On Monday, September 25th, I participated as the general education teacher in an IEP team meeting. The meeting was for a student with Down syndrome, identified at birth, who qualified for services under the category of the intellectually disabled. This student is in a self-contained classroom, therefore, his current teacher, served as the special education teacher for the purposes of this meeting. Meeting participants included: Mrs. Fields (ARC Advocate), Dr. Neiman (the county’s lead speech-language pathologist, participated over the phone), Mrs. Bennett (LEA representative), Mrs. Diggs (ACS EC Director, as a precaution because the parents expressed concerns for the education of their child), Mrs. Sikes (General Education Teacher), Mrs. Bernard (Special Education Teacher), Mrs. Liles (Speech Therapist), Student’s Parents. This particular student is fourteen and although invited to attend this meeting, he declined.
It is evident; the parents are strong advocates for their child. At a previous school district, this child received a greater number of speech therapy minutes than we are currently providing him at this time. His parents feel that this change is negatively impacting his progress and would like their son to be re-evaluated in order to gain a better understanding of his current need for speech and language services. Their hope is that the re-evaluation will help to justify the child’s need for additional speech services within his school day, in order to
The IEP is created by a group of individuals who play an important role in the student’s success. Those that should be involved in the creation of the IEP are the parents of the students, at least one regular education teacher of the student, at least one special education teacher, a representative of the LEA who is able to supervise the plans, someone who is able to interpret evaluation results (may be someone already on the team), any other person who has knowledge about the student, and whenever possible, the student with the disability (Gibb & Dyches, 2016). The evaluation results will be used to decide the child’s eligibility for special education and related services and to make decisions about an appropriate educational program for the child. Once the student is tested and determined eligible for services the IEP must be written.
Michael Panico was a boy with who was identified while in first grade as having a specific learning disability. He then qualified for special education and related transportation. Now in third grade Michael’s school, Memorial School in Burlington, Massachesetts only goes to the third grade then they go to another school. Because of this transition services had to be in place as well as an IEP. Michael had a learning disability but was above average or even at times considered superior intelligence. Memorial School recommended Michael be placed in a school in another town that would be very structured because the town/school believed Michael’s disability was emotional whereas his parents said it was neurological. His parents did not like the IEP presented or the recommended placement for Michael at Pine Glen School and Michael’s father wanted a review and he also rejected the new IEP. After reading the case I would have to agree with the father knowing my son would not be in the proper placement. The Massachusetts Department of Education Bureau of Special Education Appeals (BSEA) did the review. The hearing did not take place at this time but mediation did. However the mediation did not work but in the meantime Michael’s parents had him tested at Massachusetts General Hospital where they found him to have a severe learning disorder and emotional difficulties were considered secondary. Michael had perceptual difficulties and it was determined and they recommended a specialized
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) greatly emphasizes the participation of the child’s family during the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process. Parents and/or caregivers are considered one of the most essential members of their child’s IEP team. Their involvement benefits their child’s overall academic success. Unfortunately, full parental involvement does not always occur and there can be many different reasons for their nonparticipation. The IEP process can be a very overwhelming experience for families with children with special needs, especially for those who are culturally diverse. It is the job of the professionals and special education teachers to understand the importance of collaborating with family’s
Federal court case, David DOE, et al., Plaintiffs, v. Big Walnut Local School District Board of Education, et al., Defendants, involves the maltreatment of a disabled child in the state of Ohio. Participants of this case include plaintiffs’, David and Mary Doe (parents of disabled child), John Doe (disabled child) and defendant Big Walnut School District Board of Education (school board). John Doe has been diagnosed with Cognitive disability as a result he is required to have an Individualized Education Plan ("IEP"). Due to ongoing “below average general intellectual functioning, self-direction, and communication deficits” listed within his IEP from May 24, 2007, John was placed in a Resource Room at Big Walnut Middle School to assist in the advancement of his education. There were reports of inappropriate behavior involving John Doe’s interactions and encounters with other students, which Principal House was made aware of by the facilitators. John Doe expressed his constant torment of victimization with
In this mock IEP meeting, we examine John Grohman from Kelsey Elementary School. John is a 2nd grade student who has Asperger’s Syndrome. He is a student who has extreme behavioral problems. John’s parents are extremely concerned about his behavior at home and at school. In this mock IEP, we look at John from his parents, special education teacher, administrator, general education teacher, and evaluator; to get a better picture of what is needed to help John be successful.
In 1991 the Public Law 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act was replaced by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. This law was passed to provide free and appropriate public education to every child with a disability. It requires that each child with a disability “have access to the program best suited to that child’s special needs which is as close as possible to a normal child’s educational program” (Martin, 1978). The Individualized education program (IEP) was developed to help provide a written record of students’ needs and procedures for each child that receives special education services. The IEP will list all the services to be provided, the student's performance level, academic performance, and
Rules, regulations, and federal laws for special education have improved as the years have gone by. This essay will indicate how educators teaching special education must comprehend the mandates of the Individual with Disability Act (IDEA), student and parental rights. This essay will also explain how court cases (past and present) and IDEA has given special education students the ability to receive a Free Appropriate Education (FAPE). My interview with Ms. Patricia Pritchett, Coordinator of Special Education in DeKalb County School District, was able to give me information and guidelines in reference to their county procedures and policies for the special education department. The interview with Ms. Pritchett gave me insight as to special education legal framework and how the constant changes that affects students with disabilities and regular education students.
