recommend you ask how they are handling it before you ask to move her.

[angeleena]

Wow, this is an unusual situation that I have never heard of. 5 weeks of subs? OMG. Argh. That cannot be good.
I like the suggestions that some have given. I too would go at it from the IEP side of things and if your daughter does not mind moving from her friends to a new class..change classes...and if she wants to stay with her friends...start writing letters about your daughter's IEP not being followed to the state superintendent of schools, the local superintendent, the principle, the special needs coordinator, etc..... I am thinking that you will probably get an answer pretty quickly that way and a solution. One time I did not like how things were going and I emailed the state superintendent about it, and heard back the same day. I had also CC'd other people down the line, to let them konw I meant business and that I wanted an answer asap..
Sorry you are dealing with this. It cannot be good for any of the kids. They must not be able to fire her or something...is she sick? Anyway, sorry this is happening and I hope there is resolution soon.
Angi