Tis the Season for Filing State Complaints & Going to Due Process in Florida.

Close to the end of another the school year is in the air! This is when I hear about a few Due Process & State Complaints being filed during this time of year.

My phone is ringing with pleading parents wanting to know what to do now, because they are concerned and fed up with a situation that's been going on for too long now at their Child's school. Some are concerned their child isn't being provided therapies during FCAT time, and other basic violations to IDEA.

I have been getting a few phone calls pertaining to Occupational Therapy and it has been taken away from their child at school and parents don't know what to do. 

Wondering what to do about a situation that needs to change at school? 

Now is the time to know what the Procedural Safeguards are and to finally DO SOMETHING about it! 

My Best Advice to you is: 
FILE!!! Just Do It & FILE!

Google your State Dept. of Education and look up and read all about what is a "Due Process" and/or "How to File a State Complaint". 

Filing is a learning experience and it's a learning process. Don't be afraid of filing for a Due Process or a State Complaint if you know your Child's Rights and their IEP is being Violated.

NICHCY no longer being funded by OSEP...WHY?

I went to the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY) website this morning and was surprised to see that NICHCY is no longer being funded by U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)

WHY? 
Why would OSEP not want to continue funding this resource for us? 

Be sure to visit the NICHCY website and save some of the resources for future reference. Great resourse for anything and everything pertaining to Individual Education Plans (IEP's)

The site will "be open" until September 30, 2014.

http://nichcy.org/schoolage/iep/iepcontents

*below is the notice I received when I visited the NICHCY website this morning.

NOTICE: The National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY) is no longer in operation. Our funding from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) ended on September 30, 2013. 

Our website and all its free resources will remain available until September 30, 2014.

The National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY) has provided information and resources to the nation on disabilities in children and youth for many decades. On September 30, 2013, however, our funding from the Office of Special Education Programs at the U.S. Department of Education ended. 


This rich website and all its free resources will remain available until September 30, 2014. We encourage you to explore our website and collect any resources that may assist you in serving children and youth with disabilities. 

*See the New IDEA Website

SURVEY ~ PT & OT ~ ESE Services in Florida Public Schools

Take the Florida PT & OT Survey! 
PT & OT ~ ESE Services in Florida Public Schools

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/3DW85N7 
Click here to take survey

Share and Pass this survey on! 
Post it to your FB page and let others know about it.

Thank you,

DS Advocate
http://www.dsadvocate.com/

1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY ~ Student with Down syndrome found dead in the 'schools backyard' pond!

RIP Jenny!!!! Your Drowning on a Middle School Campus will not be in vain. Your Drowning in the 'pond' out in the backyard of your school will hopefully help lead the way to ACCOUNTABILITY for the SAFETY & WELL BEING OF ALL CHILDREN and TRAINING of all school staff! Prayers to your family, friends, classmates and teachers today! Click below highlighted link to the Tampa Bay News article:
http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/school-in-shock-after-riverview-girls-drowning/1257915

I have written several blog posts about Jenny Caballero since her drowning this last year, because Jenny represents students with Down syndrome and Students with Disabilities across the entire State of Florida! TRAINING must take place to keep our children SAFE! 
http://www.ds-advocate.blogspot.com/2013/09/jennifer-caballero-you-drowning-in-pond.html

Parents upset at common core forum's 4PM start time

Parents upset at common core forum's start time
Well at least the State of Florida Department of Education held 3 PUBLIC COMMENT FORUMS across the entire State. 
(*click on highlighted link to play video)

The PUBLIC COMMENT Forum held in Broward County was scheduled at 5PM till 8PM I believe. There were 111 Speakers SIGNED UP to provide PUBLIC COMMENT and our Commissioner of Florida Department of Education stayed till the very last speaker spoke! That was till about 11PM that night! I have to say she was concerned to hear from ALL OF US THAT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK and I appreciate that. I would have liked to see more than just 3 Public Comment Forums held around the State so that some people didn't have to drive from 4 hours away to attend after a full day of working as one Florida school teacher did.



I know this video is about 'what time' of the day (4PM-6PM) the public comment meeting was being held in Albany, New York. The person in the video said, she feels it's like they really DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS TO SAY by the time that it was set for and with only 3 days notice!!!

