Re: Being able to observe...

[Guest guest]

I know that although I might not be able to observe classrooms BEFORE

the IEP when I want, the parent facilitator has assured me that I will

be able to observe the different possible placements for .

These will be 9th grade classes that she is not in (yet.) They are

putting me off, primarily, because they want to tell me what

can have, and then look, rather than me see in advance and say " no way,

she's not going to THAT place! "

I have heard people say that before, but I don't believe it's true. And

even if you don't have a child int he class, how is it different from a

parent who DOES have a child in the class being in there? If there is

someone besides a district employee or sub in the class, they see who is

in the class, and see what happens in there. Just because it's a parent

of a current student, it doesn't mean it's confidential. And is this

just for special education student's privacy, or any student's privacy?

And frankly, anyone can sign a confidentiality agreement if that's what

is needed... as a school volunteer, I've helped in the office filing the

" emergency contact " forms that have all the personal information on

them, and also in the middle school eye and scoliosis screening.... both

required me (besides my background check to fulfill the volunteer

requirements) to fill out the confidentiality agreement and sign before

I did either of those jobs.

Sigh, they are just the worst! Keep up the fight , you can do

it!!!!!!

, mom to (16) (14 DS) Sammy (12) and auntie to

(18)

On 2/18/2012 8:11 PM, Moyers wrote:

>

> Hi,

>

> Most of you know I am in the middle of fighting for to be

> included in regular ed Science and Social Studies in elementary

> school. Right now she is in 4th grade and our attorney said it will

> be 5th grade before we will get anywhere with due process.

> Anyway, I asked at our last ARD meeting if there were any inclusive

> classrooms in our district and if so, that I wanted to go and

> observe. The Asst. Director of Sped immediately told me that I could

> not observe any classrooms, as it was a violation of other students

> privacy.

> Have any of you ever been allowed to observe a classroom that you

> wanted your child to attend, but you child was not actually in the

> class yet?

>

> Thanks!

>

> Graham

> 832-816-7992

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

You CAN observe under certain conditions. Your liason or inclusion specialist

can take you into a classroom for about 15 minutes. I went through this battle

this year. I went into several classrooms, but only with prior notice and

supervised for a limited time. I was told several time that I was not allowed to

observe, too. Just stand your ground and let them know you will not sign any

placement without prior observation. GOod Luck!

Barb Rizk

On Feb 18, 2012, at 8:11 PM, Moyers wrote:

> Hi,

>

> Most of you know I am in the middle of fighting for to be included in

regular ed Science and Social Studies in elementary school. Right now she is in

4th grade and our attorney said it will be 5th grade before we will get anywhere

with due process.

> Anyway, I asked at our last ARD meeting if there were any inclusive classrooms

in our district and if so, that I wanted to go and observe. The Asst. Director

of Sped immediately told me that I could not observe any classrooms, as it was a

violation of other students privacy.

> Have any of you ever been allowed to observe a classroom that you wanted your

child to attend, but you child was not actually in the class yet?

>

> Thanks!

>

> Graham

> 832-816-7992

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

Here in Oregon they tell me I am not allowed in the class even with Sam in it.

I have fought that and have an agreement with the principal to go in with her

anytime I wish. I have also agreed to volunteer in the class but even that was

frowned upon until they needed someone to lead art literacy.

Barb Rizk

On Feb 18, 2012, at 8:38 PM, Kerrigan wrote:

> I know that although I might not be able to observe classrooms BEFORE

> the IEP when I want, the parent facilitator has assured me that I will

> be able to observe the different possible placements for .

> These will be 9th grade classes that she is not in (yet.) They are

> putting me off, primarily, because they want to tell me what

> can have, and then look, rather than me see in advance and say " no way,

> she's not going to THAT place! "

>

> I have heard people say that before, but I don't believe it's true. And

> even if you don't have a child int he class, how is it different from a

> parent who DOES have a child in the class being in there? If there is

> someone besides a district employee or sub in the class, they see who is

> in the class, and see what happens in there. Just because it's a parent

> of a current student, it doesn't mean it's confidential. And is this

> just for special education student's privacy, or any student's privacy?

>

> And frankly, anyone can sign a confidentiality agreement if that's what

> is needed... as a school volunteer, I've helped in the office filing the

> " emergency contact " forms that have all the personal information on

> them, and also in the middle school eye and scoliosis screening.... both

> required me (besides my background check to fulfill the volunteer

> requirements) to fill out the confidentiality agreement and sign before

> I did either of those jobs.

