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FREE SP ED HELP : 5/28/2009

FREE WRITING HELP FROM SPECIAL EDUCATION TO BA AND BUSINESS www.TheEasyEssay.com is a free program that is being used from Special Education to college education, FCAT, SAT, ACT test preparation, home schooling, and educational rehabilitation, as well as in business for concise, organized and targeted memos, speeches, reports, and recommendations. A noted side effect is that users begin to communicate logically. ************** “I have used this technique with my corporate clients, my theology students, and soon with my students at Kaplan University.” Dr. Kathleen A. Bishop, M.B.A., PhD, ThD. “I got feedback from the teachers. They love it and we are looking at using it with some of our AT devices.” Dr. Suzanne Pope Dobson - Calhoun High School (Special Education Department Head) Thank You, Barry. I looked at the site and even did a trial run. I will email this information to our Health Resource Consultants and put it in our knowledge base for future inquiries [with respect to] Traumatic Brain Injury. Respectfully, ~ Erin, U.S. Department of Defense - Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)

barry morse

Cheri Rae is Right On : 5/28/2009

Thanks Cherie for writing this column. My only complaint is that, things are even worse in special ed than she makes out. For instance Alissa McNeil's reign was indescribably horrible, and yes she was fired last November, but her Mini-Me assistant, Jan Walker, remains in her position and carried on many of the Alissa McNeil's misguided policies. It's not just the parents and students wondering when this nightmare is going to end--after all, the students graduate at some point, the teachers have to endure it much longer.

District Teacher

The students are the future but what future do we create by this? : 5/28/2009

This is a scenario playing out across the country. I use to live in SB and find it a deplorable situation that this district that I graduated perpetuates and allows for such ignorance. I live in a community much like it now. There are caps to the special ed and I am told no. I disagree because it never varies between 10 and 12% which means students are not being appropriately identified or those that are are exited too early. If a student is eligible in part because some standardized score falls below 25%ile then everyone should find it unconcionable to allow exiting the student when the reach a 35%ile when the average student is performing in the 85%ile. Special ed knows what I am talking about and I know all too well that it's about lack of appropriate time spent providing what the students need, research based programs and it doesn't end there. Anyone can show they provide it but when it comes to the amount of time a student is provided in the resource room or the placement, the program is not provided with fidelity which the research has shown and proven to be effective at remediating the situation. That is a travesty as well. Then there is the teacher's union that will stand behind any teacher who will lie about a student's progress just to get them out of Special Ed. It's a racket and a deep moneyed one that falls on the union heads who have just as much a responsibility to allow the teachers to be truthful and not cover up what they have been told to half**s. As for the writing program in the previous post, it is a nice one but don't think by just providing this will help a student with dyslexia. Special ed is not a one size fits all program and an online essay organizer does not teach a student the organization of thought, execution of what was learned, or formulating thoughts. It does not take into consideration if the student's issues stem from a language pragmatics or an inability to perform appropriate mechanical strategies. We should start with making those persons executing Special ed decisions personally liable, and that includes the board of education. Then they all, the BOE, directors, teachers and paraprofessionals will start providing appropriate services and insist on providing a level mandated by law instead of allowing my taxpayer money to fight a poor family who is just trying to educate their child because the district failed. It is no easy task for a parent to do this but we should rise up and tell the district to put the money into hiring highly qualified and credentialed persons then allowing them to actually do their job. Then maybe the district would stop spending my money to fight and use the money to round out any encroachments they lie about being program based but are really due to high legal fees to lie and allow them to continue failing students and not do the job they were hired for.

Another person tired of the school bureauracy

Who pays for all of this? : 5/28/2009

The federal government has created many mandates without making provision to pay for them and without holding individual citizens accountable. In Santa Barbara, this lack of funding is exacerbated by a parent body that is more entitled than most and the fact that a few litigious souls have used this complicated and sad situation to drain the coffers even more through lawsuits. These parents aren't heroes, Cheri - they're looking out for themselves at the expense of other students and parents. This isn't to say the issue of special ed. in Santa Barbara doesn't need to be addressed - it doe s- but I suggest those who care should run for School Board and actively seek to help the process instead of jsut ranting about it ... again ...

