« Reply #2 on: September 19, 2011, 11:13:01 AM »
Follow on posts, pg 2
Gail
There are some here who have told of their 504s being "signed on" by all the teachers &/or staff involved -- am thinking perhaps Gail is one? Any body else?
Correct. Additionally, all training is documented per specific 504 accommodations with the specific staff persons who are responsible of fulfilling the accommodation for each accommodation. This is how it is stated on the 504:
Accommodation: "Staff training for any X School District program in which Mariah participates is conducted and documented annually and as needed. This training shall include: IHP review, procedures and responsibilities, recognizing allergy symptoms, EipPen administration, and disability understanding. This training will include all staff (core elective and support). (See attached Individualized Healthcare Plan)
Name(s) of staff person(s) responsible: School Nurse, Disctict Representative (504 Coordinator)
These also have specific staff assigned:
Accommodation: "Review and share with teachers and appropriate staff (all core, elective and support) the "Emergency Plan" (see attached Appendix A)
Accommodation: Review and share with teachers and appropriate staff (all core, elective and support) the "Cafeteria Plan" (see attached Appendix B)
Accommodation: Review and share with teachers and appropriate staff (all core, elective and support) the "School Planning Activities Worksheet" (see attached Appendix C)
Accommodation: Review and share with teachers and appropriate staff (all core, elective and support) the "Student's Responsibilities" (see attached appendix D)
Accommodation: Review and share with teachers and appropriate staff (all core, elective and support) the "Asthma Action Plan" (see attached Appendix E)
Accommodation: Review and share with all appropriate staff the "Bus Emergency Plan" (See attached Appendix F)
Accommodation: EpiPens accessible to all staff
Accommodation: Designated adult mentor to assist planning and self-advocacy using a consistent planning form
Accommodation: Provisions for Mariah to participate in the food services programs
Accommodation: Documentation of all allergic reactions per Incident Report Form
ajasfolks2
Gail -- thanks, I thought you were one who had this!
(Forgive me if I'm missing this or am being thick, up too late reading and mulling. I do have a cc of 504 detail & other you had provided once upon a time, but do not have it at fingertips right now.)
Is there a form for staff member to sign that states he/she has been info'd/trained according to accomodations/requirement & if so, do you get a copy of each one? (Somehow I think I asked this once upon a time over the rainbow . . . )
Do you also have in the 504 a requirement that the principal (or other staff member) document in writing (full detail) any/all violations of 504 accommodations that may not have resulted in reaction? (Or is this solely up to you to do when/if you learn of the violation?)
IF yes as to forms, how did this go over at accommodations discussions? Was this at your request or part of their regular documentation procedures?
Gail
Given some things I read, I'm wondering if it would be prudent to do some formal documentation. For instance, write a statement and have that document Witnessed and Notarized and put in a special file, should an allergic reaction happen in school that was PREVENTABLE if the precautions had been taken.
"On x date, informed principal and nurse that I am not comfortable with the serving of any baked goods in my child's nut free classroom due to possiblity of cross contamination".
or in gvmoms' case,
"On x date, requested that school staff NEVER feed my child."
Anyone know if a notary public would sign something like this? Or another route to document?
I wanted to add that I came very close to going to "due process" over this very issue. This is an issue very near and dear to me.
IMO, the "special file" is your child's "educational record" maintained by the SD. IMO, if you want your correspondence to be 'documented' , all you need to do is to request that your letter (even if it's unilatterally from you) be placed in your child's "educational record" and request confirmation as such.
Long story you may wish to skip:
After my daughter received a Section 504 designation, I formally requested, in writing, to "reivew my daughter's educational record". Essentially by doing this, I exercised my parental right to "Examine all records relating to decisions regarding your child's identification, evlaution, educational program, and placement." So the District 504 Coordinator set up a meeting and we reviewed this 5 inch thick folder that was housed at the Board Office. There were report cards, progress reports, etc, but it was very telling because selective e-mails and correspondence comprised the majority of her file. It was really interesting (read "creepy") to see some of my hand written notes there. Tons of e-mails. It was haphazard, selective, biased; a joke.
For example, one glaring omision was that no documentation existed regarding of any of Mariah's 9 allergic reactions (that had occurred while she was in school). Coincidence? Also missing were some correspondence to the 504 C from our allergist. It was absolutely sickening to me that there were pages and pages of my e-mails, often mulitple copies of the same e-mail, but weighty medical reports were missing.
