My daughter was found to qualify for spec ed last year due to a specific learning disability. I made the decision to have her treated privately at Lindamood-Bell.
She had/has an IEP, but there are (currently) no goals/objectives and I specifically requested no services due to the fact that she was getting them privately. I was told that I could call an IEP meeting at any time, and have her receive services.
I realized a few weeks ago the importance of the goals/objectives and called an IEP meeting to establish them. Now, the school psychologist is saying that Rachel, my daughter, does NOT have an IEP since I declined services from the school. This is not how I understood the process to work.
Can anyone confirm/deny that in order for Rachel to *be* a special ed student she needs to in fact receive services directly from the school?
This doesn’t seem logical or sensible to me at all.
Thanks,
Laura
Re: IEP - with/without services?
do your request in writing and request response in writing as well.
your child should not be punished/penalized due to your request. having changed your mind, which you are entitled to do, they need to respond upon your making this request. again, do it in writing, certified and return receipt requested.
with her previously qualifying there should not be too much of an issue. being that you declined, you need to become more familiar with what terms and things mean to the district; your interpretation may not be what their policies and procedures are governed by. become well versed in the terminoligy and it’s meaning, and/or, get up the courage to continue to ask to have things explained so you don’t go thru such misunderstandings a second time…
no need for animosity or adversity, simply state your request. you can explain as much as you like, or as little at the meeting.
start working on goals and objectives now, so you go in prepared.
check out sites like Sock’s, www.wrightslaw.com, www.edlaw.com and others that will help familiarize you with your rights and responsiblities…
good luck.
Andy
Re: IEP - with/without services?
Hey Andy,
My site is down:-( Need to find another server at the present time.
BUT I am doing a chat. And by the way friend,would be thrilled if you stopped by!! It’s sunday nights 9EST.
www.net-haven.net
To Laura,
Would love for you to stop by at the Chat also! www.reedmartin.com is also another really good site to check out.
Re: chats and stuff
Hi Socks,
Thanks so much for the invite. Sorry to hear your site is down, but I assume it will arise again soon with more and better stuff than before. I’m not shining you on with your chat, but I want to be sure I don’t either offend you or get your hopes up either. I may surprise you one of these days, but don’t hold your breath. Mostly due to the time when I’m at the keyboard, it’s pretty darn early in the am (pre-0500 during the week). I have saved the site location and if the spirit is moving one Sunday eve, I’ll try to drop by. Keep up the great work!
Andy
Re: IEP - with/without services?
SHe may or may not have an IEP — you’ll want to see just what paperwork came out of that meeting and exactly what it said. It probably said that “yes, she qualifies for special education; currently receiving no services.” It’s *possible* that they were savvy/sneaky enough to write it so that it says “yes, student has a disability *but* does not qualify for special education because the disability is not keeping her from getting a free appropriate public education.” (And in a way it’s true, if the reason it’s not keeping her from getting an educaiotn is that you were getting services elsewhere.)
If that paperwork says that she is qualified for sped, then you have every right to call an IEP and say you want to change her level of services from nothing to something. So request that meeting — to the tune of “Dear Person, My daughter was determined eligible for special education on June 45 because of a specific learning disability. I would like to request a meeting to review and possibly change the services she is currently receiving. PLease respond within __ days with a meeting scheduled sometime in the next __ days so that we can determine additional services, if any, which she will need in order to receive a free appropriate public education.”
She might not HAVE an IEP,but she sure as heck qualified to have one developed.
I would go in and request an IEP meeting ,it doesn’t matter why she doesn’t have one,she is qualified for special educational services.
Now the only way they can try and deny her services,would be to evaluate her,and her not meet the criteria anymore. You could always refuse consent to do this evaluation.