Re: Extended School Year - information meeting with ASK group.

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Terrible, hope you get some good help, Laurie. Two hours?? Sounds like they have to offer something, but, come on!

----- Original Message -----

From: Laurie Kowalski

Sent: Wednesday, April 19, 2006 10:38 AM

Subject: Re: [ ] Extended School Year - information meeting with ASK group.

What if your school offers something, but it isridiculously minimal? My district is offering my asdson---6 weeks, 3 days per week, 2 hours per day. Thiswould get us near the end of July and have nothing forall of August. Not to mention that 2 hours is a joke.By the time they get situated, it's time to go home. What can I do about this and how can I prove that thisis not enough? (At the beginning of the school year 2years ago, when we took this option, I wrote a verylong letter to the pupil services director to let herknow what a horrible summer my kids had (I also have achild with Down syndrome), I noted extreme regressionin behavior for my asd son. The problem was that hedid not take a significant amount of time to recouphis academic skills (which are his strong pointsanyways) when he came back in the Fall, so nothing wasdone about it. In fact, according to their newformulation checklist given last year, he doesn't evenqualify for ESY!!! They offered me the above programout of the kindness of their hearts!! (give me abreak!!!!!) sorry so long,Laurie--- DMHelmick1@... wrote:> We are having our next ASK meeting on the subject -> ESY (Extended School > Year.) It will be April 19th, 7 to 9 at Panera's in> Medina. Feel free to let > anyone know or to come yourself.> > Here is some information on Extended School Year:> > First, ESY should be determined by the IEP team. > There are a number of > reasons to offer ESY to a child - here are the usual> ones:> > > > Regression/recoupment: When, without ESY services, a> student will regress > during a school break and will not recover lost> skills in a reasonable period of > time after the break. > > Critical point of instruction: When a student is at> a critical point in > learning and ESY services are needed to prevent a> loss of general education class > time; to prevent an increase in special education> service time that would > result from a lack of academic or social skill> development; or to prevent loss of > progress made toward a critical skill (self-help,> community access, social or > behavioral). > > Emerging skills: When a student has almost achieved> or recently achieved a > critical goal, and based on his/her past> performance, the student could acquire > or maintain the skill with ESY services. > > Interfering behaviors: When a student exhibits> behaviors (stereotypic, > ritualistic, aggressive, self-injurious, etc.) that> impact and limit his/her > progress on goals. > > Nature or severity of disability: When, without ESY> services, the nature > and/or severity of a student’s disability is> likely to prevent him/her from > receiving meaningful benefit from the instructional> program during the regular > school year. > > Lack of progress: When, without ESY services, a> student’s progress toward a > goal will prevent him/her from receiving meaningful> benefit from the education > program during the regular school year. > > Special circumstances: When other special> circumstances require ESY services > for a student. Once they agree with you that he> needs ESY, you can then > suggest the program that you want them to pay for. > They don't have to agree with > you and can refuse that one and suggest something> else instead. Just be sure > that anytime they say "no" that you request the> reasons in writing for your > records. > > I would be sure to highlight the specific areas that> this program will focus > on as being the same areas that your son needs help> with so they can easily > get the connection! Also remember that ESY isn't> summer school, although that > could be an ESY offering. So focus on what he needs> to MAINTAIN his current > progress and not discuss what he needs to advance> skills. They are quick to let > you know that ESY is not about advancing skills but> about maintaining skills. > I know it's ridiculous, but be prepared. > > From:> > Roxanna> <A> HREF="mailto:kneeleee@...">kneeleee@...</A> > >

[Guest guest]

I would love to see the outline from last night.kneeleee@... wrote: In a message dated 4/19/2006 10:45:05 AM Eastern Standard Time, lyndhurstmom3@... writes: What if your school offers something, but it isridiculously minimal? My district is offering my asdson---6 weeks, 3 days per week, 2 hours per day. Thiswould get us near the end of July and have nothing forall of August. Not to mention that 2 hours is a joke.By the time they get situated, it's time to go home. What can I do about this and how can I prove that

thisis not enough? (At the beginning of the school year 2years ago, when we took this option, I wrote a verylong letter to the pupil services director to let herknow what a horrible summer my kids had (I also have achild with Down syndrome), I noted extreme regressionin behavior for my asd son. The problem was that hedid not take a significant amount of time to recouphis academic skills (which are his strong pointsanyways) when he came back in the Fall, so nothing wasdone about it. In fact, according to their newformulation checklist given last year, he doesn't evenqualify for ESY!!! They offered me the above programout of the kindness of their hearts!! (give me abreak!!!!!) sorry so long,Laurie Well, first I would compare the school's ESY checklist to the laws of the state of Ohio concerning ESY. They have to comply with the law and

can't make up their own stuff. So make sure they can use this checklist and that it covers all areas to be considered for ESY services. Just by you stating that using this checklist, he won't qualify, leads me to believe that this checklist is overlooking major consideration points that the law states we must consider for ESY. Why? Because the last thing to consider is "other considerations." So that alone leaves it very hard to pin point and make a checklist when one has to look at the child's individual needs. Next, I would get their offer in writing first and then I would request a meeting to discuss ESY. They cannot just hand you your allottment for services but rather, must have an IEP meeting in which they discuss whether your child qualifies for ESY and if so, then the team decides what areas he needs ESY for, then the team discusses the services. I realize many schools (mine included)

tend to just hand you your offering and that's that, no meeting, no discussion, just be grateful we are gifting you with this summer program. However, this is not appropriate. So what I would probably do is get an IEP meeting and then discuss why my child is eligible for ESY. He is eligible because they have offered him services already. So that discussion is done. They jumped the gun in handing you a pre-written/pre-decided ESY program because you were left out of the discussion and you are a definite part of the IEP team. So I would now have this discussion. He qualifies for ESY because....and then use that information to design an ESY program that suits his needs. If they say he qualifies because he regresses, then you have a real point in not leaving him hanging for a whole month without any services. It sounds to me as if they have a program already in place and they want him to go

there. However, ESY services need to suit the needs of the child and be individualized. If the program they have doesn't suit his needs, then I wouldn't agree to put him in that program. You can request any other kinds of services that would meet his needs - another program, tutoring at home, private therapy, etc. Start out with what he needs and work your way in, not starting with the program and working your way out. If you have power point, email me off list and I can send you my outline from our meeting last night. Roxanna kneeleee@...