& ards Re: Re: Question about the right to request copies of those records

[Guest guest]

and, as the parent of the child, i would think that i would be able to hand any

document with my child's name on it, to anyone for any purpose that i see fit.

ahhh, the joys. i can't help but laugh at the whole situation. they keep

slinging it as us and we just keep slinging it back.

i will say, after advocate got involved, my revised cast of characters for the

ard committee appears to see things my way - which is my son's development is

more important than any ego in the school.

and sad to say, i think an outside person - an advocate, an attorney - has

more influence over the ard meetings than the parents, even if the parents know

just as much if not more about the legalities - not that i knew as much or

more.

jennifer crawford wrote:

On the testing protocol that is a bunch of crap. Once your child's

name is on that document it is yours and you have access to it at any time.

A Chapman wrote: Ha! sort of the same with us last

year. cy-fair said they had to have outside diagnosis before they could test for

autism - that was crap, too. they actually had access to CARS (done by autism

specialist which indicated moderate to severe) and GARS (done by Spring

ISD-which indicated moderate to severe but they refused to accept the score) but

cy-fair didn't want copies of either because of the copyright laws. it's just a

circle jerk.

and truthfully joey, you might be partly responsible for giving up but I put

most of the blame on the school systems. i just don't understand why they want

to fight so hard against trying to get our kids as far as possible early on so

they need as little as possible in the future. it's just dumb logic on their

part.

if you can teach a child how to toilet, make a sandwich, count money, read

street signs, l [,wash clothes, and skills to hold a job as an adult, you have

reduced the tax burden on the general public. I would much rather my son work

and make minimum wage as an adult than sit in a room with someone spoon feeding

him 3 meals a day on tax payer dollars because he never learned to feed himself.

wrote:

Just wanted to point out that the records I requested were for copies

of testing protocols and answers that were used for evaluations. Our

district said that they never release or give copies. Many districts

say it is because of copyright laws. That shouldn't be a problem

since they are filled out and have our child's name on them but never

the less it is just one of many excuses they use. Burleson did say

they were abiding by FERPA by offering to let me come in to review

the records. I was able to get copies of my daughter's other records.

The district knew that we have an in home ABA program and I am sure

they were concerned that we would sue for ABA in school since the

progress made here in their program was so much greater than the

progress she had made in school. BTW... I had already consulted with

3 lawyers (2 special ed lawyers) and did as they said. In the end I

gave up so shame on me but I couldn't handle the stress any longer

and the toll it was taking on my health. Some people in school

administration do not care about the children they are suppose to be

serving.

>

> that's crap!

>

> they have to provide copies, you may or may not have to pay.

they may or may give you the first say 20 copies free and every copy

after that is so many cents per page. i will tell you that they will

never give you a complete file. i know this first hand.

>

> the best way to get the copies that you want is to send certified

letters to superintendant, district head of special ed dept, and

maybe the school principle, and then pick a few random positions in

the school to add to the list. you can also fax the letters in

addition to certified mail and that way, people in office know that

you are serious as well and they suddenly pay attention. yes it

costs a few dollars to send certified but man o man will you get the

school talking and they will certainly get some copies made for you.

but agian, it will not be a complete set - you will have to fill in

the blanks by piecing emails together.

>

> specific info:

>

> This is a formal request for records under FERPA (Family

Education Rights Pricvacy Act). Information including but not

limited to all assessments, teacher notes, discipline referrals, ARD

Documents, progress reports, all correspondence which includes emails

between staff and between staff and outside contractors or agencies

that mention my child or myself. IDEA grants me right of access to

my child's educational records in order to make decisions and grant

informed consent regaind his/her education, placement, and FAPE.

>

> If they don't want to pony up the info, get a lawyer quick

because something is definately wrong.

>

> amanda