Not sure where to post this message

: Couldn’t you ask your administrators to make the call then? If they look for selectivity, let them be the ones to select out this student.If it has to be your call, $800 is fairly small ticket item in the budget. And fairly said, couldn’t you consider a child who is taken along on burgurlies to also be at risk for emotional issues? Don’t environmental issues cause emotional issues?I wouldn’t be as able to draw the line between the two as to feel sure this child would have no emotional disability on top of his sad home life.I am unsure as to where to post this message and so I will start
: here. I am a special education teacher for students with Emotional
: disabilities. I was recently asked to evaluate a student for a
: possible Emotional disability. What I know so far is this his IQ
: is 80 and he did not qualify for services under LD. He is in 4th
: grade and does have an IEP for speech. My problem is this he and
: his mother were caught in a home stealing. Why DHS was not
: involved is beyond me. Given this situation it would seem that his
: environment would play a significant part in his behavior and
: would be considered socially maladjusted and not emotionally
: disturbed. This would not be a issue if it were not for the fact
: that each student we send to be tested for a possible emotional
: disability cost the school $800 bucks per student. It seems that
: they do not qualify students who have certain environmental issues
: at home and I am sure that in this situation we can say that his
: environment is an issue. I hate to see this student get left
: behind but the administrators expect me to be selective with their
: funds. If it did not cost the school so much there would be a lot
: more students being tested. Any ideas or suggestions. Thank you

Ahh… the gray area in IDEA- or one of them anyway. You are absolutely right in describing the distinction between an emotional disability and a social maladjustment, and it’s impact on eligibility. EBD was not intended to address Conduct Disorders etc. as special education issues- but it is really hard to tell the difference, so those guys often qualify.I think you have to have him tested. You need to know whether or not there is an underlying emotional dysfunction and testing is the way into finding that. It is not safe to assume that it is mainly environment. Given a choice, I would rather live live with the adminstration being a little annoyed with me for spending another $800.00 than with the possibility that I had an opportunity to gather good information that might help people help a child- and passed it up. How would you feel if down the road something really awful happened with him? The money is minor.Good luck- and bless your heart for working with these very needy people. It takes a special strength.Robin

I am confused. As a sp. ed teacher, YOU should NOT be doing ED testing. Your psychologist is the one LICENSED to do do this. The child needs projectives that you cannot give. You must be a child advocate. Money has nothing to do with this issue. If the child needs this evaluation, he should get it, and the results will determine what role his environment plays in his emotional state.

Cynthia,
What do you mean DHS is not involved? Seems to me that this family needs a caseworker! How do you know about the stealing? JJ