[blindkid] Specifying a particular school in the IEP

[Carrie Gilmer]

Dear Doug,
It is understandable why you are looking at and desiring this magnet school
program. It sounds as if she appears to all involved as academically capable
for that level and is ready to be challenged--the main reason to send her in
my opinion-the same as for any child. 

In order for it to be in her IEP you would have to show why she could not
get a free and appropriate education at her local school but could get one
at the magnet. The IDEA unfortunately says nothing about "best"
education...only appropriate. You have to show she has a unique SPECIAL ED>
need for the magnet school. It is hard for me to understand how her
blindness alone could require her to have an education there... except, does
it offer more hands on, more multi-sensory?, the time you mention to work on
her non-visual techniques, I am unclear how going to the magnet gives her
more time in her day...but these are the kinds of things that would be
specialized ed.  reasons.   

 If you could show she is hindered at her present school and helped by the
curriculum to meet her specific needs then they may agree. Then if they
place her there in the IEP-they have to take her. I would say this is a
pretty difficult standard for you to meet. And I would say that you meet it
without bias--that is, Is it truly the place where she can get access and
get the most appropriate least restrictive education?...according to her
blindness. Or is it just the best place for her mind like it might be for
any other kid of her brightness? Are you trying to "use" her blindness to
get her in--if you follow me. You will have to list the pros and cons and
her needs and build a reasoned argument according to the laws for placement
unless you have an eager team who would really like to see her there and
agrees readily that her most appropriate ed. can only happen there. 

It is likely that you will have to apply and take your chances like everyone
else, and I recommend that you do so even if you try the other route as
well. Likely everyone would prefer not to "gamble". 

 Is there another option if you get on a waiting list... a gifted route
through the main schools? Most districts have multiple avenues for gifted
kids these days. My son (blind-senior in H.S.) and current sixth grade
(sighted) daughter both did not want to travel to magnet schools but have
found gifted programs and classes in their regular schools all the way from
elementary to graduation. Every year there seems to be a new class added.

Cordially, 
 
Carrie Gilmer, President
National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
A Division of the National Federation of the Blind
NFB National Center: 410-659-9314
Home Phone: 763-784-8590
carrie.gilmer at gmail.com
www.nfb.org/nopbc

-----Original Message-----
From: blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Doug Gottschlich
Sent: Thursday, November 27, 2008 12:01 AM
To: blindkid at nfbnet.org
Subject: [blindkid] Specifying a particular school in the IEP

Hi,

My school district (California) has a "Gifted and Talented" magnet school
for grades 3 through 8.  We are very interested in getting our daughter into
that program when she starts 3rd grade next year, and are wondering if we're
allowed to specify a particular school in the IEP.

Of course, she must have the academic ability to get in, or there is no
benefit in her going there.  However, all her teachers expect her to easily
pass the entrance exam.  The problem is that there are more students that
pass the exam than there are slots at the school.  The slots are filled by a
not-so-random lottery from the pool of eligible students that have passed
the exam.  (Its not so random because first priority goes to eligible
students whose home school is a"program improvement school" under No Child
Left Behind, second priority goes to eligible siblings of current students
at the school, and the remaining eligible students get lowest priority.)
Since we are not in a program improvement school, and because our daughter
has no siblings, her chances of  getting in through the lottery are 50% at
best.

This Gifted and Talented school focuses on "Differentiated Instruction: a
change from the traditional pace of the curriculum that eliminates
repetition, relieves students of boredom from work in less challenging
curricular areas, and allows students to use the time that they have saved
to to pursue enriching activities".  We firmly believe that this program
would significantly benefit a VI child's education: repetition is very time
consuming and unnecessary as she picks things up quickly, and the time could
be better spent on the additional VI skills needed.  We'd prefer not to
gamble with odds from the lottery, and want to write this school into her
IEP.

I'd love to hear any experiences/insights anyone may have.

Thanks,
Doug Gottschlich
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