I have seen over the years...this is how they do things. Short notice, not enough of the meetings being held across the State so people don't have to travel hours to get to a meeting. 

People ~ Educate yourselves on exactly what this COMMON CORE that's being talked about like a wildfire out of control!! It's like a Choo Choo Chooooo Train that is coming to town, so get out of the way!! Coming to a Town near you!!

In FLORIDA ~ Here is a GREAT RESOURCE FACEBOOK PAGE to help educate yourselves on all the hoopla-la on Common Core and why we need to:
STOP COMMON CORE IN FLORIDA!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stop-Common-Core-in-Florida/516780045031362

I VOTED 4 You! ~ School Board Security Guard told me I wasn't allowed to attend the meeting you held today.

Dear School Board Member for the district/area I live in,

I've been thinking about a situation that happened to me today. This morning I actually had the spare-time to volunteer of my time to attend. I want you to know that when I was greeted by my first name before I was even to the School Board Security Desk this morning, it surprised me. I was there inquiring about the meeting you were having, at first the security guard said what meeting? ...and then said, "I wasn't allowed to attend that meeting." 

She was told, to not allow me access to your meeting.

I voted for you, yet I am not allowed to sit in on a new ESE work-group you've been putting together...not just as a "listener only". Why? 

School Board Member, I VOTED for you and I told my friends to VOTE 4 You too! 

Is it because I REFUSE to give up My Membership and My Voting Rights to the Broward ESE Advisory for Parents in order to be allowed access to your next ESE Work group? 

Why would I turn my back on a group I've attended and have been an active part of for so long? You want members to give up their Membership, ultimately giving up My Voting Rights to our school districts parent led ESE Advisory for the past 13 YEARS!? 

Over the years, my daughter has almost always attended with me, beginning when she was just 2 years old. She was so young, she wasn't even ENROLLED in any Broward Public school yet. Together my daughter and I found ESE Family Support at those ESE Advisory meetings. School Board Member, my daughter has been attending all those meetings along side with me for the past 13 years too...it's been OUR SUPPORT all these years!! 

Today is her 15th Birthday! She announced it at the end of the meeting! *She loves an opportunity to 'self advocate' or public speak. She was so incredibly happy to stand up and announce to the whole room that it would be her 15th Birthday today!

WOW!!! So I VOTE 4 You...yet you won't allow me to attend an ESE Work group you're putting together? Bet you know I have a daughter with Down syndrome and I LIVE in your District. I am one of your district/area families...yes I am one of your constituents in your District! 

I'm not sure what's to be gained or WHO will gain from your 'selective' work group. By only allowing certain people...and 2 of them don't LIVE in 'the neighborhood' even. 

Thought the creation of your work-group meetings was about pulling together your area families and creating a 'ESE Work Group' for and families from the district or area of Broward County that you represent. 

I Voted for you...and you barred me from being a Parent Volunteer to which you were seeking ESE Parents to sit on a New ESE Work group you have put together.

Signed,

Disappointed 4 sure! 

Public vs. Private vs. Charter Schools ~ Great Schools website

Public vs. private vs. charter schools
http://www.greatschools.org/school-choice/6987-public-private-charter-schools.gs?page=3

Cute little Video & some good posts in the "comments" after the video. 
In the world of school choice, private schools are a viable option (even when you think it's not).
http://www.greatschools.org/school-choice/private-schools/7068-private-schools-video.gs

Jennifer Caballero ~ You drowning in the pond behind Rogers Middle School last October 2012 in Riverview, Florida will not be in vain!

Jennifer Caballero ~ You drowning in the pond behind Rogers Middle School last October 2012 in Riverview, Florida will not be in vain! Your beautiful LIFE was for a reason! God doesn't make mistakes! Was it to help get EVERYONE TALKING about ESE "ISSUES" ~ which are many throughout the entire State of Florida. Will your tragic and senseless drowning around this time last year, will it make better changes at how students like you are TREATED IN SCHOOL? Will your death help with getting QUALITY TRAINING for those hired to work as ESE 1:1 Para Professional Aides? I HOPE SO!! 

Jennifer Caballero ~ thinking of you and your family today!! Prayers to your mom & dad!!!