>

> Sigh, they are just the worst! Keep up the fight , you can do

> it!!!!!!

>

> , mom to (16) (14 DS) Sammy (12) and auntie to

> (18)

>

> On 2/18/2012 8:11 PM, Moyers wrote:

> >

> > Hi,

> >

> > Most of you know I am in the middle of fighting for to be

> > included in regular ed Science and Social Studies in elementary

> > school. Right now she is in 4th grade and our attorney said it will

> > be 5th grade before we will get anywhere with due process.

> > Anyway, I asked at our last ARD meeting if there were any inclusive

> > classrooms in our district and if so, that I wanted to go and

> > observe. The Asst. Director of Sped immediately told me that I could

> > not observe any classrooms, as it was a violation of other students

> > privacy.

> > Have any of you ever been allowed to observe a classroom that you

> > wanted your child to attend, but you child was not actually in the

> > class yet?

> >

> > Thanks!

> >

> > Graham

> > 832-816-7992

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

It really is funny that you mention that ...I am a volunteer and have done

a background check and all that stuff and can volunteer at lunch or other

classrooms... doesn't have to be in the cafeteria for me to volunteer or in

any of the classes where they need parent readers.  Unfortunately, we don't have

any type of Inclusion Specialist in our district.  The first time I asked if we

did, the case manager said " well, that's what we are (talking about the ST, the

sped teacher and herself).  I laughed and told them if they were the inclusion

specialists in our school, we might as well get a portable building and put all

the kids out there, away from the rest of the school...that's how educated they

were in inclusion.

 

I am going to ask my attorney if there is any law that says I can't observe.  I

think the reason she, the Asst. director said this, is because they don't have

any inclusive classrooms.  I would bet every dime I have that there is not one

child with Down syndrome in ANY general ed classroom in our district.  So sad. 

But about to change :0)

Graham

832-816-7992

________________________________

From: Barbara Rizk <rizk22@...>

Kerrigan <leslie-kerrigan@...>

Cc: Ups N Downs < >

Sent: Sunday, February 19, 2012 1:03 AM

Subject: Re: Being able to observe...

,

Here in Oregon they tell me I am not allowed in the class even with Sam in it. 

I have fought that and have an agreement with the principal to go in with her

anytime I wish.  I have also agreed to volunteer in the class but even that was

frowned upon until they needed someone to lead art literacy.

Barb Rizk

On Feb 18, 2012, at 8:38 PM, Kerrigan wrote:

> I know that although I might not be able to observe classrooms BEFORE

> the IEP when I want, the parent facilitator has assured me that I will

> be able to observe the different possible placements for .

> These will be 9th grade classes that she is not in (yet.) They are

> putting me off, primarily, because they want to tell me what

> can have, and then look, rather than me see in advance and say " no way,

> she's not going to THAT place! "

>

> I have heard people say that before, but I don't believe it's true. And

> even if you don't have a child int he class, how is it different from a

> parent who DOES have a child in the class being in there? If there is

> someone besides a district employee or sub in the class, they see who is

> in the class, and see what happens in there. Just because it's a parent

> of a current student, it doesn't mean it's confidential. And is this

> just for special education student's privacy, or any student's privacy?

>

> And frankly, anyone can sign a confidentiality agreement if that's what

> is needed... as a school volunteer, I've helped in the office filing the

> " emergency contact " forms that have all the personal information on

> them, and also in the middle school eye and scoliosis screening.... both

> required me (besides my background check to fulfill the volunteer

> requirements) to fill out the confidentiality agreement and sign before

> I did either of those jobs.

>

> Sigh, they are just the worst! Keep up the fight , you can do

> it!!!!!!

>

> , mom to (16) (14 DS) Sammy (12) and auntie to

> (18)

>

> On 2/18/2012 8:11 PM, Moyers wrote:

> >

> > Hi,

> >

> > Most of you know I am in the middle of fighting for to be

> > included in regular ed Science and Social Studies in elementary

> > school. Right now she is in 4th grade and our attorney said it will

> > be 5th grade before we will get anywhere with due process.

