Excuse me! I thought the the goal of sped was too have small enough classes and enough help to get the kid to the point that they can go back in regular classes. Maybe being pulled to special help in some areas.
Our son had been in sped since kindergarten and even when I have requested it never (except music, art, pe) been allowed time in a regular class.
This no fail attitude makes no sense if he is in sped 3rd grade but works at 1st or 2nd. Then put the kid in 2nd with extra help. Of course people fail that is called life in the real world.
He has a ld but is nothing else no behavior issue or anything. He is given easy stuff to do even though at home he can do more. There is no challenge for him.
No wonder other parents I know who’s kids are having some difficulty in school won’t put them in sped in our County because they are afraid they will never get them out.
IEP’s here are a total joke before you get there they already have decided what they are doing.
Re: mainstreaming
I’m not sure there really is an agreed upon goal for SPED. I think the real goal of SPED is just to be in enough complaince with the law that nobodys gets in trouble. The government mandated that SPED be provided. It wasn’t the schools’ idea. While you can certainly find committed and caring SPED educators, what you get varies widely from district to district.
You can always refuse to sign the IEP.
As a former Special Ed teacher and the mother of a child with LD, I sympathize with you. I’ve “been there, done that” from BOTH sides of the teacher’s desk. One suggestion: if you don’t agree with the IEP and they refuse to listen to your suggestions, then DON’T SIGN THE IEP! You, as the parent, are a vital member of your child’s IEP team. They are supposed to include you in planning the IEP.