Does anyone know what the chain of command is within the school as far as special ed goes? Is special ed its own entity or does the school board have ultimate say over this? It seems that the principal has no authority with sped circumstances (or does our principal just not have a backbone?) I’m just trying to get to where my efforts should be concentrated for results. The sped director is a brick wall, the superintendant doesnt want to make changes because he is retiring soon and the pricipal has been useless to us. Would I have any luck pleading my case to the school board? I just find it hard to believe that special ed is untouchable especially when they are doing wrong. Thanks
Re: chain of command question
In our district one sp ed department is seperate from and serves all the schools. Ultimately, the sp ed director takes all the IEP’s/cases to the BofE who puts the final blessing on them. It’s more of a formality b/c there are never changes, but I think is done b/c the BofE has ultimate responsibility in case of lawsuits.
Good luck.
Re: chain of command question
The chain of command is very different depending on your individual school district,or county. The website should have a chain to show you. If not you have the right to this answer by the district.
Chain of command
My district sounds pretty similar to yours. First you deal with someone in the school, then you go to a special ed director, then you go to the superintendent.
Someone on these boards once suggested that if the school board was not willing to help me that I go to my local selectmen and pressure them.
I am getting to that point myself but haven’t tried yet! I am not sure how much effect it would have but is worth a try if you aren’t getting anywher otherwise.
K.
Re: Chain of command
Sometimes, when they’re really disregarding the law in an egregious and obvious and documentable way, finding the person in the chain of command who’s most sensitive to the word “lawsuit” is the key. (Then again, sometimes it isn’t. I think in my experience they knew if you sue somebody for somethign they ain’t got, it’s pretty pointless… and they didn’t have anything.)
In schools where I have taught, the principal has had to answer to the sped folks and has pretty much turned everything over to them.
While it’s hard to believe, the fact is that sometimes special ed really is untouchable. To many superintendents, it’s a black money-sucking hole that they’re legally required to pretend to make happen, which they don’t really understand.