[Yoda]

Background: My son has ADHD, bipolar, a sleep disorder and a written language learning disability. His grades were fine in elementary and middle school but when he got to high school the teachers no longer modified class assignments in compliance with his IEP and started failing classes. When he started failing his self esteem dropped and he started missing classes.

I met with the new principal on the second day of classes for the 2009-10 school year. The principal said my son could not attend any classes at all until we had met for another IEP meeting. I said, then let's schedule it. He did not. I left written notes and emails for the special ed specialist asking for the meeting but no response. Finally I called the board of education asking for help to get my son in classes. They told me the principal was wrong about an IEP being required for my son to in classes and they called him to inform him he was wrong. By then he had missed three weeks of classes all because the principal was misinformed. The teacher did not give him notes but told him to borrow other students' notes. My son failed the class because he had missed the basics and could not progress in the class. His attendance was poor but he did pass his online English class.

The problem: today we were meeting for an IEP meeting. In addition to the online classes my son wants to take biology and music theater. The principal came to the meeting and said that he would allow my son to take biology but would not allow him to take music theater until he "proves himself" by improving attendance. My son took music theater once before and got an A for the class. I asked the principal to define proving himself but he danced around the question and did not define what he wants my son to do. After the principal left we continued the meeting. I asked two teachers in the meeting if they had understood what the principal expected. One teacher said perhaps good attendance for a week, the other said she thought he said a couple of weeks.

So my son is not allowed to attend music theater until he proves himself with improved attendance. He is going to miss the basics of music theater until he proves himself to the principal's satisfaction. I am thinking I should email the principal and ask him to restate what he expects my son to do before he can attend music theater. What do you think I should include in the email? Perhaps it is time to contact the board of education again?

[goodgirl62]

Yoda,

Be very, very cautious with this Principal. Schools systems are motivated by demographics and politics. If you have question, go online and get the number to your states Dept. of Education and tell them what is going on. And be very careful if the principal recommends your child attend an alternative school program. Sometimes they have fancy names for these schools or programs. These alternative programs are cheating kids out of an education. Don't let them tell you it's in your child's best interest until you are well informed. Trust me. Also read my Newbie thread maybe it will help you understand what I am saying. Good Luck

You need to find a special education advocate. You district's special education department should have a list of advocates to work with. These are people who are not employed by the school district who are very familiar with special education law and will work to ensure your son's special education rights are being upheld. This person will attend IEP meetings with you, etc. This principal is way out of line, particularly about not allowing your son into school without an IEP meeting. If the teachers are not following the modifications for your son, they are breaking the law. IEP's are legal documents. It sounds like this high school is way out of compliance. (I'm a public high school teacher telling you this.)

Now, about the attendance issue. Does your son have attendance problems? If so, the principal is probably okay in insisting that his attendance improve for that class. Kids have to be in school to learn. That's the bottom line. So, if he's not regularly attending school, you have to get that issue under control. (I'm not sure that's a problem; I couldn't quite tell from what you wrote, so forgive me if I'm misunderstanding.)

As far as the requirement the principal laid out, I would ask him to put his requirements in writing and you can insist it be entered into IEP documents. That makes it legal and binding. If he is uncooperative, that's where that advocate would really be a great help.

[salukigirl]

Sounds like this principle has it in for your son. I hate thinking that someone in the education system could really be vindictive or just plain unreasonable but it happens. I would go straight to the board again and tell them what is going on. If they proved him wrong once, they can do it again. He has no right to talk that way to you and your family no matter what issues your son has in school. Once he "proves himself" he will have missed another couple weeks of another class. Unless he doesn't have the pre-reqs I see no reason how this guy can actually keep him out of class.

I would totally go over his head because you have tried dealing with him several times and it hasn't worked. Is there another school in the district that he can go to?

[goodgirl62]

Originally Posted by salukigirl

Sounds like this principle has it in for your son. I hate thinking that someone in the education system could really be vindictive or just plain unreasonable but it happens. I would go straight to the board again and tell them what is going on. If they proved him wrong once, they can do it again. He has no right to talk that way to you and your family no matter what issues your son has in school. Once he "proves himself" he will have missed another couple weeks of another class. Unless he doesn't have the pre-reqs I see no reason how this guy can actually keep him out of class.

I would totally go over his head because you have tried dealing with him several times and it hasn't worked. Is there another school in the district that he can go to?

