Comments on: Upcoming changes to MDUSD special education programs

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 20:20:56 +0000

It looks like the CAC blog is accepting comments on the special ed questions, as long as they are appropriate: http://mtdiablosped.blogspot.com/2012/06/answer-to-questions-from-may-29th.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MountDiabloUnifiedCommunityAdvisoryCommitteeOnSpecialEducation+%28Mount+Diablo+Unified+Community+Advisory+Committee+on+Special+Education%29

Also, here’s the link to the CAC annual report, which includes notes from the meeting with the FCMAT rep at the end: https://doc-0g-14-docsviewer.googleusercontent.com/viewer/securedownload/dsn1aovipa7l846lsfcf94nedj8q2p4u/s4mmg8cnp3gobl2jl5fr26os8hqpjkbb/1340828100000/ZXhwbG9yZXI=/AGZ5hq8BgbJY1gwaOYx83cPOdNw6/MVBTSGVEQXBEbnlQU3VTOGtESlJqQlVvSGpvWV9sMUpVUmR0QW5CS1E1TEswWmtjQjE2cU5tSGxRMnc4SQ==?docid=2fe15ba55214dbb44861b00d27107869%7Ce5a45cda6ee6807976bed1bb03e945f4&chan=EQAAAK6xq6bFiAmQ2PKUNru6TU3gHohp0Ve7SjuCI0nmtlHR&sec=AHSqidbuc4hLbxD9n95t_ot8Yal-9hBYZ0aRgQcSitCfIMauqNcyTR1xXcyhDiJNBprTMW5c5I13&a=gp&filename=2012+CAC+Annual+Report+6-25-12+Final.doc&nonce=dbg7llhqvml74&user=AGZ5hq8BgbJY1gwaOYx83cPOdNw6&hash=5afr5cqa95427it3sla1j5emhhku2mam

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 23:31:33 +0000

Questions and answers from the May 29 meeting have been posted to the CAC blog: https://docs.google.com/file/d/1qBW5Houj5pl0ONLg41rkkEwxPrbL-hXnHdePBdFwLoTx4DYiR9iKmgQMFlnR/edit?pli=1

Also, please take note of the upcoming transportation changes mentioned during this Pawar Transportation discussion: http://qik.com/video/52278007

Most notably, the district is planning to send a letter to parents about “clustering” students for pickup and drop-off instead of picking up and dropping off at each student’s home. This would start in the winter. FCMAT is also questioning why the district transports special ed students from their homes to their home schools.

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 15:54:56 +0000

Perhaps things will start falling into place after the new elementary principals are appointed Monday. We know there are openings at Delta View Elementary, Shadelands, Pleasant Hill Elementary and Westwood Elementary.

By: District Parent

District Parent — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 13:44:01 +0000

Parents have begun receiving their projections letters. Are parents happy with the changes that are being made?

By: Anon

Anon — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 04:20:33 +0000

I agree with SR. The CAC does not help and they can make situations worse. No one seems to be able to answer the many questions and the CAC still has not posted q & a on their web site…..it’s been a week how long does it take? The changes are horrible and most will be in violation of IEP’s. Most placements outside of the home school say The child will be placed in ABC class at XYZ school. to change that they will have to call an IEP and meet with the parents.
They need to communicate! They need to listen and understand that we know our children, They only see them on paper. The District should have thought this out talked with the teachers, made a plan and then talked with parents. Special Education should be special. These kids deserve better. I feel for them. The world needs their incredible minds!! They are AWESOME!

By: SR

SR — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 01:17:02 +0000

I agree that the District should communicate with Special Education Parents. I disagree that it was a “good job” as Ms. Davis states. The CAC has no power with the district and the members have no sway or meaningful influence. If we as Special Education Parents want to see change we’ll have to look elsewhere because the CAC is not designed to help.

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 18:01:21 +0000

Yet, the CAC chairwoman praised the meetings last night: http://qik.com/video/51677080

Do you agree with her comments?

By: Very sad and feed up

Very sad and feed up — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 17:59:12 +0000

The changes in special education are not for the benefit of the students, they are cost saving measures to the detriment of the special education population. Students are being placed closer to their home schools without concideration of learning levels appropriate for the class. In addition many of changes to the Autism programs are with no concideration of the students abilities and services. What are the qualifications of the new director? Teachers were not even informed of these changes, they heard it second hand from parents complaining after the meeting. Communication is at its worst and it is effecting not only students, parents and teachers, it is destroying the already tarnished reputation of MDUSD special ed.

By: SR

SR — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 03:05:30 +0000

@TH-

If the district is making placement changes (ie Projection Letters) for children with IEP/504 Plans, by law they have to provide Prior Written Notice to the student/parents. It’s pretty sneaky to provide such notice on or after June 8th, when the school year ends on the 14th. If the student/parent disagrees with the new placement, then they (District) must hold an IEP meeting and allow the disagreement to be resolved either through the IEP process or via Due Process Complaint against the district. The catch here is that the district is claiming that these placement changes are merely changes in location to the child’s program (and therefore legal). However, this is untrue. The receiving schools do not have the programs in place (such as social skills groups, sensory/motor rooms, available opportunities for mainstreaming and reverse mainstreaming, and other supports) that have been painfully crafted over a period of years at several campuses. Because these supports are not in place (as verified by Ms. Patton’s silence after my direct questioning at the meeting on 5/29), this constitutes a placement change and not merely a location change as the District claims. If parents/student disagree, what opportunity exists to hold an IEP meeting over the summer with the SPED teacher, gen ed teacher, principal, program specialist, OT Therapist, Speech Therapist, and any other relevant support or service provider (all are required personnel at IEP meetings)? Slim to none I suspect as they will all be off for the summer. What are parents options other than to accept the new placement when the old one no longer exists? This is a violation under IDEA FR 34.

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 18:22:35 +0000

SR: I think the board came up because of the retirements of two principals added late to the agenda, including the PHE principal, which could impact the additional special ed program planned at that site.

How is the current administration violating IDEA and CA Ed Codes?