My son has been struggling in school for years. He was bullied pretty much from kindergarten through 4th grade. This year he refused to go back and I tried finding other schools, but none of them accepted him. Now, we’re back at the public school and I’m feeling so stuck. He has an IEP for speech, but he also has autism, ADHD, and a lot of other challenges. I’ve tried talking to the school about him being placed in a class that could help him, but they keep saying no. I even asked about having him tested by a BCBA (behavior analyst), but they shot that down too. His test scores say he’s doing fine, but his report card says otherwise – in most subjects, he’s getting 1s, which means he’s not even at the starting point. I really feel like he’s being pushed through the system without getting the support he needs. I don’t know where to turn now… any advice?
That sounds so tough. I’ve been in a similar spot, and it’s honestly frustrating how schools just don’t seem to listen. Have you thought about contacting a lawyer to help with his IEP? They can really advocate for your kid’s needs.
@Ari
I haven’t considered that yet. Do you think it would make a big difference?
@Ari
Definitely! A lawyer who specializes in education can help push the school to give him the support he’s entitled to, especially if they’re not following through with his IEP.
That’s really frustrating. It sounds like your son’s needs are not being taken seriously by the school. I’ve heard that a lot of times, schools will downplay issues like this because they don’t want to make the necessary changes. Have you tried contacting your state’s department of education?
@Vero
I haven’t gone that route yet. What exactly would I ask them?
@Vero
You can report the school for not providing the support your son is entitled to. They should have more resources and can help escalate things. You might also ask for mediation or a formal complaint process.
I’m so sorry your son is going through this. It’s such a challenge when the school won’t listen. One thing that helped us was getting an advocate for our child. They know the ins and outs of how to work with schools and really pushed for the right accommodations.
@Gabi
I’ll look into getting an advocate. I just want to make sure he’s in a safe, supportive environment.
@Gabi
That’s the goal! Advocates can push for a more tailored approach for your child, especially when the school isn’t being helpful.
Have you considered homeschooling? I know it’s not ideal, but it might be a good temporary solution while you work on finding the right school placement.
AVERY said:
Have you considered homeschooling? I know it’s not ideal, but it might be a good temporary solution while you work on finding the right school placement.
I’ve thought about it, but his psychologist said homeschooling might not be the best for him because of his social skills. He really needs to interact with other kids.
AVERY said:
Have you considered homeschooling? I know it’s not ideal, but it might be a good temporary solution while you work on finding the right school placement.
That makes sense. Maybe there’s a hybrid solution where he can do part-time homeschooling and part-time school until things get better?
I totally understand your frustration. It sounds like your son has been through a lot already, and now the school is just making things harder. I’d keep pushing for a special ed placement, especially given his needs. Have you tried documenting everything? Like, keeping track of what’s being said in meetings or any lack of action?
@Drew
Yes, I’ve been keeping notes. I even have notes from my son about the bullying, but it feels like no one takes it seriously.
@Drew
Keep doing that. It’s important to have a record of everything. The more you have, the stronger your case will be if you need to escalate it further.