Re: Has anyone ever filed a complaint with TEA?

[Guest guest]

The TEA takes their job seriously. If protocol was breached, they will call the

district on it. But NCLB is a powerful act. Before you hammer Bush and

Kennedy, they worked for the better of our kids so some dude with an education

degree can't take away our kids rights. Dig in and do the right thing, IMHO.]

Jeff Cunningham, DC

, TX

Has anyone ever filed a complaint with TEA?

We had an ARD meeting today.

It was to be a transition meeting for going into 6th grade. Instead

they decided to call it our annual. We just had our annual this past

October.

I don't want to lay out all the details, but I am just floored at the

behavior of one of the members of the ARD team.

Just wondering what a real life experience has been taking that step.

Thanks!

[Guest guest]

The phone number does no good. the complaint must be in writing for TEA to take

action. My experience was that the school found ways to explain away my

complaints that had nothing to do with the complaint. For example, they said

modifications were happening in a different classroom than I was complaining

about. I pulled my kids and homeschooled them at that point. I truly feel if I

had stayed with it and made further complaints I would have made progress, but

there were many reasons I decided to homeschool instead.

So put the complaint in writing and then take it one step at a time.

Sharon Lemons

wrote:

We had an ARD meeting today.

It was to be a transition meeting for going into 6th grade. Instead

they decided to call it our annual. We just had our annual this past

October.

I don't want to lay out all the details, but I am just floored at the

behavior of one of the members of the ARD team.

Just wondering what a real life experience has been taking that step.

Thanks!

[Guest guest]

TEA did nothing for us either - I filed numerous, detailed complaints - it was a

joke. Put everything in writing but don't expect TEA to do much about it.

Re: Has anyone ever filed a complaint with

TEA?

The phone number does no good. the complaint must be in writing for TEA to

take action. My experience was that the school found ways to explain away my

complaints that had nothing to do with the complaint. For example, they said

modifications were happening in a different classroom than I was complaining

about. I pulled my kids and homeschooled them at that point. I truly feel if I

had stayed with it and made further complaints I would have made progress, but

there were many reasons I decided to homeschool instead.

So put the complaint in writing and then take it one step at a time.

Sharon Lemons

wrote:

We had an ARD meeting today.

It was to be a transition meeting for going into 6th grade. Instead

they decided to call it our annual. We just had our annual this past

October.

I don't want to lay out all the details, but I am just floored at the

behavior of one of the members of the ARD team.

Just wondering what a real life experience has been taking that step.

Thanks!

[Guest guest]

I called to go look, because of the boy's, I do not know know if they

ever did.

I call several times, so that way I could figure out what our boy's

are supose to get not just services but evals and other things.

>

> We had an ARD meeting today.

>

> It was to be a transition meeting for going into 6th grade.

Instead

> they decided to call it our annual. We just had our annual this

past

> October.

>

> I don't want to lay out all the details, but I am just floored at

the

> behavior of one of the members of the ARD team.

>

> Just wondering what a real life experience has been taking that

step.

>

> Thanks!

>

>

[Guest guest]

Well, no matter what, we're pulling him out to homeschool. This has

been decided for awhile.

I conducted this meeting no differently than any other. Never gave

an indication I was pulling him by the end of next week. I wanted to

hear what they presented for next year. What they said about his

progress and behaviors this year.

I was made to feel a little guilty by an advocate. I spoke to her

yesterday. She was very supportive of my decision to homeschool.

She felt this would be right for us.

But, she indicated that this is the reason our school district gets

away with what it does. (we're in Klein) She said that no one ever

calls them on this stuff, we just quietly pull our kids to

homeschool, and the district is just fine with that. She then said

it never improves for the next parent who comes along.

Because of what happened today and what was said to me yesterday by

the advocate, I kind of felt a duty to file a complaint I guess.

There is some other possibly " hinky " stuff concerning the TAKS tests

he has taken this year. I kind of wanted that looked into also....

It's disappointing to hear that we probably wouldn't get anywhere

there either.

[Guest guest]

I got the same guilt trip about pulling my kids to homeschool them. Your

responsibility is to your kids first. It's not fair to ask you to take on the

responsibility of every kid in the school district. They have parents, too.

Sharon

[Guest guest]

,

I get this nonsense all the time from " school " advocates that should be

" child " advocates.

Instead of homeschooling my son, I have been told (and made feel guilty)

that I should put him in the warehouse environment called school, fight the

school with tooth and nail, hire attorneys, subject my son to an insecure,

inept environment,....all in the name of advocating for school change. In

the meantime, my son is the victim of their incompetence.

I have heard this argument especially from people who are against school

vouchers.

, we have an obligation to do what's best for our children, which

is often against the establishment.

Re: Has anyone ever filed a complaint with

TEA?

