Special Education (Murfreesboro: transfer, schools, to live)

[janthony76]

Does anyone have any experience with special education in Williamson county? We are currently in New York and it's a mess we are hoping to move somewhere where we don't have to fight all year to get services.

[pucabear]

I don't know specifically about Williamson County, but I can tell you that the state, in general, believes there are too many children with the special education label. Sumner County for next year is going to a 3 tier system for reading. This basically means that there will be an additional help (extra 30 minutes of reading) provided in the classroom for the children struggling for a specific amount of time before they can even be referred for testing. However, if you transfer in with an IEP we start services immediately.

[janthony76]

Thank you. Do they think that childern are receiving special ed services and don't need it? Or do they just not want to pay for services? I know here it has been a push to either place students in a boces setting or pull services that are needed to save money.

[Teacher2Be]

Janthony, I am in NY and have lots of experience with the special education system. What district are you in? Is it possibly that a move within NY to a better district would be more appropriate, unless of course a job is bringing you down to TN.

I know in my district, they want to keep the kids IN and shy away from putting them in BOCES due to the higher cost (they have to pay BOCES a tuition). Depending on the disability your child has, they may very well be served within district, though not knowing that information, it is tough to really speak of what's best.

Let me know if I can help you.

[janthony76]

We are in Orchard Park and it has been a nightmare. Honestly we have heard horror stories from our advocate regarding other schools in this area and we have family who live near Nashville. We just don't want to move to another location where the school is more worried about the Blue Ribbon then their individual students.

[Teacher2Be]

Ok, I am on Long Island, so it may be much more costly to live here. In my district they really strive to keep the kids in, unless they are severely disabled or more emotionally in need. A friend in my district has a daughter with Down's and she is also legally blind, so she must be serviced by BOCES. Someone else has a child who is incredibly smart, but very socially inept and needs more hands on counseling that a standard school can supply, so he is serviced by BOCES.

As for the Nashville area, I looked into the special ed program within the Murfreesboro school system and they have a lot to offer. Again, it would depend on what your child's issues were. I would contact the pupil personnel director or CSE chairperson (unless they have another name for it) and get some information from them.

[janthony76]

Our daughter has had Achievement testing done on 5 different occassions over the past year and half. She currently gets OT, and combo group which is a Speech/ Resource Room (which isn't really a RR because they can't work on math with her only Speech/Language). Her IQ is 98 which is average and she consistently has trouble with nonverbal on the testing but appears above average on verbal. However the school keeps approaching us (literally at least once a month) saying she's lost and needs to move to a more restrictive setting, and their reccomendation is BOCES. We don't get it either.

[Teacher2Be]

It sounds as if she may have processing issues, which would relate to the speech. Mind you, I'm making this based on limited info, so it's completely possible that I'm WAY off here.

If she is functioning well, is not a behavior issue and just needs extra help with academics, why wouldn't a self contained setting be appropriate? Does your district offer self contained classes? I know some don't, which could explain the BOCES recommendation.

[pucabear]

Originally Posted by janthony76

Thank you. Do they think that childern are receiving special ed services and don't need it? Or do they just not want to pay for services? I know here it has been a push to either place students in a boces setting or pull services that are needed to save money.

I believe the concern is because of all of the "No Child Left Behind" requirements, they are feeling that some may be placed too quickly. Sumner County is trying to give every opportunity for slower readers to catch on, before being placed too quickly. I teach in an Extended Resource Classroom, which is in between Resource and CDC (which is most restrictive...life skills). My goal in ERC is to get the children who are capable to Resource in the subjects that are their strengths. I don't think the 3 tier program is a bad idea, my concern is manpower for that extra 30 minutes of reading.

[janthony76]

If she is functioning well, is not a behavior issue and just needs extra help with academics, why wouldn't a self contained setting be appropriate? Does your district offer self contained classes? I know some don't, which could explain the BOCES recommendation.

No I don't believe they do. Furthermore they continue to tell us that she only has a Receptive language delay and Speech and Language problem which has no impact on her academics .