What is so hard about an extra set of texts

I don’t know the answer to why it is so difficult to get an extra set of textbooks. Cost may be the issue. I do know though that on a few occasions I have bought our own textbook directly from the publisher or ordered it through a book store. This can get expensive and therefore is not an option for every family. It also fails to set the precedent for other families (which is perhaps the schools biggest motive in dragging their feet). However, it does directly address the need of my child before the whole school year is nearly over. Also when you own the book you can write in it with highlighter etc just as college students do as a study aid. Perhaps they can even be sold the next year to another family in need of the textbook at home.

I actually think the fewer the people at any meeting, the more likely it is to get things done. It also does seem odd that this district would prefer your son to be in a special ed. setting rather than supply the extra tests. Perhaps they have other motives as well.

If you prefer him to be in regular ed., they need accomodate your wish. Perhaps the refusal to give him extra texts is their way of saying they don’t agree. Whatever it is, as it didn’t yet get into IEP, clearly you’re going to have do more work.

If in the final analysis all else fails, know that you can buy any textbook either on-line or over the phone. Virtually all publishers have 800 numbers and are more than willing to sell and send a textbook to any person with a credit card number. My son’s school has only rarely provided him with extra texts and I’ve always had to buy them myself.

Thanks for the help. Looks like I will be ordering my own set of texts at the start of the new school year.
I feel better about keeping my appointment.
Thanks,
Sue

A lot of schools don’t have enough books for the students who are there, so it would seem particularly unfair to give one child extras if that is the case.

A lot of schools also don’t do straight textbook work, even at the lower grades.

If it what your child needs, I’d recommend self-help as your best remedy and just order the books that you child uses in class (and if you are in a poorer district that uses outdated books b/c they can’t afford new ones, you are likely SOL on this one). If they come, they come quickly and you don’t have to ask anyone’s permission or spend the whole year frustrated and waiting.

It is a quite common occurance for districts to promise things verbally and then write it up differently. This is done for the same reason the magician waves one hand while he pockets the item to disappear with the other.

In truth, there is nothing difficult in providing extra texts, and according to the law, this is an expected accomodation that the districts have to provide if it is to the benefit of the child.

Your Sped Director crying the blues about how so many kids could benefit from this type of accomodation is irrelevant to your situation. (And a good reply would have been “if they would benefit, why are you not doing this?) The courts have decided that money (or the lack thereof) is NOT allowed to be used as an excuse to deny a reasonable accomodation.

They think that they cannot afford a few books for you to help your child? Imagine when they have to supply a tutor because you are not able to do this service for them. Coming from an education family (3 teachers, one sped director and a college v-p in two generations) I cannot begin to tell you how many times the single main complaint I heard has been “why won’t parents get more involved with their children’s ed?” Now here you are will to reteach what the “paid professionals” seem to be doing poorly and they want to complain???

I have an idea why she said “That is why I suggested pulling him out of the mainstream so that the reteaching would not be needed”. I am willing to bet that your son has teachers who do not wish to make accomodations (sink or swim! or maybe it’s not my job man!), and it is easier for the interdepartmental relations to gather all the “dummies” into segreggated classes out of the way so tey don’t interfere with the education of the “regular” students. (Let us remember that it is this very reason that compelled Congress to pass IDEA 97).

As far as his lack of modifications in math, if this is on his IEP, it is binding, and any teachers who refuse to do so run the risk of personal civil penalties (see the Byrne decision). I can’t imagine that the Sped Director forgot to get a copy of the IEP to each of your child’s teachers. It is more likely that this math teacher didn’t feel that they should make any accomodations, and dropped your boy’s IEP into the back of the bottom drawer.

“They have stated over and over agian that the teachers are not required to stay past three leaving us only 25 min. She said I would have to contact the building principal when I said that was not an option for us.Do you think this a mistake on my part by not arranging for others to be there for the additions?”

This is complete bullshit. The IEP team is to be assembled at the parents convenience (mutual is always the best bet). But the parent is the leader of the IEP team (it is your child afterall), and the team will “gladly” meet with you after normal hours. The teachers can most certainly be kept after 3. It is part of the legal requirements of teaching with sped kids in their class. If they don’t like it, they can look for other work (I hear Walmart is hiring greeters and stockboys).

