Will someone help me understand service frequency on an IEP?

Question

If a student has 300 minutes per week of a class, and they are to receive 225 minutes, of that class w/ a resource teacher, how much of the 225 minutes should/would be one on one help?

Is this determined on an as needed basis (example: the student is doing average in that class so they would only get help when they are "stuck")

Or

Is the student going to get 225 minutes of one-on-one resource help?

I'm so lost on this part, and don't feel like I'm getting a straight answer from the instructor. This is the best way I can describe my issue. I feel that 225 minutes is 225 minutes of resource. Period. Am I delusional?

Answer 1

225 minutes should be of resource period. But resource is not necessarily one on one. It should say somewhere the service delivery individual, small group etc. Resource can be one on one but is more often delivered in a small group model with 2-5 other children and 1 teacher working on a given area as pull out in a "resource room". Sometimes resource is push-in meaning the resource teacher and/ or aid go into the general ed. classroom and provide support to the resource kids in the context of the classroom.

I would hope that it is 300 minutes of school per day though and 225 minutes per week of resource or else the child is almost in special ed. the whole of their day.

Answer 2

No, You are NOT delusional.

This stuff is so difficult some times.Especially as you sit at a table and all the professionals tell you what should be done for your child.

If you make it to the parking lot before crying- you get extra points.

Call the director of Special ed and make an appointment.

Have your questions written down and try and stay as calm as possible.

Never sign the IEP until YOU understand and agree with it!

Answer 3

If I'm understanding you correctly, your daughter is supposed to receive 225 minutes of resource services per week, and you want to know if that is supposed to be one on one time or if it can be done in a group setting?

Resource services can be provided in a group setting, and many professionals would agree with the school's "push in" method of the teacher going into the class and helping students because then your daughter is not singled out for services and help or missing class to get extra help.  The teacher should be circulating throughout the class, helping as needed, and/or helping the teacher modify assignments and grading policies for ESE students.

I have never heard of a resource teacher who sits with a child for 75% of a class, and I've been doing this for fourteen years.  If your child needs someone to sit with her for that much time, chances are she is in the wrong class and needs to be dropped to a lower level.  That is not resource level support, that is is a much higher level of support than resource typically provides.

It's okay if your child doesn't realize that there's a resource teacher there.  It may mean that the teachers are working so well together that students don't even realize that some children in the room have disabilities, which is a good thing.  It doesn't necessarily mean that your child is not getting the help she needs, and she may not need help on whatever is being done in class.  Why pull her out if she can do the work?

It sounds as though you're really angry.  Please don't go in there with both guns blazing.  If your daughter needs more help go talk to both teachers and brainstorm about what can be done to help her and keep her in class with her peers as much as possible.

Good luck!