RE: Re: 2 questions ( regarding Mckay and regarding fully mainstreaming in kindergarten)

[Guest guest]

There are many misconceptions regarding common practices, the policies and the law. I feel strongly that parents should be armed with knowledge about the school system. Ignorance does not help anyone in their struggle to find the best learning environment for their kids.

I wished every child with any disability could have their own aid. Seriously. However, when parents here ask how this work, I feel they need to know the reality. Yes, we all know about LRE., but the law does not say that any child who cannot handle a gen ed class all by himself, should have an aid, does it?

A couple of years ago, I was here on this list, ranting and raving over all the cuts that were coming. My school lost five assistants!!! They were all in the cluster. They were never replaced. Nobody here responded to my posting. Not one! I don't think the schoolboard or the Super heard much from anyone else but us teachers. BTU had several meetings and we arranged bus loads of teachers to go downtown to protest. Ok, there were many parents there too. All I am saying is that parents need to be more visible when it comes to budget cuts. Assistants are very important for ESE kids. How many of you parents talk to your AP, principal, or school board member, and how many are active in the PTA? How many assistants are there at your school and what do they do? When did you last sit down and talk to your autism coach? When?

H.T.

To: sList Sent: Monday, March 12, 2012 3:07 PMSubject: Re: 2 questions ( regarding Mckay and regarding fully mainstreaming in kindergarten)

How does this:"Broward schools do not generally provide an aid for the average kid with autism since they can get the help that they need in a cluster classroom"comply with Least Restrictive Environment?Steve>> There is no specific criteria for mainstreaming (we have discussed this issue here many times in the past  )This is an IEP team decision. It is great if he can mainstream, but why does he need an aid? What can he not do on his own? Broward schools do not generally provide an aid for the average kid with autism since they can get the help that they need in a cluster classroom, BUT you might get lucky. The school may be able to place him in a gen ed class

where there are other children  (maybe in a wheel chair, several kids with special needs etc. ) who also needs an aid. Most schools have teacher assistants who help out here and there depending on what is needed, but they won't promise you that your child will get one (you can imagine that most parents would like for their child to have an aid follow their child around). Foxtrail is all right. Like all schools, it depends more on who your child's teacher is than anything else at the school. >  > H.T> > > ________________________________> > To: "sList " <sList > > Sent: Friday, March 9, 2012 9:56 PM > Subject: Re: 2 questions ( regarding Mckay and regarding fully mainstreaming in kindergarten)> > >  > Hi! my son is going to be going to KG this fall. How hard is is it to get an aide? All his therapists think that he would do great in mainstream classroon with an aide, but all I hear is that it is really hard to get an aide, unless you have major health issues. currently he is at Baudhuin and will be going to Fox trail in davie. Does anyone know how Fox trail is? What shool is your son at? Thanks for your help!> > > ________________________________> > To: sList > Sent: Friday, March 9, 2012 9:55 AM> Subject: Re: 2 questions ( regarding Mckay and regarding fully mainstreaming in kindergarten)> > >  > My son was mainstramed starting in Kinder...if he meets the criteria to be fully integrated, the> public school (the appropriate school) will meet with you and will place him in the least restricted> setting. If he requires an aide in the classroom, they will (and have to) provide one. You can use the> McKay for another school (be it private or public) that is not within your area....contact the McKay and> public school for further info. My son is now finishing 1st grade in the integrated class w/aide.> > > > ________________________________> > From: "knm22leo"

> To: sList > Sent: Thursday, March 8, 2012 5:07:11 PM> Subject: 2 questions ( regarding Mckay and regarding fully mainstreaming in kindergarten)> > Hi there,> > My son attends Baudhuin preschool. he is lucky to have 3 years there. This is his second year and he is doing great. My question is he is very high functioning and will be placed in their integrated class next Fall. His teachers and therapists (and us)would like to see him fully mainstreamed in kindergarten but have told me Broward county public schools usually doesn't like to do this. Has anyone had success in fully mainstreaming(or even with a shadow)in kindergarten? > > Second question is if I decide to try to get the Mckay scholarship to use for a

private school, is he allowed to attend a private school outside Broward County without having to change addresses?> > Thanks in advance!> > > > > ------------------------------------> >

[Guest guest]

There are many misconceptions regarding common practices, the policies and the law. I feel strongly that parents should be armed with knowledge about the school system. Ignorance does not help anyone in their struggle to find the best learning environment for their kids.