Oct 23, 2012 ... RIVERVIEW — An 11-year-old girl with Down syndrome who ... Jennifer Caballero, who went by Jenny and whose mother held her in her arms...http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/girl-with-down-syndrome-found-dead-near-riverview-school/1257809 Click to read full story.

Oct 24, 2012 ... RIVERVIEW Jennifer Caballero hid under the bleachers, away from her ... A teacher saw Jennifer — an 11-year-old girl with Down syndrome ...
http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/school-in-shock-after-riverview-girls-drowning/1257915 
Click to read full story.

I live in Broward and if Hillsborough County Public Schools runs like Broward Public School District, you can bet NOBODY "downtown" wants to be accountable for actions that could and should have prevented the death of Jennifer, a little girl with Down syndrome. 

Are schools with WATER nearby....are the FENCES checked on a regular basis? I don't care what school district, what matters is the SAFETY OF ALL STUDENTS no matter what!!

I too am a parent to a wonderful daughter with Down syndrome and I know first hand that the support of a GOOD 1:1 Para "Professional" is everything!! TRAINING is everything when it comes to staff working with students with a disability, most are not trained or even 'collaborating' with the parents, who KNOW everything about the student they are HIRED to work with 5 days a week! ~ EVERYONE IS AT FAULT for Jenny's death! 

If the good character of the Brand New Assistant Principal, Mr. Livingston is what they are trying to point out, I can support that and all that he was overseeing...if it's true about his 'requests or CONCERNS' for things that needed to be done. Absolutely the DISTRICT Adminstrators and the different departments, the maintenance department that oversee that ALL the schools are SAFE!! That would include MAKING SURE FENCES SURROUNDING PONDS are secure and able to prevent children from DROWNING in those ponds that are within feet of the schools. Over the SUMMER Break....wouldn't it be safe to say that such SAFETY CHECKS would be ongoing without the school building Assistant Principal needing to even put in a 'request' for a full inspection of the campus for SAFETY of ALL STUDENTS! 

What is wrong with this that everyone wants to blame or ruin the full and future career of this one man, if he if found to be of good character and WAS CONCERNED with 'things' on his new campus. I would like to know more about Mr. Livingston as a leader and his background pertaining to ESE students, he sounds like her was chosen for his new position because he was what Rogers Middle School needed! 

I would like to know why the heck any and all 1:1 Para Professional Aides are not doing their jobs with caring for the individuals they are hired and receiving a pay check each week to KEEP SAFE and like Mr. Livingston said, ...."the aides need to be ENGAGED with their students"......absolutely....the teacher should have demanded that the ESE Aides DO THEIR JOBS of working with the students they were assigned to work with! 

Mr. Livingston, I am sorry you are caught in the crossfire when those that work "downtown" should be on the stand with you and held accountable for so many things, training of the Aides, fences being in good repair, teachers making sure the ESE Aides are ENGAGING with the student they are assigned to keep safe!!! 

The Building Maintenance department...what do their logs and records have about the repairs needed at that school to keep ALL STUDENTS SAFE?!!! 

Jennifer Caballero ~ Your death will not be forgotten or in vain! Because of your senseless drowning out behind your new Middle School...I am praying that ESE students like you are treated with RESPECT and Educated with School Staff that ENGAGE with their student and that all Public School Employees make sure to keep all students safe!

Listed below are a few news articles;

Aug 6, 2013 ... The assistant principal of Rodgers Middle School, fired in the aftermath of the death of a special-needs student, was before the Hillsborough ...
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/rodgers-middle-school-firing-is-revisited/2135022

Gov. Scott to sign bill that improves special needs education, allows ...
Jun 28, 2013 ... Gov. Rick Scott is set to sign a bill making big changes to the way special education is run in Florida.
http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/region_tampa/gov-scott-to-sign-bill-that-improves-special-needs-education-allows-parents-to-be-more-involved

We are experiencing the Civil Rights Movement of ADA & IDEA in 2013+.

Seems no matter which AGENCY in the State of Florida accepting Federal Funds...our children with Down syndrome are the ones being denied & discriminated at every level of government!!! 

We are experiencing the Civil Rights Movement of ADA & IDEA in 2013 right now. 

Every Agency needs to be held accountable for their Actions against people! The Discrimination & Segregation need to end!!

*This absolutely may very well be true in other States with any and all other persons with Disabilities. 

Do you find this to be true? What State are you from?

