Has anyone transferred mid-year special needs?

[tribemama]

Hi Everyone,

 

I have a special needs child (well, I personally labeled him that - he does not have an IEP or anything.) He has never been to school, just homeschooled.

 

It is growing increasingly harder to homeschool. He was always very difficult but it seems he is having more and more behavioral problems or outburst. He is 9 almost 10 (4th grade). He reads at about 1st grade level and math is about the same. I believe my husband and I are at our limits of what we can do.

 

Anyway, I would like to transition him to PS but I'm not sure how to go about doing it. He is enrolled in a charter school but like I said he does not have an IEP. He has only recently met with a "reading specialist" and was given special reading curriculum. He has extreme behavioral issues that has pushed me to my limits. Do I just go into the school and say he should be in 4th grade but that's not where he's at? Do I try to explain anything? Will they know where to place him?

 

Hoping someone else might have some words of wisdom or similar experience.

 

Sorry if I posted in the wrong area -

Thanks,

Tribemama

[Renee in NC]

Is there any possibility of you having him evaluated/tested privately first?

 

I put mine in after the year started, but the testing is done. It was very frustrating for me, but now it's over and I am happy with the outcome.

 

First, document the teaching of the reading program that you have been given - this may shorten the process. Next, the school is not going to deal with the behavioral issues other than to protect other students. Finally, make sure when you go in that you request the testing writing ASAP so that they start the process right away.

 

My 9yo went to school for many of the same reasons you are contemplating putting yours in. Get him a psych eval if at all possible - my ds's behavior has miproved dramatically and he is gaining ground in academics since he started stimulants (Vyvanse.) If I had realized the difference meds would make, I would have done it years ago!

[renmew]

Your son doesn't need to be an actual public school student yet in order to be tested by your local school district. Contact your resident district to request full testing. Be very specific about needing psychological as well as academic testing. Once testing is done, they will sit down with you and work out an IEP that will offer programs and such to help. You can then choose to take them, by enrolling, or leave them. The IEP stays in effect no matter what, but enrollment will affect resources offered.

 

In the meantime, go to your pediatrician and get the process started to have him checked out by a private psychologist. I have two sons who regularly see a psychiatrist. One is ADHD, the other is autistic. Both are medicated and it works well for them.

[Renee in NC]

Your son doesn't need to be an actual public school student yet in order to be tested by your local school district. Contact your resident district to request full testing. Be very specific about needing psychological as well as academic testing. Once testing is done, they will sit down with you and work out an IEP that will offer programs and such to help. You can then choose to take them, by enrolling, or leave them. The IEP stays in effect no matter what, but enrollment will affect resources offered.

 

In the meantime, go to your pediatrician and get the process started to have him checked out by a private psychologist. I have two sons who regularly see a psychiatrist. One is ADHD, the other is autistic. Both are medicated and it works well for them.

 

Schools here don't do psych testing for anyone - just the WISC and a few others if the IQ is low. The behavior/emotional issues are handled by a psychiatrist because they are medical problems, not educational.

 

As a homeschooler, yes the district will test, but the hoops to jump through under Response to Intervention are difficult. Even the *teachers* at the school were ready to pull their hair out trying to document things that are hard to document! It can also take a very long time to get it done - 6 weeks for RtI and then 90 days to test once they determine the student is eligible for testing.

 

You can thank No Child Left Behind for this mess.:glare:

[tribemama]

Thanks Everyone for your thoughtful replies.

I am going to try to finish off this year, so we don't have to switch mid-year. We will be having him evaluated also in the next couple of weeks.

I think I'm just so burnt out - I have lost all passion in why I wanted to homeschool in the first place. I have a kindergarten that so badly wants to learn but when my son has a bad day everyone losses out on Mom's attention. I use to be able to sit around and read with the kiddos and now I read like one bedtime story. Sorry - I'm venting....