I wished every child with any disability could have their own aid. Seriously. However, when parents here ask how this work, I feel they need to know the reality. Yes, we all know about LRE., but the law does not say that any child who cannot handle a gen ed class all by himself, should have an aid, does it?

A couple of years ago, I was here on this list, ranting and raving over all the cuts that were coming. My school lost five assistants!!! They were all in the cluster. They were never replaced. Nobody here responded to my posting. Not one! I don't think the schoolboard or the Super heard much from anyone else but us teachers. BTU had several meetings and we arranged bus loads of teachers to go downtown to protest. Ok, there were many parents there too. All I am saying is that parents need to be more visible when it comes to budget cuts. Assistants are very important for ESE kids. How many of you parents talk to your AP, principal, or school board member, and how many are active in the PTA? How many assistants are there at your school and what do they do? When did you last sit down and talk to your autism coach? When?

H.T.

To: sList Sent: Monday, March 12, 2012 3:07 PMSubject: Re: 2 questions ( regarding Mckay and regarding fully mainstreaming in kindergarten)

How does this:"Broward schools do not generally provide an aid for the average kid with autism since they can get the help that they need in a cluster classroom"comply with Least Restrictive Environment?Steve>> There is no specific criteria for mainstreaming (we have discussed this issue here many times in the past  )This is an IEP team decision. It is great if he can mainstream, but why does he need an aid? What can he not do on his own? Broward schools do not generally provide an aid for the average kid with autism since they can get the help that they need in a cluster classroom, BUT you might get lucky. The school may be able to place him in a gen ed class

where there are other children  (maybe in a wheel chair, several kids with special needs etc. ) who also needs an aid. Most schools have teacher assistants who help out here and there depending on what is needed, but they won't promise you that your child will get one (you can imagine that most parents would like for their child to have an aid follow their child around). Foxtrail is all right. Like all schools, it depends more on who your child's teacher is than anything else at the school. >  > H.T> > > ________________________________> > To: "sList " <sList > > Sent: Friday, March 9, 2012 9:56 PM > Subject: Re: 2 questions ( regarding Mckay and regarding fully mainstreaming in kindergarten)> > >  > Hi! my son is going to be going to KG this fall. How hard is is it to get an aide? All his therapists think that he would do great in mainstream classroon with an aide, but all I hear is that it is really hard to get an aide, unless you have major health issues. currently he is at Baudhuin and will be going to Fox trail in davie. Does anyone know how Fox trail is? What shool is your son at? Thanks for your help!> > > ________________________________> > To: sList > Sent: Friday, March 9, 2012 9:55 AM> Subject: Re: 2 questions ( regarding Mckay and regarding fully mainstreaming in kindergarten)> > >  > My son was mainstramed starting in Kinder...if he meets the criteria to be fully integrated, the> public school (the appropriate school) will meet with you and will place him in the least restricted> setting. If he requires an aide in the classroom, they will (and have to) provide one. You can use the> McKay for another school (be it private or public) that is not within your area....contact the McKay and> public school for further info. My son is now finishing 1st grade in the integrated class w/aide.> > > > ________________________________> > From: "knm22leo"

> To: sList > Sent: Thursday, March 8, 2012 5:07:11 PM> Subject: 2 questions ( regarding Mckay and regarding fully mainstreaming in kindergarten)> > Hi there,> > My son attends Baudhuin preschool. he is lucky to have 3 years there. This is his second year and he is doing great. My question is he is very high functioning and will be placed in their integrated class next Fall. His teachers and therapists (and us)would like to see him fully mainstreamed in kindergarten but have told me Broward county public schools usually doesn't like to do this. Has anyone had success in fully mainstreaming(or even with a shadow)in kindergarten? > > Second question is if I decide to try to get the Mckay scholarship to use for a

private school, is he allowed to attend a private school outside Broward County without having to change addresses?> > Thanks in advance!> > > > > ------------------------------------> >