> Well, no matter what, we're pulling him out to homeschool. This has

> been decided for awhile.

>

> I conducted this meeting no differently than any other. Never gave

> an indication I was pulling him by the end of next week. I wanted to

> hear what they presented for next year. What they said about his

> progress and behaviors this year.

>

> I was made to feel a little guilty by an advocate. I spoke to her

> yesterday. She was very supportive of my decision to homeschool.

> She felt this would be right for us.

>

> But, she indicated that this is the reason our school district gets

> away with what it does. (we're in Klein) She said that no one ever

> calls them on this stuff, we just quietly pull our kids to

> homeschool, and the district is just fine with that. She then said

> it never improves for the next parent who comes along.

>

> Because of what happened today and what was said to me yesterday by

> the advocate, I kind of felt a duty to file a complaint I guess.

> There is some other possibly " hinky " stuff concerning the TAKS tests

> he has taken this year. I kind of wanted that looked into also....

>

> It's disappointing to hear that we probably wouldn't get anywhere

> there either.

>

>

>

>

> ------------------------------------

>

> Texas Autism Advocacy

> www.TexasAutismAdvocacy.org

>

> Texas Disability Network

> Calendar of Events

> www.TexasAutismAdvocacy.org

[Guest guest]

Sharon and ,

Something to consider, because I know other families in the Autism

spectrum who are homeschooling. TEA has a virtual school, basically

home-schooling with a curriculum that TEA pays for through a private

contract, K12.

Here is link. Maybe you can use it, because it is free. This

program is new and only in certain areas. We have it in Dallas

metroplex, but not sure what area in Houston. It is called Southwest

Schools in Houston area.

http://tinyurl.com/24d5fs

Dallas Morning News article about TXVA

Portion copied from article link *********

The state granted Southwest Schools, a Houston-based charter school,

permission to launch the virtual school a few years ago for students

in the Houston area. It received approval to expand in the Dallas

and Fort Worth regions in September. It's capped statewide at 750

students.

The school signed an agreement with K12, a Virginia-based company

that provides content for 39,500 students in 17 state-run virtual

schools and other programs across the country.

The deal calls for K12 to provide computers, curriculum and support

in exchange for a portion of the state funding. The final cost will

depend on how many students enroll. K12's revenues have soared from

work in other states. The company went public Dec. 13.

Gifford, a K12 vice president who covers the Texas region, said

K12 adjusted its curriculum to match the requirements in Texas. For

example, the company created a Texas history course for seventh-

graders.

" This has been a gigantic investment on K12's part into the state of

Texas, " Ms. Gifford said.

http://www.k12.com/txva/how_it_works/3_8/

http://www.k12.com/

Above is if you want to stay private/independent. Cost for

curriculum is provided with next link:

http://www.k12.com/schooling_programs/k12_direct/get_k12_consumer_dir

ect/

http://tinyurl.com/26kxcd

We don't have to fight TEA head-on. Home-schooling is a solution.

Remember TXVA is free, but it is capped right now. K12 is

independent, but there is cost. Other home-school curriculums are

out there of course.

Mark

>

>

>

> I got the same guilt trip about pulling my kids to homeschool

them. Your responsibility is to your kids first. It's not fair to

ask you to take on the responsibility of every kid in the school

district. They have parents, too.

>

> Sharon

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Mark

Wow! GREAT information. I no longer homeschool because my boys with autism are

23 and 24, but through ECI I meet families that are homeschooling in the Fort

Worth area all the time. I'll be sure to pass on this information

Sharon Lemons

[Guest guest]

I have used K12 privately in the past with my typical son who is now 15 and

in a private school. The curriculum is excellent and amazing. However, I

am wondering if they have made adjustments to it for special-need,

non-verbal children!!!!!!

Re: Has anyone ever filed a complaint with

TEA?

> Sharon and ,

>

> Something to consider, because I know other families in the Autism

> spectrum who are homeschooling. TEA has a virtual school, basically

> home-schooling with a curriculum that TEA pays for through a private

> contract, K12.

>

> Here is link. Maybe you can use it, because it is free. This

> program is new and only in certain areas. We have it in Dallas

> metroplex, but not sure what area in Houston. It is called Southwest

> Schools in Houston area.

>

> http://tinyurl.com/24d5fs

> Dallas Morning News article about TXVA

>

> Portion copied from article link *********

>

> The state granted Southwest Schools, a Houston-based charter school,

> permission to launch the virtual school a few years ago for students

> in the Houston area. It received approval to expand in the Dallas

> and Fort Worth regions in September. It's capped statewide at 750

> students.

>

> The school signed an agreement with K12, a Virginia-based company

> that provides content for 39,500 students in 17 state-run virtual

> schools and other programs across the country.

