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Thread : School Restricting Communication With My Son's Teachers ...  
8 Jun 2010 @ 1:15 PM
vja4Him Join Date: Fri 4th Jun 2010
Threads: 9 Posts: 11
School Restricting Communication With My Son's Teachers ...

School Restricting Communication With My Son's Teachers ...

Yesterday my son started summer school. He just finished 7th grade (failed, but was allowed to pass on to 8th grade). My son came home from summer school yesterday excited! He told me lots of things that happened at school, stories his teachers told the class.

I had sent e-mails to each of the three summer school teachers, reminding them that my son has a 504 Plan, and requesting that they review my son's 504 Plan, and make any necessary accommodations.

Received two e-mails from one of my son's teachers. Both messages were very positive and the teacher told me to stay in contact with him via e-mail, and also told me that e-mail is a great way to communicate. He also told me some strategies that he was already using for my son in the classroom.

This morning I received an e-mail from the summer school principal (whose regular position is the Learning Director, and also was present at the meeting we had last week, going over my son's existing 504 Plan, and talking about evaluating my son for an IEP, rather trying to talk me out of the evaluation and IEP).

Here is her message to me this morning:

Please send all communication, including emails, through the principal * or the summer school principal *. Please send emails to both principals and they will communicate with the teachers should you have a question or concern.

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11 Jun 2010 @ 12:33 PM Reply # 1
eabeam Join Date: Tue 12th Jan 2010
Threads: 0 Posts: 97
They have been burned...

I give 99% probability that they have been burned legally.

It was likely one of two scenarios.

1 - An employee was once too loose with subjective opinions... liked to hypothesize too much... speak out of scope of practice... unprofessional or just plain mean-incompetent-rude-illegal-etc.-whatever. Those emails were then used as evidence against the district (or they experienced a near-miss). Therefore, they want to keep their employees remarks from costing them.

2 - Employees actions were more benign than scenario #1, but an advocate or attorney was able to take something out of context to leverage against the district.

If they were burned, you won't get a quick fix to that one. They will choose legal defense over good P.R.

http://askdreric-schoolpsychologist.blogspot.com/

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11 Jun 2010 @ 1:09 PM Reply # 2
vja4Him Join Date: Fri 4th Jun 2010
Threads: 9 Posts: 11
Trouble Getting Concrete Answers ....

Perhaps that is why I have a tough time getting concrete answers from the school/district via e-mail.

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14 Jun 2010 @ 3:53 PM Reply # 3
eabeam Join Date: Tue 12th Jan 2010
Threads: 0 Posts: 97
Better option...

At your next planning meeting, request an objective and data-based method of communicating progress on plan, goals, etc. This has a lot of up-sides... you get the info... they get to keep the subjective commentary out... everyone benefits from a more data-driven methodology. The info that is used to communicate can also be a diagnostic and/or progress monitoring method.

This is why I hate "Buddy-Books" there is plenty of subjective commentary (where staff can say stupid things), but almost no information that I can use in a scientifically-valid manner.

http://askdreric-schoolpsychologist.blogspot.com/

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14 Jun 2010 @ 9:08 PM Reply # 4
vja4Him Join Date: Fri 4th Jun 2010
Threads: 9 Posts: 11
Buddy Books?

What do you mean by "Buddy Books?"

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23 Jun 2010 @ 12:26 PM Reply # 5
eabeam Join Date: Tue 12th Jan 2010
Threads: 0 Posts: 97
Buddy Books

They are really popular in the elementary schools around here.

They are journals that go to and from the school so that the staff and parent can correspond.

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