[Guest guest]

I speak to anyone and everyone who will listen to me from the Superintendent (who I think is on the spectrum) on down from there on a biweekly basis. What needs to happen is parents have got to demand that the law is followed and if schools are not willing to do so then our only recourse is due process. The problem is not that parents are not active in their child's education, the problem is parents have no idea what their legal rights are. Schools are not going to fill them in. Mainstreaming is the law, not a privilege. If a child needs an aid to remain mainstreamed then the schools have a legal obligation to do so. Last time I checked IDEA and NCLB did not give schools the option to LRE if there is funding in place. Principals get creative in the way they they choose to spread ESE funding around. they should not play hard and fast with federal funds that were put in place to provide accommodations to our special learners. If we follow the spending I suspect we will find all kids of ways that ESE funding is being ill spent.

2 questions ( regarding Mckay and regarding fully mainstreaming in kindergarten)

>

> Hi there,

>

> My son attends Baudhuin preschool. he is lucky to have 3 years there. This is his second year and he is doing great. My question is he is very high functioning and will be placed in their integrated class next Fall. His teachers and therapists (and us)would like to see him fully mainstreamed in kindergarten but have told me Broward county public schools usually doesn't like to do this. Has anyone had success in fully mainstreaming(or even with a shadow)in kindergarten?

>

> Second question is if I decide to try to get the Mckay scholarship to use for a

private school, is he allowed to attend a private school outside Broward County without having to change addresses?

>

> Thanks in advance!

>

>

>

>

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

>

>

[Guest guest]

I speak to anyone and everyone who will listen to me from the Superintendent (who I think is on the spectrum) on down from there on a biweekly basis. What needs to happen is parents have got to demand that the law is followed and if schools are not willing to do so then our only recourse is due process. The problem is not that parents are not active in their child's education, the problem is parents have no idea what their legal rights are. Schools are not going to fill them in. Mainstreaming is the law, not a privilege. If a child needs an aid to remain mainstreamed then the schools have a legal obligation to do so. Last time I checked IDEA and NCLB did not give schools the option to LRE if there is funding in place. Principals get creative in the way they they choose to spread ESE funding around. they should not play hard and fast with federal funds that were put in place to provide accommodations to our special learners. If we follow the spending I suspect we will find all kids of ways that ESE funding is being ill spent.

2 questions ( regarding Mckay and regarding fully mainstreaming in kindergarten)

>

> Hi there,

>

> My son attends Baudhuin preschool. he is lucky to have 3 years there. This is his second year and he is doing great. My question is he is very high functioning and will be placed in their integrated class next Fall. His teachers and therapists (and us)would like to see him fully mainstreamed in kindergarten but have told me Broward county public schools usually doesn't like to do this. Has anyone had success in fully mainstreaming(or even with a shadow)in kindergarten?

>

> Second question is if I decide to try to get the Mckay scholarship to use for a

private school, is he allowed to attend a private school outside Broward County without having to change addresses?

>

> Thanks in advance!

>

>

>

>

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

>

>

[Guest guest]

I speak to anyone and everyone who will listen to me from the Superintendent (who I think is on the spectrum) on down from there on a biweekly basis. What needs to happen is parents have got to demand that the law is followed and if schools are not willing to do so then our only recourse is due process. The problem is not that parents are not active in their child's education, the problem is parents have no idea what their legal rights are. Schools are not going to fill them in. Mainstreaming is the law, not a privilege. If a child needs an aid to remain mainstreamed then the schools have a legal obligation to do so. Last time I checked IDEA and NCLB did not give schools the option to LRE if there is funding in place. Principals get creative in the way they they choose to spread ESE funding around. they should not play hard and fast with federal funds that were put in place to provide accommodations to our special learners. If we follow the spending I suspect we will find all kids of ways that ESE funding is being ill spent.