> > Anyway, I asked at our last ARD meeting if there were any inclusive

> > classrooms in our district and if so, that I wanted to go and

> > observe. The Asst. Director of Sped immediately told me that I could

> > not observe any classrooms, as it was a violation of other students

> > privacy.

> > Have any of you ever been allowed to observe a classroom that you

> > wanted your child to attend, but you child was not actually in the

> > class yet?

> >

> > Thanks!

> >

> > Graham

> > 832-816-7992

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I would probably email the principal, director of special ed, and

whomever are on your chain of command, and ask them to show you in their

written educational code, school handbook, or other official document,

that parents are not allowed to visit a public school classroom. Just

to get them to reply in writing that they are not allowing you to

observe a possible placement for your daughter, since it looks likely

that you'll end up in due process. And if they do reply, I'd probably

do a follow up asking them to explain why it's OK for you to volunteer

in the classroom, or at lunch, or whenever/wherever they need a

volunteer, but how it's different to walk into a classroom just to

observe for 10 minutes? You could always volunteer to perform a

volunteer task for the teacher, if that would make it easier on them,

LOL. Something like " I have scissors, will cut for you! Have ears,

will listen to students read. Have hands, will prep the art project for

you, or wash paint brushes.... cuz I'm sure you are multi-talented like

that! " That will really frost them, I'm sure!

To try and keep myself from going nuts with the ridiculous folks I deal

with at school, I try and think of humorous situations... helps keep my

sanity. Even if you never actually tell them " heck, if I can't observe,

I'll volunteer... give me a job! " , you can laugh about it, and the look

that would be on their face when you said it!

You keep at it , you can win this!

On 2/19/2012 8:43 PM, Moyers wrote:

> It really is funny that you mention that ...I am a volunteer and

> have done a background check and all that stuff and can volunteer at

> lunch or other classrooms... doesn't have to be in the cafeteria

> for me to volunteer or in any of the classes where they need parent

> readers. Unfortunately, we don't have any type of Inclusion

> Specialist in our district. The first time I asked if we did, the

> case manager said " well, that's what we are (talking about the ST, the

> sped teacher and herself). I laughed and told them if they were the

> inclusion specialists in our school, we might as well get a portable

> building and put all the kids out there, away from the rest of the

> school...that's how educated they were in inclusion.

> I am going to ask my attorney if there is any law that says I can't

> observe. I think the reason she, the Asst. director said this, is

> because they don't have any inclusive classrooms. I would bet every

> dime I have that there is not one child with Down syndrome in ANY

> general ed classroom in our district. So sad. But about to change :0)

> Graham

> 832-816-7992

> *From:* Barbara Rizk <rizk22@...>

> *To:* Kerrigan <leslie-kerrigan@...>

> *Cc:* Ups N Downs < >

> *Sent:* Sunday, February 19, 2012 1:03 AM

> *Subject:* Re: Being able to observe...

>

> ,

>

> Here in Oregon they tell me I am not allowed in the class even with

> Sam in it. I have fought that and have an agreement with the

> principal to go in with her anytime I wish. I have also agreed to

> volunteer in the class but even that was frowned upon until they

> needed someone to lead art literacy.

>

> Barb Rizk

> On Feb 18, 2012, at 8:38 PM, Kerrigan wrote:

>

> > I know that although I might not be able to observe classrooms BEFORE

> > the IEP when I want, the parent facilitator has assured me that I will

> > be able to observe the different possible placements for .

> > These will be 9th grade classes that she is not in (yet.) They are

> > putting me off, primarily, because they want to tell me what

> > can have, and then look, rather than me see in advance and say " no way,

> > she's not going to THAT place! "

> >

> > I have heard people say that before, but I don't believe it's true. And

> > even if you don't have a child int he class, how is it different from a

> > parent who DOES have a child in the class being in there? If there is

> > someone besides a district employee or sub in the class, they see

> who is

> > in the class, and see what happens in there. Just because it's a parent

> > of a current student, it doesn't mean it's confidential. And is this

> > just for special education student's privacy, or any student's privacy?

> >

> > And frankly, anyone can sign a confidentiality agreement if that's what

> > is needed... as a school volunteer, I've helped in the office filing

> the

> > " emergency contact " forms that have all the personal information on

> > them, and also in the middle school eye and scoliosis screening....

> both

> > required me (besides my background check to fulfill the volunteer

> > requirements) to fill out the confidentiality agreement and sign before

> > I did either of those jobs.

