Upset with Public School System

I'm sorry to hear about this, NavyTRIChief.  My eldest son (going to be 13) has some reading comprehension development issues - he's a "visual" learner, and it's a little more trying for him to comprehend things verbally than compared to other kids his age.  He does work his butt off, though, and gets very good grades.  My wife, who is not a teacher/educator, noticed early on that he was not "grasping" things (grade 4?), and pushed very hard for him to receive additional assistance, or at least have him work with a "specialist" in our school system.  The class that he's been attending is called "Read 180", and it helped him much with the understanding of sentence structure, etc.  He has improved quite a bit and will be getting out of the class now after 2 years or so (during each grade level the skills advanced, too).

It's good that you and your wife caught this and are pushing on it.  That's what my wife did, and I hope you get the answers and assistance needed.

Good luck!

I would say keep pushing and pushing until they get it done. Be a (polite) nuisance if you have to. My wife is a special ed teacher so I kind of hear it from the other side or the story a lot and I know that, at least in the district my wife works in, there are a lot of restrictions on what the disctricts will allow a teacher to do in order to get a kid into help. A lot of it, I believe, comes from the disctrict being afraid of being sued/getting in trouble with parents for telling them that "their little angel is not perfect and needs extra help" so they kind of have a standing order that until it is escalated to a certain point by the parents the teachers are not supposed to do much. Again this is just roughly from my wifes point of view that I hear it and it is stupid and sucks for the students who do truly need help.

It is great for your daughter that she has such great parents. Make sure you know your rights for your daughter's education and be prepared to fight for them often.

Most school systems aren't allowed to offer any services unless a child is 3 years below grade level.  The school system is understaffed and thats why it is that way....that is why I'd end up bringing up 10 children every year in 4th grade since that is when the most issues would finally show up.  I think most teachers realize that its a losing battle b/c at the meetings (we called ours EMT meetings) nothing would happen.  They would say, wait a year and see if they are any worse....

For children that are a year or two the parents would be encouraged to get their own testing.  Sad, b/c it is so expensive to do privately.

Its mainly a function of the system, NOT the teachers.

This as a private school teacher I take umbrage with. I've taught in both and this is clearly not the case.  It is one example. Carry on.

I feel your pain!  As a mother to a child with a disability who has been in the school system since age 3 for severe speech delays - he had additional problems - more then what the school acknowledged at age 3 - I have spent the last 5 years trying to get him the additional help needed - I know exactly what you are feeling and going thru.  We paid thousands of dollars for private speech therapy and psychlogists...... 

Contact the higher ups in the district to discuss your situation....   

EDUCATE yourself on the state's laws regarding IEP's and also 504 plans.   Sounds to me that if you have presented the school with a valid (meaning state certified evaluation report - yes there is a separate qualification for school vs. private) that the school is required to provide services for your child.  But it is a process (not defending them!)....  IDEA I believe grants the school 45 days to evaluate the student and develope a plan to present to you during your ARD (admission, review and dismisal) meeting.  But it may take 30 days to get the meeting for you to sign the forms that allows them to evaluate your student.

In the meantime....  I completely agree that you need to take action and get your child whatever help he/she needs regardless of the expense!!!  Do what you have to!!!  Make sure that whatever program you choose also includes a program for you to work with your child at home.  It may be a once a week session but you nee to work the session at home everyday.

You also need to work the insurance and see if they will cover the therapy.  Work thru the system and see if you can get them to cover the therapy.  Get your doctor on board and willing to write why therapy is necessary  ie prevent further costs.   Don't give up that fight with insurance - it took me a year of constant work but eventually they covered the therapy dating to when therapy first started! 

Stay strong and do what you have to for your child!

Cathleen