2 questions ( regarding Mckay and regarding fully mainstreaming in kindergarten)

>

> Hi there,

>

> My son attends Baudhuin preschool. he is lucky to have 3 years there. This is his second year and he is doing great. My question is he is very high functioning and will be placed in their integrated class next Fall. His teachers and therapists (and us)would like to see him fully mainstreamed in kindergarten but have told me Broward county public schools usually doesn't like to do this. Has anyone had success in fully mainstreaming(or even with a shadow)in kindergarten?

>

> Second question is if I decide to try to get the Mckay scholarship to use for a

private school, is he allowed to attend a private school outside Broward County without having to change addresses?

>

> Thanks in advance!

>

>

>

>

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

>

>

[Guest guest]

I understand it's frustrating to deal with budget cuts and what not, but don't use that as an excuse.No, the law doesn't say that kids should have an aide if they can't handle gen ed, what it says is that reasonable ACCOMMODATIONS should be made to help that happen. A visual schedule is one accommodation, an aide is another one. If the District has it in its budget to pay for one is another story. They're not allowed BY LAW to cite that as reason to deny services, why should I be concerned? I could rally for more funds, but I would never "not ask" because I know they can't pay. District has no funds, boohoo, my kid still needs it, make it happen.Parents should be armed with knowledge of the LAW, as the school system should be working based on that. The knowledge of how things really work with the school system simply perpetuates the state we are in. Parents don't fight because nothing's going to change, nothing changes because nobody's fighting for it! And there's many different ways to fight, one is to go picketing downtown, another one is not giving in to bullying during IEP meetings.Maybe if we fought harder for paras and assistants to be assigned to ESE kids in general education classrooms they wouldn't be the first ones to lose their jobs? As it is, plenty of people including parents and school staff think they're useless, largely due to no much in the way of training or education being required from paras. Sent from a's iPhone

There are many misconceptions regarding common practices, the policies and the law. I feel strongly that parents should be armed with knowledge about the school system. Ignorance does not help anyone in their struggle to find the best learning environment for their kids.

I wished every child with any disability could have their own aid. Seriously. However, when parents here ask how this work, I feel they need to know the reality. Yes, we all know about LRE., but the law does not say that any child who cannot handle a gen ed class all by himself, should have an aid, does it?

A couple of years ago, I was here on this list, ranting and raving over all the cuts that were coming. My school lost five assistants!!! They were all in the cluster. They were never replaced. Nobody here responded to my posting. Not one! I don't think the schoolboard or the Super heard much from anyone else but us teachers. BTU had several meetings and we arranged bus loads of teachers to go downtown to protest. Ok, there were many parents there too. All I am saying is that parents need to be more visible when it comes to budget cuts. Assistants are very important for ESE kids. How many of you parents talk to your AP, principal, or school board member, and how many are active in the PTA? How many assistants are there at your school and what do they do? When did you last sit down and talk to your autism coach? When?

H.T.

To: sList Sent: Monday, March 12, 2012 3:07 PMSubject: Re: 2 questions ( regarding Mckay and regarding fully mainstreaming in kindergarten)

How does this:"Broward schools do not generally provide an aid for the average kid with autism since they can get the help that they need in a cluster classroom"comply with Least Restrictive Environment?Steve>> There is no specific criteria for mainstreaming (we have discussed this issue here many times in the past  )This is an IEP team decision. It is great if he can mainstream, but why does he need an aid? What can he not do on his own? Broward schools do not generally provide an aid for the average kid with autism since they can get the help that they need in a cluster classroom, BUT you might get lucky. The school may be able to place him in a gen ed class