Get yourself an advocate in your area and start making the District follow the Federal Law.

Good luck to you!

Do make it at least a little challenging for the school. Go through all the steps you can to get those extra texts into the IEP. Start your letter-writing with a “letter of understanding” to everybody in the chain of command (maybe a hard-copy-with-a-stamp, or certified would be even better, to the head of sped, and an e-mail version to everybody involved in your kid’s case) saying that you want ‘em all to know you’re meeting wiht the Sped Head and that you understand that despite the federal regulations that require teachers to be at IEP meetings, you have been told that teachers cannot be expected to remain at school for longer than 25 minutes, so you will just be meeting with the Sped HEad, your primary purpose being to add the necessary accommodatoin your kid needs to get an appropriate education: an extra copy of the texts.

If you strike out there, write another letter explaining that you will be ordering those textbooks because you are concerned that they are not accommodating your kid’s educational needs. The main thing to stick to is that your kiddo can be successful in regular ed classes with this accommodation for his documented educational need. IT’s not a request because it is helpful. It’s something the kid needs. (I’m assuming that it is something the kid needs and that you’re not getting the texts, doing most of the work for him, and carrying him through those regular ed classes that way. The school folks may think that’s what you’re doing and that therefore the kid would be better off in a sped class.)

Then you might seriously consider, since you’re doing all this “re-teaching,” homeschooling the kid since you’re doing it anyway.

We have gone through this same ordeal ever since my child left middle school. Textbooks for home were generously provided in elem. and middle school, but in high school it was a different situation altogether. Even the LD teacher said that we were “babying” him too much by providing him a copy of his books at home….excuse me, but you know, in college you get to have access to books at home to use as you please…So, I do what many of the above responders do…I order from the publisher or Amazon.com…actually they have right many used textbooks…save a little $…there are other discount sellers available, but most prefer to sell to teachers….go figure….

Ok , thank you for clarifying with me that I am not going crazy. I feel much better after reading your post, as you have expressed exactly what I was feeling, and I just didn’t know how to say it.
I think what saddens me the most is that (All I want is text books). I haven’t brought up the subject that they are failing to provide my son with a meaningful education.I have done all of the research as to where my son’s problems lie and what is helpful for him.
You are right on the money when you say the teacher probably doesn’t want to accomodate him.Last year he had an Angel for a teacher(One who had experience in LD kids).Seh provided much needed guidance with the same amount of children to be responsible for. He flourished. This year, he sank again. The attitude and the tone from the teachers were like night and day.
As for pulling him out of math. When I found out that they hadn’t even attempted to help him in math first I was furious. This is not a seriously disabled child here. One that tries very hard, works hard at night, and maintains c’s and d’s. With a good teacher he achieved his first B : )
I will use your quotes at the next meeting and as for the advocate. I have already made that appointment as well. I just hope it is with the right one.
They are federally funded. Do you think that is a mistake?
Thanks so much,
Sue

http://www.fcsn.org/ptis/ptilist.htm

Just click on your state.

Good luck to you, and please keep us posted as to how things work out for you.

I agree with Sue Jones plan. In addition if the Special Ed. director refuses ask for prior written notice. This would include what service was refused and the reason why. Read up on this tool. The name is strange but it can be a valuable tool. Hopefully if you get to this point the director will do an about face and give you the textbooks.

Helen

Also click on the link at the bottom this links page which has an example form for tracting prior written notice.

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Oracle/1580/priornotice.html

Helen

I will keep you posted. Thanks again

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction everyone. My how things happen so fast, it is so hard to remember everything you should do.
I have printed out the prior written notice and will have it in hand and ready to go at the meeting.
Thank you so much,
Sue

One more comment. If you do decide to order extra texts yourself check on amazon and at half.com. I have sold several old textbooks (several years old). They sold for a fraction of what they cost new.

Then, the next year you could probably sell the textbooks on half.com or amazon. In fact, even if you buy new you could probably sell them. I was astounded at some of my old texts that sold very quickly.