((((Yoda))))

Go way over his head and over the school district all the way to Dept. Of Education.
I have 3 teachers living across the street and one College Admistrator living right next door to me. The one next door used to be an assistant principal in a neighboring community to mine. Both communities are very affluent. He had a lawsuit with his school for trying to get him to alter certain kids records forcing the kids into alternative programs. My kids had fallen behind and the school thought it would be a better learning enviorment for them ( smaller class size etc.) they were not forced into the program. It was by far the worst advice I have ever taken. I thought they knew what was best for my kids. NOT!!! Once I had realized that a lot of the kids in this school had behavior issues it was to late to get them out. The alternative school had trimesters and the mainstream High School had semesters. Hense the kids trying to return to the mainstream High school would loose credit. They brush the kids in the alternative school under the rug so they can keep their performance scores higher at the mainstream high school. It's one big nasty scam. Your child should correct his attendance but you have more rights then the principal is going to tell you . You must go past the school board, and superintendent right up to the state level. Another thing these alternative programs don't provide enough structure so if your really trying to help your child out, YOU be in control of his education. Go online and read your rights as a parent. If you child graduates a school like this they can't get into a University. They have to go to a community college and start with remedial classes, basically they are not prepared for college level anything.

I am sorry for the rant but I am very knowledgeable on this subject.

[Yoda]

The schools have always wanted him tested with the mainstream kids because my son is bright (IQ 130) despite the written language problem. My son has been in regular ed classes except in elementary and middle school he was in special ed English which I now regret. If I had a do over I would put him in a Montessori school but he was nine y/o before I considered it so too late then.

I understand wanting my son's attendance to improve. I want that too. I suggested a written contract but the principal said no. He wants my son to show him improved attendance before he is allowed in musical theater which means he will start the class trying to catch up just like he did in digital photography. Last semester I met with the principal five times during the first three weeks of school trying to advocate for my son but only after I called the board of education was my son allowed to attend classes.

My son has failed numerous classes mostly because he cannot manage the written work and they have not modified his assignments. I told the principal the school was negligent last semester. I think he considers me a troublemaker but I just want an education appropriate for my son's abilities and disabilities. The county has a new online program where students can study online at home and come to school to take their tests. Because my son has previously failed classes he cannot take those classes over in the regular ed program but must take them with the online program.

I wish I had thought to ask the special ed specialist at the meeting today to include the principal's requirements with our other IEP stuff. I had an audio recorder in my purse which I had used to record some meetings with the principal last semester but I didn't know the principal would be in the meeting so I didn't have it set to go and he was sitting way too close for me to turn it on discreetly. I guess I'll have to call the board of education tomorrow. I wish I could work things out with this principal but he isn't interested in my son's well being, it seems. This is my son's last chance to get his high school diploma. He will be twenty one y/o in May 2010 and cannot attend high school after this semester end. He has the option of a GED. He could still enroll in college with a GED but my son wants a diploma.

I wish you and your son good luck. This seems like another confirmation that power corrupts and absolute ......

Any good news, Yoda?

[Yoda]

Originally Posted by TheByzantine

Any good news, Yoda?

My son has night and day twisted. Up all night then caught schoolbus 630am Wed but he called me at 830am to come get him because he was too tired to function. Yesterday up all night again then went to bed at 1130am (biology class starts at 1pm).

Today up all night again but I drove him to school for biology and he took a test. Despite not being at school for any of the lecture at he thinks he aced the test.

I know that attendance is important and he does too but until we can get a better health care provider to prescribe a different sleep med I doubt he will be able to adjust his sleep pattern.

I don't know how things work in your state but in NY schools are legally required to accommodate for kids with disabilities, until they graduate. I think it even carries over into college as well depending on what the college can actually provide. I'm not too knowledgeable about this because it's not like I'm a parent or somebody who works in the system but somebody who has been in the system. But I found this informative link about 504:

http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/sec504.index.htm

the reason why I'd mention this is that the fact that they took him out of special ed classes that were accommodating to his disabilities just because of his level of intelligence being above average is just...well... wrong and strikes me as more troubling then the principle who who just playing politics and being an ***

[KDlady]

Yoda. What state are you in? Contacting the State Dept of Ed /Special Ed can have dramatic results and filing a complaint may get their attention.

This thread is a sad testament to the old saw about form over substance. Instead of looking for ways to help your son graduate, the bureaucracy finds it more convenient to toss roadblocks in his path.

I hope you inform the Board in detail about how frustrating it is to have to deal with a despot.