where there are other children  (maybe in a wheel chair, several kids with special needs etc. ) who also needs an aid. Most schools have teacher assistants who help out here and there depending on what is needed, but they won't promise you that your child will get one (you can imagine that most parents would like for their child to have an aid follow their child around). Foxtrail is all right. Like all schools, it depends more on who your child's teacher is than anything else at the school. >  > H.T> > > ________________________________> > To: "sList " <sList > > Sent: Friday, March 9, 2012 9:56 PM > Subject: Re: 2 questions ( regarding Mckay and regarding fully mainstreaming in kindergarten)> > >  > Hi! my son is going to be going to KG this fall. How hard is is it to get an aide? All his therapists think that he would do great in mainstream classroon with an aide, but all I hear is that it is really hard to get an aide, unless you have major health issues. currently he is at Baudhuin and will be going to Fox trail in davie. Does anyone know how Fox trail is? What shool is your son at? Thanks for your help!> > > ________________________________> > To: sList > Sent: Friday, March 9, 2012 9:55 AM> Subject: Re: 2 questions ( regarding Mckay and regarding fully mainstreaming in kindergarten)> > >  > My son was mainstramed starting in Kinder...if he meets the criteria to be fully integrated, the> public school (the appropriate school) will meet with you and will place him in the least restricted> setting. If he requires an aide in the classroom, they will (and have to) provide one. You can use the> McKay for another school (be it private or public) that is not within your area....contact the McKay and> public school for further info. My son is now finishing 1st grade in the integrated class w/aide.> > > > ________________________________> > From: "knm22leo"

> To: sList > Sent: Thursday, March 8, 2012 5:07:11 PM> Subject: 2 questions ( regarding Mckay and regarding fully mainstreaming in kindergarten)> > Hi there,> > My son attends Baudhuin preschool. he is lucky to have 3 years there. This is his second year and he is doing great. My question is he is very high functioning and will be placed in their integrated class next Fall. His teachers and therapists (and us)would like to see him fully mainstreamed in kindergarten but have told me Broward county public schools usually doesn't like to do this. Has anyone had success in fully mainstreaming(or even with a shadow)in kindergarten? > > Second question is if I decide to try to get the Mckay scholarship to use for a

private school, is he allowed to attend a private school outside Broward County without having to change addresses?> > Thanks in advance!> > > > > ------------------------------------> >

[Guest guest]

I understand it's frustrating to deal with budget cuts and what not, but don't use that as an excuse.No, the law doesn't say that kids should have an aide if they can't handle gen ed, what it says is that reasonable ACCOMMODATIONS should be made to help that happen. A visual schedule is one accommodation, an aide is another one. If the District has it in its budget to pay for one is another story. They're not allowed BY LAW to cite that as reason to deny services, why should I be concerned? I could rally for more funds, but I would never "not ask" because I know they can't pay. District has no funds, boohoo, my kid still needs it, make it happen.Parents should be armed with knowledge of the LAW, as the school system should be working based on that. The knowledge of how things really work with the school system simply perpetuates the state we are in. Parents don't fight because nothing's going to change, nothing changes because nobody's fighting for it! And there's many different ways to fight, one is to go picketing downtown, another one is not giving in to bullying during IEP meetings.Maybe if we fought harder for paras and assistants to be assigned to ESE kids in general education classrooms they wouldn't be the first ones to lose their jobs? As it is, plenty of people including parents and school staff think they're useless, largely due to no much in the way of training or education being required from paras. Sent from a's iPhone

There are many misconceptions regarding common practices, the policies and the law. I feel strongly that parents should be armed with knowledge about the school system. Ignorance does not help anyone in their struggle to find the best learning environment for their kids.

I wished every child with any disability could have their own aid. Seriously. However, when parents here ask how this work, I feel they need to know the reality. Yes, we all know about LRE., but the law does not say that any child who cannot handle a gen ed class all by himself, should have an aid, does it?

A couple of years ago, I was here on this list, ranting and raving over all the cuts that were coming. My school lost five assistants!!! They were all in the cluster. They were never replaced. Nobody here responded to my posting. Not one! I don't think the schoolboard or the Super heard much from anyone else but us teachers. BTU had several meetings and we arranged bus loads of teachers to go downtown to protest. Ok, there were many parents there too. All I am saying is that parents need to be more visible when it comes to budget cuts. Assistants are very important for ESE kids. How many of you parents talk to your AP, principal, or school board member, and how many are active in the PTA? How many assistants are there at your school and what do they do? When did you last sit down and talk to your autism coach? When?

