Can I have my son declassified and do away with his IEP?

Question

He seems to be garnering no help from his present situation and I want him mainstreamed.

Answer 1

It's not true that once your child has an IEP in place that it will necessarily follow him all the way through school.  Yes; a child with autism is always going to be autistic just as a child with dyslexia will always be dyslexic and a child with mental retardation will most likely always have some form of retardation.  But children with IEPs due to mild early learning disabilities or speech/communication delays can "test out" of the system.  My 6th grade son has high-functioning autism and functions extremely well as an A-B student in a mainstream inclusion (also called co-teach) classroom with an IEP in place.  He has at least two friends that I'm aware of (one is his best friend since kindergarten) that tested out of the system at different times as their challenges became manageable for them in the classroom.  I don't agree that the public school system is a crock.  It just depends on the district you live in.  We happen to live in one of the best school districts in TX with amazing schools, staff and an enormous amount of parent involvement in the schools.  All of these factors lead to kids who are accomplished and competent students, my son included.

Answer 2

I think you should talk with your childs doctor, and also his/her teacher before making drastic changes. I do not know what special circumstances surround you and your child so I can not offer much assistance. I will say that if your child has a mental illness like Autism or Down Syndrom  then it may be a very bad thing to pull him/her out of the center based program. It also depends on the level of mental illness though. If your child is mildly special needs i,e higly capable or low matience then it could not hurt and could actually do alot of good. However, if your child is non verbal, and high matience then it could devastate that childs learning ability.

The posters above me that claim public school does not help special needs children in a joke. Many familys have no other means of obtaining training for their children. If it wern't for our school system most special needs children would suffer because the help that is available out side the public school system is scarce and highly costly.

Answer 3

If you want him mainstreamed you do not have to pull away from the IEP.  Ask for an IEP review.  Discuss your reasons for mainstreaming.  If they have no way of sending a special ed. person with him, than ask for tutoring services as a way to monitor his progress in the mainstream.  You never want to pull him out as you dont know what the future looks like in the upper grades.  Staff change and your child changes yearly.

Good Luck

Answer 4

YES, all you have to do is write a letter to the district sped director stating you want him out. If they say anything about it like  'we can't take him out because of ________    then tell them to show you the written policy that shows this is true. THey can't do ANYTHING without it being written in a policy.

Answer 5

Without knowing your child's disability or needs, I think this is very dangerous to exit your child from IEP if his needs are significant. As the previous person mentioned you are probably better off requesting an IEP with full time inclusion + supports then doing away with the IEP altogether. The law very strongly supports inclusion/ mainstreaming saying that students have the right to be educated with typical children to the maximum extent possible. Court cases have pretty much held that if your child receives any benefit at all in a general education classroom then that is the correct setting. However if your child needs any supports, accommodations, modifications in that setting it is best to maintain the IEP in that setting.

Answer 6

You don't say what his classification is.  If he is ADHD then the school is pushing a non-existant condition.  They like sp. ed. in schools because of the $$$.  Believe me, no one in the public school system is even remotely interested in your child.  They are clutching their retirements in one hand and covering their butts with the other.  As I often say, no parent who is even remotely concerned about his/her child's education should even consider public schools.

Answer 7

If something in the IEP is not being followed or is not  working then call for another  IEP meeting, get it  revised so that it is helping!

IEP's are to help children not hinder them! ALL children are to be in with their regular education peers as much as possible, push for it,  and use the IEP to help you! They are great assets if you use them correctly!!

Educate yourself on the Special Education laws, that will help a great deal too!!

Answer 8

Once a child has an IEP it is pretty well there for their school life UNLESS you can have him tested by all people and perhaps outside the system, at your expense. Once all these reports are submitted they will be reviewed and a meeting will take place and a vote had.

You can be mainstreamed with an IEP. In fact if he is coming out of a protected setting you will especially want him to have that IEP in place when he is mainstreamed.

Focus on getting him the class you want him to be in. Getting the IEP removed is difficult and will brand you an 'issue' in the system.