I hate the school system, but I feel like I'm not getting anything done with the kids. Also, with how much work it has been to get my son reading (who is still on a first grade level) I am so discouraged to try again and possibly fail yet again with three more little ones.

Again Thanks,

Michelle

[Renee in NC]

Thanks Everyone for your thoughtful replies.

I am going to try to finish off this year, so we don't have to switch mid-year. We will be having him evaluated also in the next couple of weeks.

I think I'm just so burnt out - I have lost all passion in why I wanted to homeschool in the first place. I have a kindergarten that so badly wants to learn but when my son has a bad day everyone losses out on Mom's attention. I use to be able to sit around and read with the kiddos and now I read like one bedtime story. Sorry - I'm venting....

I hate the school system, but I feel like I'm not getting anything done with the kids. Also, with how much work it has been to get my son reading (who is still on a first grade level) I am so discouraged to try again and possibly fail yet again with three more little ones.

Again Thanks,

Michelle

 

I understand! Get the testing done. Remember, though, that even with testing already done, the process may take a few months once he gets in school.

 

And, just so you know, I have a ds just like yours. It is hard, but there is a light at the end of that tunnel. My ds can function in a way now that he couldn't before and he is doing well in school, even though he is still on a 1st grade level.

[tribemama]

Thanks - It is nice to know I'm not alone :)

I just have been feeling so guilty, and like a failure because of this. I am also considering - after testing and seeing what is going on - putting the younger ones in school so I could do more one-on-one with him. They could go to Kindergarten and First Grade and that could take the pressure off of me to be teaching the basics (like reading and writing). Still trying to decide.

 

Thanks -

Tribemama

[Renee in NC]

You might consider putting him in now so that you can get the testing done. Assume the academics will be a wash this year, but it means that you would have an IEP and proper placement starting next year.

 

My child's behavior improved when I put her in school simply because she needed that kind of rigid structure where everyone was doing the same things at the same time. Your son might do better than you might think.

 

One other thing, try not to be too terribly offended when/ if the school officials automatically assume his behavior and academic issues are the fault of homeschooling. Be prepared to bite your tongue a lot. They will figure it out eventually but that doesn't mean you will get an apology. If you get all of the testing done now though, the is a chance that next year's teacher will not know he was ever hs'ed and he will start with a clean slate, so to speak.

 

The bolded part was true with my ds - having a very strict schedule (which his school does) and having everyone doing the same things at the same time made a lot of difference in his ability to self-regulate.

 

The part about homeschooling is true - some people have biases no matter what. Just roll with it. For the most part, though, people have kept their mouths shut about any opinions they have about homeschooling and have focused on the boys' needs rather than their opinions.

[urban mama]

You might consider putting him in now so that you can get the testing done. Assume the academics will be a wash this year, but it means that you would have an IEP and proper placement starting next year.

 

My child's behavior improved when I put her in school simply because she needed that kind of rigid structure where everyone was doing the same things at the same time. Your son might do better than you might think.

 

One other thing, try not to be too terribly offended when/ if the school officials automatically assume his behavior and academic issues are the fault of homeschooling. Be prepared to bite your tongue a lot. They will figure it out eventually but that doesn't mean you will get an apology. If you get all of the testing done now though, the is a chance that next year's teacher will not know he was ever hs'ed and he will start with a clean slate, so to speak.

 

 

I'm such a lurker around here but I just had to add that we just (as in 10 days ago) enrolled our youngest in charter school for many of the same reasons you are considering enrolling yours. A midyear start was a great way to go for many reasons, one of which is that, by starting mid year, all of the other kids in the class are cued into the routines, our ds walks into the classroom and he just assumes there is no other choice but to conform! it is a beautiful thing to behold! And he is doing awesome with the structure!! It helps that his teacher is also wonderful. We were very upfront with the school before hand and have a good relationship with the administration because my oldest ds has been there for a year. That leaves just my middle dd (with some learning disabilities) at home to focus on.

 

blessings as you work through all the issues and make the best decision for your family.