RAC

Help My Child, Please : 5/28/2009

My child legally qualified for special education services during this, his first year in kindergarten. Well, kindergarten is over next week and absolutely nothing was accomplished. Instead of being a parent volunteer in the classroom as I wished to spend my time, I spent my time fighting for basic rights for my child, all to no avail. Shame on the teachers and the principals who did such great jobs at being the barriers to service. This year was the most shocking, disheartening, tragic year. My child suffered, and so did I. I am fearful of starting first grade, as I don't have confidence that my child's needs will be addressed then, either.

Disheartened Parent

Special Ed in SB : 5/28/2009

Cheri, This a great article and highlights a serious issue that few realize exists. Being a part a network of special ed parents I have seen well run special ed programs in districts with comparable or even less funding. RAC, if your primary concern is financial, I would like to point out that effective special ed programs actually save money as these students realize greater independence through out their life. It is easy to suggest that special ed parents run for the school board. However, raising a special needs child can be a daunting task with little time, energy and resources left to pursue public office. And it should not be necessary to run for public office for your child to receive an appropriate education. Special ed parents are my heroes. The vast majority face tremendous challenges with grace and dignity. And they are fighting for the future of their children as well as the ones to come after them.

PJG

School Board: Face the Facts : 5/29/2009

The Special Ed problem is emblematic of a larger issue: the incompetence of district leadership. Dr. J. Brian Sarvis must be held accountable for the issues so aptly and correctly stated in Cheri Rae's column. How can the leader of the district remain in his position in light of these embarrassing facts. And if the special ed debacle was not enough to call for Dr. Sarvis' resignation/termination, what about the rest of his administrative cronies? Michael Gonzalez, fired from La Cumbre how many years ago? Kicked upstairs in order for him to do as little harm to students as possible. How much longer is Mr. Gonzalez going to draw a six figure salary for doing nothing? Then there's Robin Sawaske. Talk about the Peter Principle. She makes her predesesor, Jan Zetel, look like Einstein. Are we living in such a bizzaro world that a barely-functioning elementary administrator can pretend to lead the secondary district? She is a waste of a title. When is the school board going to face these facts? The teachers know all about these three and mock these charlatans openly. Cut them loose! Get some competent people in to replace them and stop the embarrassment and suffering. (There is one good person in the district office--Eric Smith. Thank god for him. Dr. Sarvis deserves credit for hiring him--but not enough to stop the door hitting him in the rear on the way out.)

Inmate in the Asylum

San Marcos is doing an amazing job : 5/29/2009

I think one of the first things you need to do as a parent of a child that has special needs is to get information. Know what your rights are, what your child's rights are and make sure you get them. Ask questions, seek advice and don't stop until your child gets what he/she needs. After all that I have to say that it seems that the individual schools WANT to help. San Marcos has been wonderful. My daughter has had so much support and care and guidance, I can't say enough good things about their special ed program. Thank you San Marcos!

Special Ed Report : 5/29/2009

I am a parent of young man with developmental disabilities who went through the local special ed school system. In general, we were quite pleased with his education and, especially, the quality of the teachers. While there may be room for improvement and even serious problems, I found this article very biased. It is presented as a news article, but it provides only the opinions of the writer. Where are the reactions from the people who are being criticized in the report and by the reporter? This issue deserves an objective review, not a one-sided diatribe.

Doug

So much to think about : 5/29/2009

There is definitely a black hole in the policies, procedures, philosophies and accountability in special education in Santa Barbara. There is a lack of definition of roles and responsibilties for teachers and classified staff, there is a grab bag approach to curriculum that is often not implemented with fidelity. There are most certainly teachers who care, classrooms that work, even campus wide programs that have merit but the struggle occurs when these things must be communicated in a legal document with team members having all degrees of understanding of the process and the language. Many students are served well. Many fall through the cracks. One glaring hole in the districts spectrum of service provision is appropriate policies on educating students on the autism spectrum. Another area of need is adequate training in remediation of mild learning disabilities when coupled with significant English as a second language difficulties. When teachers cannot speak the language of the family they are disempowered to empower the family. You might be surprised how correct this article is, how unbiased it is, how informed it is and most of the subsequent posts as well. There are actually many sides to every story. And each one is viewed through the lens of personal experience. One frustration is that very few people are ready to be present and show up and represent their interests and listen to others. THis is true of teaches, administrators and parents. But again, this is not always the case. I do agree, we need to participate openly in this process. I applaud anyone willing to make their thoughts known.

