I spoke with you today- can anyone help?

June 9, 2009

Dear Jeanne,

Thank you for speaking with me. Here is my situation.

My son's IEP includes Extended School Year. He is presently enrolled in a

private learning disability school. They do offer an ESY program that is

held during the month of July. I am interested in having my son participate

in a different program for the summer.

.. I had also contacted the New Jersey Department of Education to clarify

and review the rules and laws as they apply to an Extended School Year

placement. ESY services need to meet the requirements as set forth in his

IEP. ESY services may not necessarily be provided in a classroom or a

school setting. The location and delivery of program services must take

into consideration the identified individual needs of the student in an

appropriate environment.

Based on this I made my request for my son to go to another program for ESY.

(He will be returning to his private LD program). My town said no. I filed

for a mediation and in that I offered to pay the difference in the program

(which is approximately $300, as best as I can determine). I am awaiting to

hear back from the state on the date. My town is planning on bring a lawyer

to the meeting. The original date of the mediation was suggested to be June

22. I told them my son's school ends June 19, and paperwork needs to be

done based on which program he will go to. The DOE is trying to schedule an

earlier date.

My assessment is that both programs are appropriate for my child's need.

But, based on the other program there will be more opportunities to work on

his IEP. His school is 4 days a week for the month of July for a total of

18 days (8:30-12:30), where the other program runs 30 days. (One program is

a school the other is a camp for ADHD kids and similar issues.)

I have more details, but that is the background.

Thank you,

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