sybbie719, Yes, she is expected to take the Algebra regents in June. If she passes I can argue for changing her IEP to include ICT Geometry or Algebra 2 and another lab science. And thank you for the information you emailed me. I am following with that individual.
Is the recommendation on her IEP state that she needs self contained science? Unless the recommendation on her IEP states she needs self contained math and science then she is not in the correct placement. If you feel that she can benefit from a lesser restrictive environment then you can request that they reconvene to amend the iep. Did she pass the living environment regents
Just one more word of caution, below.
First, I’m a mom with a child with an IEP in the NYC school system. I’ve been working with the system, multiple schools over several years. I agree that seldom are the schools intentionally causing harm. They have real limitations and they are trying their best.
Again, the school’s struggle is not your problem. Your concern is your daughter’s appropriate education.
The word of caution is this: Some principals are absolute dolls and are on board for whatever accommodations your child may need. Most are not mainly because they are busy people with many stressors to deal with. Knowing this may help you with your approach, as collaborating with the school rather than being confrontational.
I have found that the best approach is to quietly ask for a normal “review” of the IEP. You need to do an annual review anyway. When that happens, you may correct whatever language you want in the IEP. Be sure to correct the language to include what you feel your child needs. In this case you work with your child’s social worker/ psychologist/ or IEP counselor and write in that she needs the lab science, the math you feel she needs, and whatever else is appropriate. In most cases in NYC simple, low-key conversations like this can take care of the IEP issue. If you go in like gang-busters immediately the school can get defensive, because usually as I said the school is trying to do their best by your child. You can approach the meeting like, gee everything seems swell, but my child’s needs have changed. May we look at her IEP again?
If the school resists the low-key meeting, then I’d up it a notch and bring in the advocates.
Again be smart. Ask for the IEP annual meeting as you usually would. Rewrite according to what you feel is appropriate. That will give you strength to advocate for your child to be placed in the right classes.
I want to caution you, however, that high school burn out can occur. Our IEP child burnt out so badly that we felt s/he was barely going to finish and this was after we placed him/her in one of the most low-key schools in the City. I have radically lowered my academic ambitions for not just this child but my other(s) as I’ve seen the harm of a burnt-out child. It’s really not fun. As others have pointed out, there’s community college, there’s adult education, and some kids really don’t need to go to college. There are many other tracks.
Thank you for your suggestion. I’ve explained to my daughter that college isn’t for everyone and the CC option. I know she’ll never excel in math, however I feel she is being robbed of the opportunity to challenge herself with the higher level math and science that the majority of students (even some with IEP’s are able to take.) I feel the school is being presumptuous by assuming she doesn’t want to and will not succeed in a 4 year college.
sybbie719, she is taking the Living Environment Regents in a month. She has maintained a 97 in that class for the 2 years she’s been in it. (They also decided based on her math deficit that she be placed in an extended class for that over 2 years.) There is little to no math involved in Biology,
Can you have the Regent’s diploma added to her IEP as a goal? At least the school would be be required to answer that she’s on track for it (not just tell you that), and the required courses would be listed .
I do think you should wait to see if she passes the Algebra exam before scheduling her for geometry and chemistry. She may want to do it because ‘everyone’ is, but really everyone isn’t. There are other kids in her classes, so other kids are taking the double year of algebra and double years of science.
twoinanddone, Yes I am waiting to see if she passes the Algebra regents with at least a 70 before I bring up Geometry more science,
As others have mentioned there are many roads to a high school diploma and college. @Dustyfeathers brings up valid points about students being burned out. While she may not be ready for chem, ask about earth science because she will need the one year in physical science to meet the graduation requirement. For testing, you don’t and wont’t know; she may get a regents diploma, she may get a local diploma. you may have to use compensation scoring or appeals to meet the regents exam requirements. familiarize your self with the different options.
One of the biggest things that will determine her going to a 4 year school is whether or not she will be college ready (they will determine this by her SAT scores and her regents scores in English and Mathematics because there are no remediation courses at the 4 year level).
There is no shame if she has to start at community college as they all have articulation agreements with the 4 year schools- especially in the CUNY/SUNY system. What you want to do is look at schools to see what services are offered through their office of disability/accessibility services
Also make sure that you are speaking with your transition coordinator. Read the IEP to see what the transition plan is for your daughter. The new plan is for student with a disability is to graduate with both a diploma and a Career Development and Occupational Studies (CDOS) Commencement Credential work work readiness, Starting this June students with disabilities can graduate with the 4 + CDOS option (passing one regents in english, math social studies , science and the CDOS) for a regents or local diploma. the option will be extended to gen ed students.