>

> The deal calls for K12 to provide computers, curriculum and support

> in exchange for a portion of the state funding. The final cost will

> depend on how many students enroll. K12's revenues have soared from

> work in other states. The company went public Dec. 13.

>

> Gifford, a K12 vice president who covers the Texas region, said

> K12 adjusted its curriculum to match the requirements in Texas. For

> example, the company created a Texas history course for seventh-

> graders.

>

> " This has been a gigantic investment on K12's part into the state of

> Texas, " Ms. Gifford said.

>

> http://www.k12.com/txva/how_it_works/3_8/

>

> http://www.k12.com/

> Above is if you want to stay private/independent. Cost for

> curriculum is provided with next link:

>

> http://www.k12.com/schooling_programs/k12_direct/get_k12_consumer_dir

> ect/

>

> http://tinyurl.com/26kxcd

>

> We don't have to fight TEA head-on. Home-schooling is a solution.

> Remember TXVA is free, but it is capped right now. K12 is

> independent, but there is cost. Other home-school curriculums are

> out there of course.

>

> Mark

>

>

>

>

>>

>>

>>

>> I got the same guilt trip about pulling my kids to homeschool

> them. Your responsibility is to your kids first. It's not fair to

> ask you to take on the responsibility of every kid in the school

> district. They have parents, too.

>>

>> Sharon

>>

>>

>>

>>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

So far most families I see using the K12 and TXVA are HFA/Asperger

and verbal. I think adjustments would need to be addressed to K12

staff. I am sure that does NOT help you and other families, is NOT

something you have time for, and certainly does NOT make TEA provide

FAPE in our State any time soon.

Maybe someone else will know about other virtual programs.

Mark

> >>

> >>

> >>

> >> I got the same guilt trip about pulling my kids to homeschool

> > them. Your responsibility is to your kids first. It's not fair to

> > ask you to take on the responsibility of every kid in the school

> > district. They have parents, too.

> >>

> >> Sharon

> >>

> >>

> >>

> >>

[Guest guest]

I filed a complaint with the TEA and sent in a 4 inch binder of support. TEA

agreed with me on only one issue that the school had already agreed on, but TEA

did not agree on the other issues. TEA did help me get the compensatory

services that I was having trouble getting from the school. The rest was

unbelievable i.e. all the school had to show the TEA is that he got a grade. It

did not seem to matter that there was nothing to support the grade.

But my experience does not mean you should not file a complaint. I would

recommend that a complaint be filed. Maybe if there are enough complaints,

something will be done. If no complaints are filed, things will never be

changed.

" Dr. Graham-Garza " wrote:

TEA did nothing for us either - I filed numerous, detailed complaints

- it was a joke. Put everything in writing but don't expect TEA to do much about

it.

Re: Has anyone ever filed a complaint with TEA?

The phone number does no good. the complaint must be in writing for TEA to take

action. My experience was that the school found ways to explain away my

complaints that had nothing to do with the complaint. For example, they said

modifications were happening in a different classroom than I was complaining

about. I pulled my kids and homeschooled them at that point. I truly feel if I

had stayed with it and made further complaints I would have made progress, but

there were many reasons I decided to homeschool instead.

So put the complaint in writing and then take it one step at a time.

Sharon Lemons

wrote:

We had an ARD meeting today.

It was to be a transition meeting for going into 6th grade. Instead

they decided to call it our annual. We just had our annual this past

October.

I don't want to lay out all the details, but I am just floored at the

behavior of one of the members of the ARD team.

Just wondering what a real life experience has been taking that step.

Thanks!

[Guest guest]

Wow! I had no idea.... I have looked into K12 privately. I'll look

again. I'm not sure it would work for us right now....

I need the ability to piece together a curriculum from different

levels. My ds is on level in a couple of areas, then a couple years

behind in a few others.

If this won't work for us this year, maybe it will in the future.

Thanks!!!

[Guest guest]

K12 curriculum is customizable. For example, you could sign up for 1st

grade math and 3rd language arts. Plus, there is a pre-test for each

subject to help you place your son. I think you can do all that online

before signing up. My info is few years old though.

Re: Has anyone ever filed a complaint with

TEA?

> Wow! I had no idea.... I have looked into K12 privately. I'll look

> again. I'm not sure it would work for us right now....

>

> I need the ability to piece together a curriculum from different

> levels. My ds is on level in a couple of areas, then a couple years

> behind in a few others.

>

> If this won't work for us this year, maybe it will in the future.

>

> Thanks!!!

>

>

>

> ------------------------------------

>

> Texas Autism Advocacy

> www.TexasAutismAdvocacy.org

>

> Texas Disability Network

> Calendar of Events

> www.TexasAutismAdvocacy.org