After spending hours reviewing her file, I formally requested that the District 504 Coordinator include documentation of those allergic events. I also requested that certain other documents that I had previsouly provided the SD also be included in her file. It wasn't easy for the 504 C to recreate documentation (some staff were no longer there and some had occurred 3 years prior) and I got alot of obstacles throw at me. But I would have gone to "Due Process" over this, and the tone and formality of my correspondence was pretty indicative of that. In other words, they had made mistakes (those made during the evaluation included) and my ducks were clearly lined up and waiting to quack.
After all that, I routinely asked that certain correspondence be included in Mariah's education record (a.k.a. her 'permanent file') and requested confirmation that the letter, docuemtn, whatever, has been placed in her file. IMO, this is something I would recommend for all to do.
ajasfolks2
I exercised my parental right to "Examine all records relating to decisions regarding your child's identification, evlaution, educational program, and placement."
You know, active duty military members must regularly review their official records and personnel files for accuracy and ommissions. What's in those files affects careers, promotions, assignments, and possibily even disability claims down the road.
I've already been aggravated by the sometimes ridiculous comments written onto our children's progress reports and report cards. We've addressed this sometimes in meetings with school staff/officials, but often have just shrugged & let it go.
Now I'm thinking about how those comments on the prog reports, as well as selected correspondences from parents and deletion/omission of other critical items might totally screw a child and his family in the future. (Thinking in terms of trying to get "new" school to appropriately handle LTFA accommodations when transferring, but this may apply in all sorts of ways.)
How in the world do we protect our child and ourselves?
How often do we make formal request to see the records?
And when we request transcripts be forwarded on to next school, how do we determine what other "records" might have been sent as well?
I was beginning to think I was paranoid and that I was being "watched" by this school as they work to paint us as being beyond unreasonable. But now I really get it.
I.get.it.
Gail
Is there a form for staff member to sign that states he/she has been info'd/trained according to accomodations/requirement & if so, do you get a copy of each one? (Somehow I think I asked this once upon a time over the rainbow . . . )
Our elementary school nurse created an "Epinepherine Compentency Form" (or "Check List") that the district used for many years. I posted it on the other board. That is still being used. Since Mariah received the 504 designation and we have regular 504 Team meetings, staff routinely report to the Team on their responsibilities. So, the School Nurse reports that the training has occurred and any details (e.g. what staff were absent and when they will be trained.) I know she usees a sign in sheet for her training. I don't know if there is any additional documentation that she uses. But I could ask, if you'd like. It wouldn't be a problem for me.
I also looked at the paperwork and see that on the signature page it says,
Documentation of teacher, teacher assistant and office staff review and understanding of the contents of the IHP and it's attachments will be documented by te school district." (For whatever that's worth. . . )
Do you also have in the 504 a requirement that the principal (or other staff member) document in writing (full detail) any/all violations of 504 accommodations that may not have resulted in reaction? (Or is this solely up to you to do when/if you learn of the violation?)
Great question IMO because this was yet another fairly significant battle with the school. The short answer is, no, it's not in the 504 plan. It could be, but I don't find it necessary because the SD has documented procedures already in place. My experience was, however, no one was aware of the SD's proceudres. (Nothing knew, right? : )
After a violation I met met with the 504 C and requested documentation of the violation and the disciplinary course of actions that the SD took with the teacher. She refused. She deemed that information 'confidential'.
Ok, then, let me rephrase: Would you please provide me with the SD's policies and procedures regarding instances whereby a staff member has violated a student's 504 plan? What course of action do you take? Ah-ha! I learn that the SD has a specific form that the building principal intiates by documenting the details of the violation and obtains the teacher (or whomever has violated a student's IEp or 504 plan's) signature. The principal provides a copy to the 504C, the teacher's file, and the student's file. If I want to see it, all I need to do is exercise my right to review her 'educational record' or request a copy of it *because* I have the parental right to
examine all relevant records in my child's educational record..
I also have the *right* to obtain a copy of that form now that it is part of Mariah's educational record.
I also have the *right* to obtain a response from the SD for "explanations and interpretations of my child's records", so if that form were incomplete or contained erroneous information, I would ask for a clarification of the facts.
AND, (and this is an excellent parental *right*), if I disagreed with any statements made by the principal on the form, I would address them in writing and ask that she correct them because I have the *right* to request an amendment of my child's educational records. (This is the parental right I used to when requesting them to created documentation of her past allergic reactions. I claimed that the absence of this vital information created an inaccurate and misleading educational record.)
An important part of "documentation" is about exercising your parental rights regarding your child's educational record.
