IEP meeting

Monday I had an IEPb meeting.  This means that it was the second meeting to determine if MAC should have an IEP.  The first meeting was held a little over a month ago.  There were several tests given over the course of a week.  (It also happened to be MSA week so she was tired of tests.)

Most of the tests came out with the information we expected:  she is "High Average" or "Above Average" in all academic testing and "Low Average" or "Below Average" in emotional or social emotional testing.  It was interesting to me to find out that even though she has 7 teachers only 1 was given the social/emotional scale to rate her on.  When I questioned this the Psychologist said that it was impossible to have all the teachers fill one out.  He also said that they only give these type of scales to "core" class teachers (the 4 main classes:  Math, Science, Social Studies, or Language Arts) since they see them every day.  He said that he didn't expect that any of the other teachers would have said much different since both Hubby and I had about the same answers.

I was disappointed that although the teacher that had filled out the survey was there, the guidance counselor whom we have worked the most with was unable to attend, the Vice-Principal who works exclusively with the 7th grade did not attend, and the Special Ed teacher who had given her the academic testing was not able to be there either.  The Psychologist was the same one that we have been talking with for the last two years and the school nurse came in about half way through the meeting.

Although there were a few significant findings the determination was that IEP's only address academic failings or behavior issues that happen daily.  It is so difficult to know what is the full truth and what is the system trying to make less work for themselves.

Hubby was upset with me because although he understands where my mind is he feels that the 504 plan gives us NO recourse if it is not followed.  I could not come up with anything to be able to put in the IEP which was solely academic.  The in school programs for special ed. have very significantly academically delayed students and everyone felt that she is fully capable of completing and comprehending the work in the classroom and just isn't.  The Psychologist said that the Phoenix school and the Monarch Academy that I had looked at were not options because she was not having daily issues.

MAC was called in after school and asked what we could do to help her be successful and she said she couldn't come up with anything.  I feel at a loss...how do you help someone who doesn't seem to want to accept the help?