H.T.

To: sList Sent: Monday, March 12, 2012 3:07 PMSubject: Re: 2 questions ( regarding Mckay and regarding fully mainstreaming in kindergarten)

How does this:"Broward schools do not generally provide an aid for the average kid with autism since they can get the help that they need in a cluster classroom"comply with Least Restrictive Environment?Steve>> There is no specific criteria for mainstreaming (we have discussed this issue here many times in the past  )This is an IEP team decision. It is great if he can mainstream, but why does he need an aid? What can he not do on his own? Broward schools do not generally provide an aid for the average kid with autism since they can get the help that they need in a cluster classroom, BUT you might get lucky. The school may be able to place him in a gen ed class

where there are other children  (maybe in a wheel chair, several kids with special needs etc. ) who also needs an aid. Most schools have teacher assistants who help out here and there depending on what is needed, but they won't promise you that your child will get one (you can imagine that most parents would like for their child to have an aid follow their child around). Foxtrail is all right. Like all schools, it depends more on who your child's teacher is than anything else at the school. >  > H.T> > > ________________________________> > To: "sList " <sList > > Sent: Friday, March 9, 2012 9:56 PM > Subject: Re: 2 questions ( regarding Mckay and regarding fully mainstreaming in kindergarten)> > >  > Hi! my son is going to be going to KG this fall. How hard is is it to get an aide? All his therapists think that he would do great in mainstream classroon with an aide, but all I hear is that it is really hard to get an aide, unless you have major health issues. currently he is at Baudhuin and will be going to Fox trail in davie. Does anyone know how Fox trail is? What shool is your son at? Thanks for your help!> > > ________________________________> > To: sList > Sent: Friday, March 9, 2012 9:55 AM> Subject: Re: 2 questions ( regarding Mckay and regarding fully mainstreaming in kindergarten)> > >  > My son was mainstramed starting in Kinder...if he meets the criteria to be fully integrated, the> public school (the appropriate school) will meet with you and will place him in the least restricted> setting. If he requires an aide in the classroom, they will (and have to) provide one. You can use the> McKay for another school (be it private or public) that is not within your area....contact the McKay and> public school for further info. My son is now finishing 1st grade in the integrated class w/aide.> > > > ________________________________> > From: "knm22leo"

> To: sList > Sent: Thursday, March 8, 2012 5:07:11 PM> Subject: 2 questions ( regarding Mckay and regarding fully mainstreaming in kindergarten)> > Hi there,> > My son attends Baudhuin preschool. he is lucky to have 3 years there. This is his second year and he is doing great. My question is he is very high functioning and will be placed in their integrated class next Fall. His teachers and therapists (and us)would like to see him fully mainstreamed in kindergarten but have told me Broward county public schools usually doesn't like to do this. Has anyone had success in fully mainstreaming(or even with a shadow)in kindergarten? > > Second question is if I decide to try to get the Mckay scholarship to use for a

private school, is he allowed to attend a private school outside Broward County without having to change addresses?> > Thanks in advance!> > > > > ------------------------------------> >

[Guest guest]

As a newcomer to South Florida, I have observing the school situation for special needs students for several month now. I think one of the big obstacles to families receiving appropriate services is that county-wide districts such as Broward, Palm Beach, etc. are just too big, too centralized and too impersonal. They are just not accountable because the students are anonymous to them. They take power away from the people who pay for those services through taxes by setting up layers of bureaucracy, which in turn wastes money through inefficiency and massive infrastructure. It creates a huge distance between the purchasers of these educational services (taxpayers) and the suppliers of these services. Throw in gizillions of federal gov't regs and teacher/ admin unions and it is a pretty hopeless situation. Parents don't even know what services their children are entitled to and the districts use that to their advantage. Towns up north that are able to provide excellent services are small and directly accountable to the citizens of their towns. When you look at many large bureaucratic northern school systems (ie NYC), the services provided are also subpar. The real answer would be for each city/ town down here to pull out of the Broward district and provide their own services, accountable to their own residents, but I have no idea whether that would ever be possible based upon how govt is structured down here.To: sList From: bijcom@...Date: Tue, 13 Mar 2012 19:48:39 -0400Subject: Re: Re: 2 questions ( regarding Mckay and regarding fully mainstreaming in kindergarten)