IF yes as to forms, how did this go over at accommodations discussions? Was this at your request or part of their regular documentation procedures?
The form already existed, the process already existed, but either no one was aware of it or no one insisted that they follow their procedures. I request a copy every time there's been a violation. I ask if all the procedures have been followed i.e. (a copy has been included in my child's educational record).
nutfreemom
Gail,
Your info couldn't be more timely for us. THANK YOU!!!
We had a major problem yesterday. He's okay, no rxn. I need to put these procedures in place for ds1. There is no recourse or reprimand at bldg level. We are working on enforcement (sd policing itself) as part of his plan.
We requested a copy of ds1's school file (med & ed) & some very important med documents were missing! This has not come up yet as an issue, seeing that right now we are having trouble w/the day to day. We do need to view his actual file at the school to make sure these doc's are missing & weren't just (in)advertenly omitted.
ajasfolks2
Gail, thank you ever so much for you time & detailed answers!!
I do realize that I have far fewer "rights" when it comes to dealing with my private school. But I will be reviewing the student handbook this weekend to see how/if this is addressed. (Not holding breath.)
I am kicking myself that I did not keep a detailed journal of the events of last year -- both WRT food allergy stuff at the school, but also WRT education concerns and problems as well as child's conduct &/or "reported" conduct.
Last week I started e-mailing to myself a daily documentation of stuff that happened at the school that I felt was important to have a record of. Kind of an ad hoc journal, with some date/time stamping due to the e-mail format. I have also vowed to have zero telephone correspondence with school staff except to answer their calls to tell me there has been a medical emergency. Otherwise, I will request insist they make every request of me in writing. And I will only answer in writing, with all words painfully & carefully chosen.
It is hard enough for us as parents to realize that many school staff, administration, and parents really DO NOT value your child's life as they should. Having all the rest piled on top -- the dishonesty about events, the attempts to impugn our reputations bordering on character assisination, the behind-the-scenes workings to try to weasel a way out of every safety requirement, etc. -- is beyond the pale.
Documenting has taken on a whole new world of meaning for me now. I cannot believe I was so blind and trusting.
Gail
(Thinking in terms of trying to get "new" school to appropriately handle LTFA accommodations when transferring, but this may apply in all sorts of ways.)
. . .
And when we request transcripts be forwarded on to next school, how do we determine what other "records" might have been sent as well?
Since we will probably never transfer out of our school district, this possibility had never occured to me. But you're right~ what's in your child's record could have ramifications at a new school.
A parent has some recourse via their 'parental rights' to document important information by formally requesting that it is included as part of your child's educational record. A parent also has the right to request that the school amend information contained in their child's record that they belive is inaccurate or misleading. Also, if pertinent documents or correspondence are missing from your child's educational record, you can request that they include them by claiming their omission creates an "inaccurate" record.
gvmom
It is interesting to read this today given what transpired just this day with DS's principal. I was actually thinking to myself, rather wondering... almost in an "A-HA" way.... that I bet this new principal doesn't know the half of anything because we communicated via email with DS's principal a lot last year, and bet she didn't print those out to put in DS's file... and surely the new principal wouldn't have access to the old principal's email. Right? It was almost like a "Duh" moment, since what has she got to go by? Heresay from the people that can't stand us... and heresay from the old principal... that only passed on that she got flack about stuff surrounding us. The new principal didn't know that we caught a ton of it too... until today... when she told me what she did... and I told her that we've gotten a ton. She was completely unaware.
Makes me think we should be printing out a ton of stuff that we have, correspondance relevant to our DS, and submit it to get put in his file. Give her something to read.
ajasfolks2
Give her something to read.
And my mind is already formulating that I will NOT request transcripts/records from current school UNTIL we have 504 wheels in motion with new school and have already established relationship. THIS time that should be easier as we are not expecting to move in late summer, but rather in early spring AND I should have a fix on exactly where/district we will be living long before school is out in June . . .
Plus the county/area we are considering already has some sort of history of "getting it" WRT LTFA. (I know I know. Don't get my hopes up.)
The extra burden on families who must move often makes this whole darned thing extremely challenging.
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LIKE IT NEEDED TO BE ANY HARDER, huh?!
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What a learning 24-hours. Thanks to everybody for comments and contributions. Just wanted to say that. Repeatedly.
« Last Edit: March 12, 2013, 08:34:09 AM by ajasfolks2 »
Logged
Is this where I blame iPhone and cuss like an old fighter pilot's wife?
**(&%@@&%$^%$#^%$#$*& LOL!!