> >

> > Sigh, they are just the worst! Keep up the fight , you can do

> > it!!!!!!

> >

> > , mom to (16) (14 DS) Sammy (12) and auntie to

> > (18)

> >

> > On 2/18/2012 8:11 PM, Moyers wrote:

> > >

> > > Hi,

> > >

> > > Most of you know I am in the middle of fighting for to be

> > > included in regular ed Science and Social Studies in elementary

> > > school. Right now she is in 4th grade and our attorney said it will

> > > be 5th grade before we will get anywhere with due process.

> > > Anyway, I asked at our last ARD meeting if there were any inclusive

> > > classrooms in our district and if so, that I wanted to go and

> > > observe. The Asst. Director of Sped immediately told me that I could

> > > not observe any classrooms, as it was a violation of other students

> > > privacy.

> > > Have any of you ever been allowed to observe a classroom that you

> > > wanted your child to attend, but you child was not actually in the

> > > class yet?

> > >

> > > Thanks!

> > >

> > > Graham

> > > 832-816-7992

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

There is no law that says you can't observe. They do not want you to

see that all the kids are placed together (dumped) and nothing is

happening. Just stad your ground and tell them you are not putting

your chld int any placement that you have not personally seen.

Loree

Re: Being able to observe...

,

Here in Oregon they tell me I am not allowed in the class even with Sam

in it.  I have fought that and have an agreement with the principal to

go in with her anytime I wish.  I have also agreed to volunteer in the

class but even that was frowned upon until they needed someone to lead

art literacy.

Barb Rizk

On Feb 18, 2012, at 8:38 PM, Kerrigan wrote:

& gt; I know that although I might not be able to observe classrooms

BEFORE

& gt; the IEP when I want, the parent facilitator has assured me that I

will

& gt; be able to observe the different possible placements for

.

& gt; These will be 9th grade classes that she is not in (yet.) They are

& gt; putting me off, primarily, because they want to tell me what

& gt; can have, and then look, rather than me see in advance and say " no

way,

& gt; she's not going to THAT place! "

& gt;

& gt; I have heard people say that before, but I don't believe it's

true. And

& gt; even if you don't have a child int he class, how is it different

from a

& gt; parent who DOES have a child in the class being in there? If there

is

& gt; someone besides a district employee or sub in the class, they see

who is

& gt; in the class, and see what happens in there. Just because it's a

parent

& gt; of a current student, it doesn't mean it's confidential. And is

this

& gt; just for special education student's privacy, or any student's

privacy?

& gt;

& gt; And frankly, anyone can sign a confidentiality agreement if that's

what

& gt; is needed... as a school volunteer, I've helped in the office

filing the

& gt; " emergency contact " forms that have all the personal information

on

& gt; them, and also in the middle school eye and scoliosis

screening.... both

& gt; required me (besides my background check to fulfill the volunteer

& gt; requirements) to fill out the confidentiality agreement and sign

before

& gt; I did either of those jobs.

& gt;

& gt; Sigh, they are just the worst! Keep up the fight , you can

do

& gt; it!!!!!!

& gt;

& gt; , mom to (16) (14 DS) Sammy (12) and auntie

to

& gt; (18)

& gt;

& gt; On 2/18/2012 8:11 PM, Moyers wrote:

& gt; & gt;

& gt; & gt; Hi,

& gt; & gt;

& gt; & gt; Most of you know I am in the middle of fighting for to

be

& gt; & gt; included in regular ed Science and Social Studies in

elementary

& gt; & gt; school. Right now she is in 4th grade and our attorney said

it will

& gt; & gt; be 5th grade before we will get anywhere with due process.

& gt; & gt; Anyway, I asked at our last ARD meeting if there were any

inclusive

& gt; & gt; classrooms in our district and if so, that I wanted to go and

& gt; & gt; observe. The Asst. Director of Sped immediately told me that

I could

& gt; & gt; not observe any classrooms, as it was a violation of other

students

& gt; & gt; privacy.

& gt; & gt; Have any of you ever been allowed to observe a classroom that

you

& gt; & gt; wanted your child to attend, but you child was not actually

in the

& gt; & gt; class yet?

& gt; & gt;

& gt; & gt; Thanks!

