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Is a 'screening' necessary?

Submitted by an LD OnLine user on

I’m trying to have my son tested through the schools for LD. I was told that he had to go through a screening process first which invovles 3 - 6 weeks of classroom intervention. THEN, if they feel that he is not responding, they can order a full evaluation including IQ test, etc.

I was told by the school system psychologist that we should skip the screening process and go straight to the eval. The school’s curriculum coordinator said that he was wrong and they had to follow this paper trail.

Am I getting yanked around???

Submitted by Angela in CA on Fri, 10/14/2005 - 8:23 PM

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Once concern has been expressed about a child’s performance in class, regular education is required to document interventions that have been tried in the regular classroom and the results of those interventions. Since the law required “least restrictive environment” we have to justify taking a child away from the regular education curriculum. The screening period will allow people to focus in on what is happening in the classroom, ways to help and document the results.

Submitted by BabyU on Fri, 10/14/2005 - 8:49 PM

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Thank you — that makes more sense. I feel like I’m dealing with the IRS here … I get a different answer from every person and I’m really beginning to get frustrated. The teacher doesn’t want to communicate with me, the curriculum coordinator doesn’t want to communicate with me. Nobody returns our calls. Nobody responds to our notes.

The best response I can get is that they’ll schedule a conference with me in six weeks. I really feel like I’m not allowed to be involved in this process at all.

I have several things I’d like to try at home with my son, but to be honest, I feel like I’d be better NOT to try anything new until after they’ve completed their screening. I don’t want to interfere with their results, and since they won’t let me in on what they are doing, I’m afraid to try anything new.

Anyway, thank you for your response. I guess I’m just frustrated because I don’t feel like I’m involved in anything that is going on.

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