During the meeting, several issues are address such as concerns, activities, questions and changes in IEP goals. Student’s placement in a special education program is decided by the IEP team after parents or facilitator gives the ok for the students to begin receiving services that they are in desperate need of. Some decision that at made at the meeting are not always done with all parties in agreement with what needs to change. Some parents don’t agree with some of the services that will be provided to their child but, will need more time to think about the services and need the reason why some decisions where consider for their child, but never receive it. Some parents never agree and do not give their written consent for the services their child has received. When this issue is not resolved parents have the option to ask for mediation and a hearing but because of the backlog with the meeting process they feel that the meeting will not take place and their voice will never be heard. Parents know that in order to participate in their child’s IEP, teachers and the IEP team must know the students disability. Several Parents complain that some of the parties at the meeting do not know who their child is so how recommendations for services’ can made. Parents send principals letters demanding answers to their
Sumter County School District 17 is a public school district in South Carolina. T.H. is a student who qualifies for services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Sumter County School is appealing the decision of the lower district court, who found that the school district did not provide TH with a Free Appropriate Public Education. The school is also appealing the district court’s findings, which verified that T.H’.s current placement at home was appropriate. The school argues that the home placement of T.H. was not the Least Restrictive Environment. The school district’s appeal further contends that they at least in part provided a FAPE for T.H. because he was making some educational gains during the time in question even though the school was not providing the amount of service indicated in T.H.’s Individualized Education Plan. The school also asserts that they remedied internal problems and were able to provide the full range of time and services require through T.H.’s IEP.
Scenario 3: During the course of an annual individualized education program (IEP) meeting, Ms. Dougherty, a first-year teacher, perceives that a school district administrator is trying to “steer” the parents of a student with emotional disabilities into accepting a revised IEP without the provision of school-based applied behavior analysis services recommended by the majority of other team members. Ms. Dougherty hypothesizes that the administrator’s position is based on the added costs the financially strapped school district would bear if it provided these services. As a first-year teacher, Ms. Dougherty is concerned that if she speaks up, she might lose the favor of her principal and maybe her job. If she remains silent, the student might not receive needed services.
The IEP meeting had the purpose of evaluating the child’s previous disability, and to determine if the child will continue to qualify for IEP services. The child’s disability was speech delay, according to Heward, he describes speech delays, when speech it is not understood by others (2006).
On Monday, September 25th, I was invited to sit in as the general education teacher in an IEP team meeting. The meeting was held for a student with down syndrome, identified at birth, who qualified for services under the category of intellectually disabled. This student is in a self-contained classroom, therefore, his current teacher, served as the special education teacher for the purposes of this meeting. Meeting participants included: Mrs. Fields (ARC Advocate), Dr. Neiman (Main speech therapist, participated over the phone), Mrs. Bennett (LEA representative), Mrs. Diggs (ACS EC Director, as a precaution because the parents expressed concerns for the education of their child), Mrs. Sikes (General Education Teacher), Mrs. Bernard
Denied. On April 20, 2105, a date agreed upon with Travis’s mother, the parties attended a ARD committee meeting to discuss continued placement and services until such time that a comprehensive evaluation could be completed. At this time, the District has assigned approximately-trained professionals to conduct the agreed-up and parentally approved assessments. Once the assessments are completed, the ARD committee will appropriately consider the results and develop an appropriate educational program reasonably calculated to provide Travis with educational benefit in his least restrictive environment.
All the ethical principles stated on “Council for Exceptional Children,” play a vital role in the special education field. I chose the three ethical principles that are most important to me, i.e. the essential ethical principle that any educator must have in order to serve a special needs student and their families. Principle number five states that, “developing relationships with families based on mutual respect and actively involving families and individuals with exceptionalities in educational decision making;” I truly believe that, effective communication between educators and families of special needs students is the key for success; not only for the educator, but also, for the student. My daughter has an IEP and, it took me and my family a few years to fully understand the system and also, understand what kind of learning disability she has. There was no support and effective communication between the school and our family, hence, the process was extremely hard for me and especially, for my daughter. When I left my job about 3 years ago and decided to return to school, my biggest motto was to receive my degree and eventually, be an asset to families and their special needs child.
Special education creates opportunities for students, parents, teachers and related staff and administrators to work together to improve educational results students with disabilities. IEPs and 504s are the plans that help educators to develop education for each student with disabilities. The IEP is an important legal document that handles issues in special education properly. There are so many rules that school personnel must follow. In this assignment, I will identify effective procedures for documentation and remediation of the teacher, her behaviors and the allegations about her regarding a special education student.