How to Get Needed Methodology, in Your Child’s IEP
by: advocate60915
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If your school district is using a reading program that is working for your child, you will probably not be able to get them to switch to another methodology. But, if the curriculum the school district is using, is not teaching your child, then your chances of getting an appropriate me hodology is high. If you are willing to stand up to special education personnel, and fight for your child’s education.
The Office of Special Education Programs which is part of the Department of Education put in the Federal Register on Monday August 14, 2006 on Page 466665 "The Departments longstanding position on including instructional methodologies in a child’s IEP is that it is an IEP Team’s decision. Therefore if an IEP team determines that specific instructional methods are necessary for the child to receive a FAPE (free appropriate public education), the instructional methods may be addressed in the IEP."
What this means is that it is your job to bring it up at an IEP meeting, if you think that your child’s education needs a certain methodology. If your child needs this methodology in order to receive a free appropriate public education, then it can be placed on your child’s IEP. If the school district refuses to even consider the methodology that you feel your child needs, then this is a violation or your child’s rights. You have the right to file for a due process hearing, to prove that your child needs a certain methodology.
In some cases, parent’s have taken their child for an independent educational evaluation (IEE), and it is the evaluator’s recommendation for a certain methodology. Having an independent evaluator, state that your child needs a certain methodology, will increase your chances of winning at due process.
A recent District Court ruling in the KL vs Mercer Island School district found that "The methodology used by teachers, must be discussed at the IEP meeting, and placed in the child’s IEP,"
Another item that may help your fight is the fact that No Child Left Behind requires that school districts receiving Title I money: Use Scientifically based research to teach children. What this means is that the educational program has been proven to help children learn. Many school districts use out dated curriculum that do not work.
I would use the KL vs Mercer Island ruling, the OSEP Federal Register comments, and No Child Left Behind, to help you in your fight for particular curriculum or program. Remember, what is important is that your child needs the methodology in order to receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE).
About the Author
JoAnn Collins is the mother of two adults with disabilities, and has been an advocate for over 15 years, helping other families. She is the author of the recently published book Disability Deception; Lies Disability Educators Tell and How Parents Can Beat Them at Their Own Game. For a free E newsletter send an E mail to JoAnn@disabilitydeception.com. For a link to more free articles go to http://www.disabilitydeception.com
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