Become familiar with ACESS-VR and make sure that they are also part of your daughter’s transition plan
http://www.acces.nysed.gov/common/acces/files/vr/College%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf
@sybbie719 is such a wealth of information. This forum is lucky to have her expertise.
How about she try for Algebra 2next year since she’s doing very well in Algebra, plus Earth Science? And senior year, chemistry if Earth science went well, plus one more year of math such as Personal Finance or statistics.
Algebra2 follows Algebra1 and there’s now little geometry on the sat, rather more algebra 2 type things plus statistics/probaility. If she’s weak at math she may have better success on the sat simply bubbling in D for every geometry question (easy to identify) and focusing on the algebra and stats questions thanks to the time freed up by not doing geometry.
Not sure but you might indeed need a neuropsych exam for dyspraxia.if that’s her diagnosis she’s have to be accomodated properly. If you dictate words and she does not look up from her sheet, does it work better for her than copying off something?
You might ‘test’ the needed acxomationq this way:
Do not tell her the expected results or scoring. Do tell her you’ll be administrating something quick, 2sentences per situation, and there are no penalties. She should be as efficient as she can while remaining comfortable.
Take a history textbook.
Have her copy the first two sentences in a paragraph, and time her.
Then, dictate the next two sentences (time her too).
Then, read the next two sentences and have her type them (time her).
Finally, have her copy the next two sentences by typing them (time her).
Which way did she prefer? Rank 1-4
Which way was the fastest? Rank 1-4
Which way was the most accurate? Rank 1-4
The lowest score is the accommodations you need to request in school.
Does the school authorize her to use the laptop or netbook to type rather than write down notes?
@Momof51019, If you need a neuropsych test for your daughter, look into [SUNY Albany’s Psychological Services Center](http://www.albany.edu/psc/psychological_testing.php). The grad students there do testing (under the guidance of their professors) as part of their program. Private neuropsych testing costs $3k+ in NYS, but they’re charging us ~20% of that for a full neuropsych evaluation for our daughter.
MYOS1634, Thank you for your suggestions. The school won’t give her a scribe or laptop because she doesn’t score low enough on their testing to receive those accommodations. But she can’t write more than a few sentences without fatigue in her hands. The special Ed chair and her teachers don’t think she’s trying.
My relationship with our school was very friendly, and they even hired me to mediate with another family. I totally agree with the low key approach mentioned by dusty feathers but inserting a sentence about a lawyer’s idea can be done without becoming confrontational, and can save time by making the school sit up and take notice a little more 
Especially for a female parent who is attending a meeting on her own.
Oooh that sentence “we don’t think she is trying”"…very common!!
It sounds like you need outside testing to get her the support she needs.
I’m so glad I found this forum. My husband, while wanting the bet for my daughter, isn’t as involved as I am in this, and has never dealt with the schools administration. I attend these meetings alone and it can be intimidating. I will definitely consider a lawyer is I can’t get anywhere with them. I was also told that all of this rests on how my D does on the Algebra regents next month. But I still don’t feel it’s up to them to decide (and be so rigid about it) that she couldn’t take Earth Science in grade 9 and that she shouldn’t have a shot at a college prep program because learning disabilities.
If they don’t give her a laptop or a scribe, would she be allowed to bring a netbook to take notes in class?
And for essays, why couldn’t she type them?
I cannot fathom how they could think using a laptop would be problem, especially if you offered to provide it. I do get their reluctance to provide a scribe. But really? Not trying hard enough? My kid with very minor processing problems had use of a keyboard in middle school no arguments.
Does your state have a protection and advocacy services group? Sometimes an advocate is a good first bridge when you feel you need assistance with a school district. Often, these advocates are folks who have walked in your shoes and are able to help you navigate the education system in a positive way.
To be honest, I would try that first before a lawyer, which almost always seems adversarial. You may decide you need a lawyer…but really,mthat isn’t where I would start.
mathmom, She can’t use a keyboard in class, but I’ve never pushed the issue. But some of the projects they’re allowed to type. Her main issue is math, but the writing problem are affecting that subject, too. The actual handwriting had gotten better in terms of neatness, but her hands get tired after writing one paragraph.
I remember when my youngest was in 5th grade he couldn’t do the math minute worksheets fast enough. I tested him at home orally and the issue was only how slow he wrote. He didn’t have a 504 plan then - though that was part of the impetus for getting one - his teacher was very nice about it once we figured out that he was just writing slowly.
Now that he’s a grown up he rarely has to write anything by hand - you are expected to type memos and reports. And he does lots of math, but with Excel spreadsheets!