I understand it's frustrating to deal with budget cuts and what not, but don't use that as an excuse.No, the law doesn't say that kids should have an aide if they can't handle gen ed, what it says is that reasonable ACCOMMODATIONS should be made to help that happen. A visual schedule is one accommodation, an aide is another one. If the District has it in its budget to pay for one is another story. They're not allowed BY LAW to cite that as reason to deny services, why should I be concerned? I could rally for more funds, but I would never " not ask " because I know they can't pay. District has no funds, boohoo, my kid still needs it, make it happen.Parents should be armed with knowledge of the LAW, as the school system should be working based on that. The knowledge of how things really work with the school system simply perpetuates the state we are in. Parents don't fight because nothing's going to change, nothing changes because nobody's fighting for it! And there's many different ways to fight, one is to go picketing downtown, another one is not giving in to bullying during IEP meetings.Maybe if we fought harder for paras and assistants to be assigned to ESE kids in general education classrooms they wouldn't be the first ones to lose their jobs? As it is, plenty of people including parents and school staff think they're useless, largely due to no much in the way of training or education being required from paras. Sent from a's iPhoneOn Mar 13, 2012, at 2:31 AM, Hardworking Teacher wrote:

There are many misconceptions regarding common practices, the policies and the law. I feel strongly that parents should be armed with knowledge about the school system. Ignorance does not help anyone in their struggle to find the best learning environment for their kids.

I wished every child with any disability could have their own aid. Seriously. However, when parents here ask how this work, I feel they need to know the reality. Yes, we all know about LRE., but the law does not say that any child who cannot handle a gen ed class all by himself, should have an aid, does it?

A couple of years ago, I was here on this list, ranting and raving over all the cuts that were coming. My school lost five assistants!!! They were all in the cluster. They were never replaced. Nobody here responded to my posting. Not one! I don't think the schoolboard or the Super heard much from anyone else but us teachers. BTU had several meetings and we arranged bus loads of teachers to go downtown to protest. Ok, there were many parents there too. All I am saying is that parents need to be more visible when it comes to budget cuts. Assistants are very important for ESE kids. How many of you parents talk to your AP, principal, or school board member, and how many are active in the PTA? How many assistants are there at your school and what do they do? When did you last sit down and talk to your autism coach? When?

H.T.

From: Steve To: sList Sent: Monday, March 12, 2012 3:07 PMSubject: Re: 2 questions ( regarding Mckay and regarding fully mainstreaming in kindergarten)

How does this: " Broward schools do not generally provide an aid for the average kid with autism since they can get the help that they need in a cluster classroom " comply with Least Restrictive Environment?Steve--- In sList , Hardworking Teacher wrote:>> There is no specific criteria for mainstreaming (we have discussed this issue here many times in the past :) )This is an IEP team decision. It is great if he can mainstream, but why does he need an aid? What can he not do on his own? Broward schools do not generally provide an aid for the average kid with autism since they can get the help that they need in a cluster classroom, BUT you might get lucky. The school may be able to place him in a gen ed class

