For Michigan Parents of Special Needs Children
The school district is dying and things like this will not help it. If my kids can't get the correct special ed services then they don't need to be in this district. There isn't busing for schools out of neighborhood, there are teachers at John Lodge that still use corporal punishment at the Kindergarten level, the special class like art are non existent and the teachers don't have what they need to teach as they should. Yet people wonder why kids leave the system, drop out, or are graduating unable to read. Something has to be done to save our community, our schools, our children and our future.
I read this in a public letter that was sent out as well as posted online and I felt compelled to do some research, as a response letter was not yet posted. (I'm guessing not enough time has passed, nor do I know if the parent actually sent the letter or just posted it online).The parent was concerned because their child was denied ESY, which means Extended School Year. They basically stated in their letter that it was because the district claimed to be out of money and were told not to provide the service. The problem is, districts generally don't make their decisions like that based upon money it is based upon the ability of the child. If the child does not need the extra help (and there are criteria for this) then it makes no sense to have a child come for extended school year help. However, most know me and I had to dig up records.
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/SPED_PRESCHOOL_ALLOCATIONS_0809_WEB_248101_7.pdf
The above link is the total monies allocated for pre-school programs in the districts of Michigan.
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/IDEA_619_Est_Awards_4-20-09_275869_7.pdf
The above link is the total monies allocated for 619 for this school year for pre-school.
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/2008OSEUpdate_245169_7.pdf
The above link is for the report which states that the funding for the current school year would stay the same. Meaning, there should be funds available. (Their own documents).
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/Item_AA_243389_7.pdf
The above link is a memo put out at the end of last school year, which means it would be effective for this school year as to how ESY is chosen in the state of Michigan.
Now, in terms of the allegations of corporal punishment at John Lodge, I cannot find any school in the Michigan system with the name of John Lodge. I've found a street name located in Detroit, but no actual school district, or name. As a teacher reading this particular letter (I didn't cite the entire letter as this was the portion that stood out, I feel that perhaps the school was not listed to protect the child involved, but it's a pretty serious allegation especially when I cannot find anything that states schools in Michigan still use corporal punishment. I know that perhaps there are individual schools that perhaps have it written into their code of conduct, but in the states I've resided and taught typically a parent must give written permission for the school to use corporal punishment. If they parent does not allow it, the school will not use it.
So, if you reside in Michigan and are having issues with special education services, use the following links as evidence of the monies available in your district. You do have a right to appeal any decision made during an IEP meeting, and you do have a right to request further services for your child. If you are having issues with a district, the best thing to do is get an advocate.
The following links are advocacy groups in Michigan that can help you get the aid you need for your special needs child:
http://www.causeonline.org/
http://www.studentadvocacycenter.org/quickguides/
http://www.mpas.org/HomePage.asp
http://mi.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=MISE_Support_Resources
http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/2002/11-02/Canja11-7-02.html
Namaste-Anora
I read this in a public letter that was sent out as well as posted online and I felt compelled to do some research, as a response letter was not yet posted. (I'm guessing not enough time has passed, nor do I know if the parent actually sent the letter or just posted it online).The parent was concerned because their child was denied ESY, which means Extended School Year. They basically stated in their letter that it was because the district claimed to be out of money and were told not to provide the service. The problem is, districts generally don't make their decisions like that based upon money it is based upon the ability of the child. If the child does not need the extra help (and there are criteria for this) then it makes no sense to have a child come for extended school year help. However, most know me and I had to dig up records.
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/SPED_PRESCHOOL_ALLOCATIONS_0809_WEB_248101_7.pdf
The above link is the total monies allocated for pre-school programs in the districts of Michigan.
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/IDEA_619_Est_Awards_4-20-09_275869_7.pdf
The above link is the total monies allocated for 619 for this school year for pre-school.
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/2008OSEUpdate_245169_7.pdf
The above link is for the report which states that the funding for the current school year would stay the same. Meaning, there should be funds available. (Their own documents).
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/Item_AA_243389_7.pdf
The above link is a memo put out at the end of last school year, which means it would be effective for this school year as to how ESY is chosen in the state of Michigan.
Now, in terms of the allegations of corporal punishment at John Lodge, I cannot find any school in the Michigan system with the name of John Lodge. I've found a street name located in Detroit, but no actual school district, or name. As a teacher reading this particular letter (I didn't cite the entire letter as this was the portion that stood out, I feel that perhaps the school was not listed to protect the child involved, but it's a pretty serious allegation especially when I cannot find anything that states schools in Michigan still use corporal punishment. I know that perhaps there are individual schools that perhaps have it written into their code of conduct, but in the states I've resided and taught typically a parent must give written permission for the school to use corporal punishment. If they parent does not allow it, the school will not use it.
So, if you reside in Michigan and are having issues with special education services, use the following links as evidence of the monies available in your district. You do have a right to appeal any decision made during an IEP meeting, and you do have a right to request further services for your child. If you are having issues with a district, the best thing to do is get an advocate.
The following links are advocacy groups in Michigan that can help you get the aid you need for your special needs child:
http://www.causeonline.org/
http://www.studentadvocacycenter.org/quickguides/
http://www.mpas.org/HomePage.asp
http://mi.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=MISE_Support_Resources
http://www.bridges4kids.org/articles/2002/11-02/Canja11-7-02.html
Namaste-Anora