I have a daughter with Down syndrome and I live in the State of Florida.

"Mariah speaks" ~ Before Broward County Public Schools over the Summer on July 23rd, 2013.

Mariah speaking before Broward County Public Schools over the Summer on July 23rd, 2013. M_07_23_2013 Her speech although unclear, was provided in writing to the Superintendent and all the School Board members so they knew what she spoke about at the podium. 

Mariah speaking before the School board over the Summer was something she wanted to do....by herself, without me standing next to her. She and I discussed what should she talk about if she was no longer a Broward County Public School Student. I withdrew Mariah from Public education in Broward before the school year ended on May 24th, 2013.

I didn't give up on Public Education... 

...Broward Public Education 

GAVE UP ON MARIAH!!

Although I filed a State Complaint pertaining to her school holding an illegal 10th IEP ~ 4 days after she had been withdrawn from attending Broward schools and was no longer a Student in this district. Naturally, I lost the State Complaint.....enough is enough of the games this school district and the State has put me thru in my trying to secure a 'real education' for my daughter, Mariah. 

This video provided by BeconTV is the entire July 23th, 2013 School Board Meeting. The Pubic Speakers begins on the Video at 143:00 with School board Chair, Laurie Rich-Livenstein opening the meeting for Public comment. Mariah is called as the first Public Speaker. To see the beginning of where Mariah starts go to 144:00 on the Video. I speak just after Mariah at 148:50 on the Video. 

It is worth a watch to see the other Public Speakers at this Summer Broward County School Board Meeting.

I am so proud my daughter wants to SPEAK OUT and become a Public Speaker. What she has to say is worth hearing. 

Written below is Mariah's actual July 23rd, 2013 Speech she spoke before Broward School Board meeting.

Hi !!

*Pause & SMILE

My name is Mariah Harris, I am 14 years old and in the 6th Grade.

I am in the Nova  U-Na-Ver-ciTy  School of the ARTS Drama Camp. I am a dancer, singer, actress and will be in the Disney MULAN show August second. I have teachers and helpers that support and BELIEVE IN ME! Want to come see me on the stage at the EP-STEEN Center?

I went to Horse Camp for 2 weeks and had a lot of FUN! FIRE is the name of my horse. I met new friends that liked me and BELIEVED IN ME at the Ranch!

I am on the SWIM TEAM at River Land Pool. Back Stroke is my best stroke. I Like doing Free Style and I'm learning the Butterfly. I love going to Swim practice every day! My Coaches BELIEVE IN ME!

I love going to the Movies and Cooking.

I am having a Great Summer.

I need people to BELIEVE IN ME and see that I CAN do it!

Do not JUDGE me because I have Down syndrome!

I am Mariah Harris, I love school and I'm a good student!

I have always been fully IN-CLUDed with an adult to help me.

BELIEVE IN and IN-CLUDE more students with Down syndrome in all of our schools!!

Have a good day!

Thank you very much.

SMILE

Mariah Harris

321funlife@gmail.com

"Mariah speaks" ~ Before Broward County Public Schools over the Summer on July 23rd, 2013.

Florida Department of Education / FAMILIES / PARENT INVOLVEMENT Resources

Great Resource link to the Florida Department of Ed for Families to be Involved in their Children's Education.
It's about INDIVIDUALIZED Education for each Child who have their own Unique Educational Needs.
Be sure to SAVE the page and research all the great links on the left and right of FLDOE.org/Families webpage. Good stuff to know!
http://www.fldoe.org/families/

Pledge for Parental Involvement

Pledge for Parental Involvement

I pledge to support my child's education
to the best of my ability.
I will have high expectations for my child
to succeed in school and in life.
I will make my child's education a priority,
and model positive actions and attitudes.
I will partner with my child's school
to ensure I am informed and involved
in all aspects of my child's education,
and I will be an active advocate
for my child's education.
I understand that education is the key
to success, and will do everything I can
to nurture my child's ability to learn.

*November is Parental Involvement Month
I received this saying at a Title I Parent Training

BENSON'S IEP UPDATE!!