& gt; & gt;

& gt; & gt; Graham

& gt; & gt; 832-816-7992

& gt; & gt;

& gt; & gt;

[Guest guest]

When Nick was in 3rd grade and we were working on his IEP for 4th there was a

big push to send him to another school where, and I quote, " we typically send

kids like Nick " (major mistake on their part just saying that!). Anyway the

representative from the special ed office (board) suggested we go visit the

classroom before we say " no " (we were saying H*** NO!). The teacher for that

class (who had been invited to the IEP by the current teacher as he had been

told she was more experienced with kids like Nick and would be the best option,

BTW, he was doing fine) immediately pipes up, " They can't come and observe my

class as it is a violation of HIPPA. They can come and check out my classroom

when the children aren't there. Or they can wait until I can get a signed form

from each parent of each child in the class granting them permission to

observe. " Well, I contacted the state special ed department and was told that

unless the county had a policy that prevented parents from observing a classroom

(in session) there was no state-wide policy against and HIPPA did not come into

play when observing the classroom in action. " So I wrote the head of our

county's special ed department and informed her that they needed to train their

teachers better unless there was a county policy prohibiting observation (and if

there was to send me a copy of it). Funny thing is the state was running into

the same issue with private school (teachers and/or administrators) citing HIPPA

as an excuse to prevent observation and their lawyers were finding that it was

being used inappropriately. (State was wanting to observe classrooms where they

had placed students after the public schools were unable to provide what the

child needed.)

Cari Shepard

cmancari@...

Re: Being able to observe...

I know that although I might not be able to observe classrooms BEFORE

the IEP when I want, the parent facilitator has assured me that I will

be able to observe the different possible placements for .

These will be 9th grade classes that she is not in (yet.) They are

putting me off, primarily, because they want to tell me what

can have, and then look, rather than me see in advance and say " no way,

she's not going to THAT place! "

I have heard people say that before, but I don't believe it's true. And

even if you don't have a child int he class, how is it different from a

parent who DOES have a child in the class being in there? If there is

someone besides a district employee or sub in the class, they see who is

in the class, and see what happens in there. Just because it's a parent

of a current student, it doesn't mean it's confidential. And is this

just for special education student's privacy, or any student's privacy?

And frankly, anyone can sign a confidentiality agreement if that's what

is needed... as a school volunteer, I've helped in the office filing the

" emergency contact " forms that have all the personal information on

them, and also in the middle school eye and scoliosis screening.... both

required me (besides my background check to fulfill the volunteer

requirements) to fill out the confidentiality agreement and sign before

I did either of those jobs.

Sigh, they are just the worst! Keep up the fight , you can do

it!!!!!!

, mom to (16) (14 DS) Sammy (12) and auntie to

(18)

On 2/18/2012 8:11 PM, Moyers wrote:

>

> Hi,

>

> Most of you know I am in the middle of fighting for to be

> included in regular ed Science and Social Studies in elementary

> school. Right now she is in 4th grade and our attorney said it will

> be 5th grade before we will get anywhere with due process.

> Anyway, I asked at our last ARD meeting if there were any inclusive

> classrooms in our district and if so, that I wanted to go and

> observe. The Asst. Director of Sped immediately told me that I could

> not observe any classrooms, as it was a violation of other students

> privacy.

> Have any of you ever been allowed to observe a classroom that you

> wanted your child to attend, but you child was not actually in the

> class yet?

>

> Thanks!

>

> Graham

> 832-816-7992

>

>

[Guest guest]

#1. It does not have to have the name inclusive. Any classroom can and should

be in

#2. We requested observe the classroom Logan was going to be in and we were

told we could only view it at 4pm! We home schooled him that year. The next

yr we again asked and were welcomed with open arms!

Sent from my iPad

On Feb 18, 2012, at 8:11 PM, Moyers <jendmoyers@...> wrote:

> Hi,

>

> Most of you know I am in the middle of fighting for to be included in

regular ed Science and Social Studies in elementary school. Right now she is in

4th grade and our attorney said it will be 5th grade before we will get anywhere

with due process.

> Anyway, I asked at our last ARD meeting if there were any inclusive classrooms

in our district and if so, that I wanted to go and observe. The Asst. Director

of Sped immediately told me that I could not observe any classrooms, as it was a

violation of other students privacy.

> Have any of you ever been allowed to observe a classroom that you wanted your

child to attend, but you child was not actually in the class yet?

>

> Thanks!

>

> Graham

> 832-816-7992

>

>