[notinkeys]

My wife came here from Colorado, and I never had to deal with students in Florida as a parent, so I am unsure about something and hoped I could get some feedback.

In Colorado, when there was a need for parents to meet with teachers/counselors, there was a requirement that the school needed to accommodate the parents' schedule if the student has an IEP (which the student in question does.) Is this the case as well in Florida? We have an appointment, but the scheduling options are going to be problematic for my wife, who works about a 20 minute drive from the school and will be greatly inconvenienced by the times they are willing to meet.

[HeartofFlorida]

Originally Posted by notinkeys

My wife came here from Colorado, and I never had to deal with students in Florida as a parent, so I am unsure about something and hoped I could get some feedback.

In Colorado, when there was a need for parents to meet with teachers/counselors, there was a requirement that the school needed to accommodate the parents' schedule if the student has an IEP (which the student in question does.) Is this the case as well in Florida? We have an appointment, but the scheduling options are going to be problematic for my wife, who works about a 20 minute drive from the school and will be greatly inconvenienced by the times they are willing to meet.

I'm not sure if this is a state-wide policy or varies from district to district but every accommodation should be made for the parents to attend when possible. I will say this: From experience, I'm assuming that the IEP meeting will be with the teacher(s), some therapist(s) and special aids at the very least. I don't know what is a good time for you and your wife to meet but if you can, I suggest after school when there's more time and the more people involved, the harder it is to coordinate. The teacher(s) teaching the child still have to teach other children, that means that time before class will be limited but can still be done. However if you're looking at times during normal class hours that may be a little more difficult and due to budget cuts (at least where I am), that process just became more grueling.

What county are you in?

[notinkeys]

We're in Manatee. The school says only between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. are the teachers available. I should note this is NOT the yearly IEP meeting, but one we are requesting because the counselors and advisors have not been in touch in any way with us, and no one was even sure who the counselor even was for the student. All the teachers involved, plus whatever advisor and counselor staff will be there as well.

The school has not been particularly cooperative. We're not looking for a gripe session, just to get together with them and discuss the student's progress in general. Since they only moved here a few days before the start of school, we haven't had much chance to meet with the school. (I was here, but not in Manatee at the time- I lived in Sarasota County when we married last summer.)

[bbronston]

I have no idea what the rules or guidelines are but I have to say that it doesn't strike me as unreasonable that a teacher or counselor would be available to you sometime between 7am and 3pm. Those are the hours they work after all. However, I'm sure you don't need me to waste your time with opinions so let me suggest that you contact the county office to see if there might be something they can do for you.

School District of Manatee County
215 Manatee Avenue West
Bradenton Florida 34205
(941) 708-8770

Parent Information Center (PIC)
234 Manatee Avenue East
Bradenton Florida 34208
(941) 708-4971

[notinkeys]

Thanks, bbronston!