Well...finally we tried to create a workable IEP document for this little guy. The first meeting we were "allowed to" meet for 2 hours, the 2nd time we were "allowed to" meet for 2 hours...and now the other day we were "allowed to" meet for ONE HOUR! We are so grateful for being "allowed to" meet on 3 different occassions to create and write up a quality IEP for BENSON that so was NOT PROVIDED what mom was told he would be provided at the school mom ended up using the McKay funds for him to attend. This school is in a section of Broward County that is very far for the mom to drive to, she refused to have her son attend a KNOWN CLUSTER SCHOOL that was in her neighborhood in the Pompano area and was not given much choice on WHERE HER SON COULD ATTEND SCHOOL because of how his wonderful IEP "team" wrote up his IEP document at the DEVELOPMENTAL PRESCHOOL. Mom input, concerns and wishes for her son was not included in her sons IEP from the Developmental Preschool. That IEP was done just a few days before school was let out and with no one 'working over the summer' to help create a well written IEP for her Kindergarten school year. This is why BENSON was NOT in school the first 2 months of this school year....the district IEP people would NOT BUDGE on their stand that BENSON was to only be provided 100% EXCLUSION & SEGRAGATION from his non-disabled peers for his Kindergarten school year! How does this sort of thing happen to our children? Why did it happen to BENSON? What was the real reason why BENSON was to be 100% in an ESE CLASSROOM and not provided with supports and services that would have helped him be successful in a gen ed kindergarten classsroom?

On Oct. 7th, 2009 Mom requested to have her son provided a FBA-Functional Behavioral Assessment and AT-Assistive Technology Assessment....this was in written form and provided to this 'nice school'......the person in charge...claims she never knew or received that written request. Oops....oh well....again...they didn't know...and my goodness wasn't it obvious that BENSON needed  that SUPPORT & SERVICE? Wasn't there any concern about his behavior & communication?? BENSON WAS NOT EVEN ASSESSED for AT or for a FBA this entire school year! ....was this because mom didn't put in for that support or service? NO!! This was because this school didn't care to do what was right! It was a written request from mom and provided and should have been included in his school files. It was talked about on several occassions and still nothing was done to move forward to have those assessments completed. Why?

When BENSON was finally enrolled in what was to be a good school in a good neighborhood far from mom's address....mom was told by the person in charge of running IEP meetings at this nice school that, "oh yes we are an INCLUSION SCHOOL!"......he would be included with a gen ed kindergarten here and there and for this and for that.....MOM DID NOT BELIEVE THIS and MOM'S GUT FEELINGS WERE RIGHT! This 'good school' did NOT provide any quality inclusion for BENSON. The Gen Ed K teacher did NOT even make EYE CONTACT WITH BENSON at a couple of observations that were held during the year. His HALF HOUR OF INCLUSION TIME IN THE GEN ED KINDERGARTEN was BENSON VISITING! He was NOT included as you and I would be included...he was WATCHED for any little movement he "might make".....those students in that "inclusion kindergarten' classroom were not BENSON'S friends...a student even said to the mom one time, "Is BENSON ALLOWED TO BE IN HERE?" ....wow.....why would a young kindergarten student even say such a thing? Was BENSON "allowed to be there".......this innocent comment from one of his 'kindergarten inclusion classmates' paints the real picture of the whole MINDSET of this particular kindergarten teacher, the classroom, school administrators & the entire school population!

BENSON WAS NOT INCLUDED like mom was told by staff on the day she enrolled him back on October 8th, 2009. That was BENSON'S first day of school......because the IEP "team" forced BENSON and his mother to have on his Individual Educational Plan without PARENT INPUT on what her concerns and wishes were for her son. Mom knows her son better than anyone that will ever attend his IEP's.

BENSON was LEFT BEHIND this school year. Mom is trying to make sure her son is not left behind again for next year! She wants him to be 'held back' and to have an opportunity to attend KINDERGARTEN like he should have this year! He was only allowed to visit kindergarten for a HALF HOUR....that is NOT being INCLUDED! That is visiting a kindergarten classroom! *Did he even have his own desk in there?

I have permission from BENSON'S mom to write all I want about her son on this BLOG so it can help others. I plan on making sure BENSON'S STORY is told to many...so what has happened to BENSON does not happen to others.

I will be updating and adding to the BENSON STORY...so those that have a personal interest will be updated on how things are working out for him and his mom in trying to create a well written IEP document. I want to be able to provide something for everyone to read and get updates so everyone has something to sleep on & ponder about with the BENSON situation, as I am so very sure there are many many Children and families out there that can relate to BENSON'S IEP process and situation.