where there are other children  (maybe in a wheel chair, several kids with special needs etc. ) who also needs an aid. Most schools have teacher assistants who help out here and there depending on what is needed, but they won't promise you that your child will get one (you can imagine that most parents would like for their child to have an aid follow their child around). Foxtrail is all right. Like all schools, it depends more on who your child's teacher is than anything else at the school. >  > H.T> > > ________________________________> From: Himani Singh > To: " sList " <sList > > Sent: Friday, March 9, 2012 9:56 PM > Subject: Re: 2 questions ( regarding Mckay and regarding fully mainstreaming in kindergarten)> > >  > Hi! my son is going to be going to KG this fall. How hard is is it to get an aide? All his therapists think that he would do great in mainstream classroon with an aide, but all I hear is that it is really hard to get an aide, unless you have major health issues. currently he is at Baudhuin and will be going to Fox trail in davie. Does anyone know how Fox trail is? What shool is your son at? Thanks for your help!> > > ________________________________> From: " aes62@... " > To: sList > Sent: Friday, March 9, 2012 9:55 AM> Subject: Re: 2 questions ( regarding Mckay and regarding fully mainstreaming in kindergarten)> > >  > My son was mainstramed starting in Kinder...if he meets the criteria to be fully integrated, the> public school (the appropriate school) will meet with you and will place him in the least restricted> setting. If he requires an aide in the classroom, they will (and have to) provide one. You can use the> McKay for another school (be it private or public) that is not within your area....contact the McKay and> public school for further info. My son is now finishing 1st grade in the integrated class w/aide.> > > > ________________________________> > From: " knm22leo "

> To: sList > Sent: Thursday, March 8, 2012 5:07:11 PM> Subject: 2 questions ( regarding Mckay and regarding fully mainstreaming in kindergarten)> > Hi there,> > My son attends Baudhuin preschool. he is lucky to have 3 years there. This is his second year and he is doing great. My question is he is very high functioning and will be placed in their integrated class next Fall. His teachers and therapists (and us)would like to see him fully mainstreamed in kindergarten but have told me Broward county public schools usually doesn't like to do this. Has anyone had success in fully mainstreaming(or even with a shadow)in kindergarten? > > Second question is if I decide to try to get the Mckay scholarship to use for a

private school, is he allowed to attend a private school outside Broward County without having to change addresses?> > Thanks in advance!> > > > > ------------------------------------> >

[Guest guest]

Agreed 150% - Broward County can provide all of the services mentioned, but if you do not know what to ask for and that you are entitled, in short you are screwed. We have sued Broward three times, gone to mediation twice. They will not do anything willingly and will not do what you are entitled to unless you really fight. Unless you can move, looking at NY, NJ, or Mass will only make you sick. Tonya QuarequioLicensed Loan Originator/Owner, NMLS: 88836Celebrity Mortgage NMLS: 206978320 SE 11th StreetFort Lauderdale, Florida 33316Telephone: Facsimile: Cellular: Email: tonya.celebrity@...Website: www.celebritymtg.net The highest compliment I can be paid is the trust and confidence you demonstrate when introducing me to family, friends and associates who might also benefit from the services I provide. Your referrals are greatly appreciated. From: sList [mailto:sList ] On Behalf Of SteveSent: Tuesday, March 13, 2012 7:06 PMTo: sList Subject: Re: 2 questions ( regarding Mckay and regarding fully mainstreaming in kindergarten) The District blurs the lines between these subtle differences (common practices, policies and the law) to their advantage. Over the years I have heard some common responses that staff will say over and over in what seems like an effort to enshrine Broward common practice as policy or law:Non verbal students don't qualify for speech therapyBroward County doesn't do ABABroward County doesn't provide unique aidesBroward County Policy is that restraint only be used if there is imminent risk of danger to the student or others.I have heard all of the above from District Staff. At different times all the above was true but unlawful or just incorrect.It is unfortunate that parents have to either be the equivalent of a lawyer or hire one or an advocate in order to get the education our children are entitled to. I believe that Broward County provides two very different ESE educations: A: Parents with the means, time and ability to be VERY involved and educated about ESEorB: Parents that are overwhelmed, maybe single parents, maybe parents without the means or wherewithal to advocate for their children, maybe parents that think the schools do what they are supposed to without knowing any better.In my own humble opinion thats just wrong.If you've read the recent posts about parents from some Northeastern States seeking advice about the system here, and read what their children get in New Jersey or New York or Massachusetts, we parents here in Broward begin to wonder what version of IDEA they use up there?SteveHardworking Teacher wrote:There are many misconceptions regarding common practices, the policies and the law. I feel strongly that parents should be armed with knowledge about the school system. Ignorance does not help anyone in their struggle to find the best learning environment for their kids.