Parents:
Tell me if you can relate to the BENSON STORY

Teachers:
Tell me if you can relate to the BENSON STORY

District:
Tell me if you care if BENSON was INCLUDED in Kindergarten or not.

State DOE:
Tell me if you are aware of more situations where certain disabilities are being forced into CLUSTER CLASSROOMS against parents wishes & desires.

BENSON'S IEP was left in a DRAFT FORMAT till the new 2010-2011 school year begins in August!! This was  after just 5 hours over  3 different times to meet and work on his IEP. (2 for 2 hours and 1 for 1 hour over a 2 month time period.) CAN DRAFT IEP's EVEN BE OPEN OVER THE SUMMER BREAK?? How does that really work out?

BENSON deserves to attend KINDERGARTEN like any other small boy!

POST UPDATE: Anonoymous comments are not allowed to this blog. If you want to leave a comment you do have to reveal your identity...thats all.

SP&P Guide ~ State & Federal IDEA Law *LINKS*

**ESE Policies and Procedures (SP&P) Listed by DISTRICT in a handy-dandy-drop-down-list!! What a concept!!! This is my personal baby for the past 4-5 years to get our State Dept. of Ed to do....to create a DROP DOWN LIST OF ALL the districts SP&P Guides! Whoo whooo...advocacy DOES PAY OFF!! Be sure to print one out and put it into a 3-ring binder...this is an invaluable tool!! Enjoy!



ESE Policies and Proceedures
http://www.fldoe.org/ese/ppd.asp

Section 1003.57(1)(d), Florida Statutes (F.S.), requires that district school boards submit to the Department of Education (DOE) proposed procedures for the provision of special instruction and services for exceptional students once every three years. Approval of this document by DOE is required by Rule 6A-6.03411, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), as a prerequisite for district’s use of weighted cost factors under the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP). This document also serves as the basis for the identification, evaluation, eligibility determination, and placement of students to receive exceptional education services, and is a component of the district’s application for funds available under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

IMPORTANT STUFF to be a GREAT ADVOCATE!

Florida ESE documents!

IMPORTANT FLORIDA ESE STATE DOCUMENTS
http://www.fldoe.org/ese/ppd.asp

FLORIDA'S RED BOOK ~ ESE RULES
http://www.fldoe.org/ese/pdf/1b-stats.pdf

FEDERAL IDEA LAW - it's the Federal law!!!
http://idea.ed.gov/

ALL OF THESE LINKS WILL HELP YOU KNOW FOR A FACT WHAT THE RULES OF SPECIAL EDUCATION ARE.....IF YOU GET TO KNOW THESE DOCUMENTS THAT ARE POSTED TO OUR STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONS WEBSITES....YOU WILL CERTAINLY BE A CONFIDENT ADVOCATE AND KNOW WHAT YOUR RIGHTS ARE TO SUPPORTS AND SERVICES TO SPECIAL EDUCATION! PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO KNOW ALL OF THESE, DOWNLOAD AND MAKE THEM INTO YOUR VERY OWN 3-RING BINDERS. CALL YOUR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THEY CAN PROVIDE YOU A COPY IF YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO A COMPUTER TO PRINT THEM OUT.

ENJOY YOUR JOURNEY TO BECOMING AN INFORMED AND KNOWLEDGABLE ADVOCATE FOR YOUR CHILD, THEY NEED YOU TO KNOW THIS IN ORDER TO HELP THEM BE SUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOL AND BEYOND!

I LOVE THIS STUFF! .....learn to like it yourself! 'o)

Schools try to make progress while addressing special-needs students

The Gainesville school system is appealing the analyses of two special-needs students who were evaluated by the alternate assessment, Macken said. If the state Department of Education grants just one of the appeals, Gainesville Middle will be granted AYP status in the second determination to be made this fall.

Kathy Culver, Hall’s special education director, said she’s hopeful the state will adopt a third assessment for students with mild disabilities. She said the test is on the horizon and would more closely match the intellectual capability of that "2 percent group."
"We all want to be measured on what’s appropriate for us," she said.

*click link below to read full article:
Schools try to make progress while addressing special-needs students