The Owl

$$$ : 5/29/2009

Any truth to the rumor that Special Education uses up half or more of the total education budget in California? Just Curious.

Retired Teacher

No truth to the rumor : 5/29/2009

Retired Teacher asks the snidely slanderous question whether special education uses up half or more of the total education budget in California. Let me put it this way, Retired Teacher: no. Not even close to half. I feel sorry for your former students; you probably ruined quite a few lives with your combination of viciousness and stupidity. Have a nice retirement, dear.

Anonymous

Thank you for bringing attention to this issue : 5/29/2009

As a parent of a disabled child, I am here to testify that this article is only a mild reflection of the reality out there. There is a consistant effort made by school management to weed out the very teachers who do put the program and children first. They do not want witnesses to the inadequacy of their programs and management skills. Parents have to organize and hold schools accountable or the erosion of the rights of those who cannot speak for themselves continues. Parents of the disabled are already exhausted from the daily care for their children. This town needs to organize and take on this horrendous bureaucracy and monopoly among those who dare to call themselves our educators. 'Those who stand for nothing, will fall for anything'

Maria Kaestner

: 5/29/2009

With regards to the post above RAC "These parents aren't heroes, Cheri - they're looking out for themselves at the expense of other students and parents. " This is a typical psychological 'divide and conquer technique' used by those who have ill understanding of the statuatory rights of those who cannot fend for themselves. Dare to put your name on such an accusation. You cannot possibly have a child with a disability to even grasp the horrendous injustice done to our most vulnerable population. Congress came out with a report this month on the abuse in the public school ystem with regards to the disabled. May I suggest you do your homework first! Maria Kaestner

Cherie Rae speaks for MANY : 5/30/2009

Thank you Cherie for bring up something that I think needs public awareness and discussion. People are bring up interesting issues and I want to speak briefly as I have little time. To those out there who have had a positive experience I am happy for you. Maybe you were lucky enough to get Montecito Union or Kinko 's Early Learning Center. To me Cherie article hits home. I keep my son's autism diagnosis extremely private. I do not want it to be all he is defined by. I do not know if he will become Bill Gates or Rainman. I am sorry for those who resent his rights to a free appropriate education. I am not trying to be entitled. I am my child's primary advocate. Soon it may touch your life too. The numbers are going up. Resources can be used effectively with an entirely different model. To start early collaborative and positive relationships with parents builds good outcomes. My son's IEP's were an empty exercise with foregone conclusions rather than a collaboration by parent's, teacher's, and speech therapists. It was a cookie cutter formula for all. The SBCEO did not offer inclusion which means that my son would be with other typically developing peers as promised and required. Appropriate peer role modeling was missing. My son was picking up negative behavior and his peers had less language than he and would not answer his questions. There was not ONE typical boy in his preschool and more severe ASD boys joined. When asked about this the director would repeatedly obfuscate the matter. Teachers mirrored the director, their employer. They described the special day class as a rich environment. My son regressed there. Appropriate early intervention is key and cost effective. I know my son's rights have been violated in several ways by the district . I do not intend to sue or spend my time with lawyers when my son needs me now. I will use my time and energy to keep him in a full inclusion private school where he learns from his peers every day and has a great student / teacher ratio at a place with a heart. Meaningful change would come if everyone was able to be heard. I would like to see a new position include someone like Joan Esposito head of Dyslexia Awareness Resource Center. She is an empathetic, informed, advocate for students with disabilities. Cherie, I truly appreciate your well written and courageous article . SB parent

Education in SB : 6/1/2009

Thank you Cheri for your article. I am thankful someone with a voice is speaking out. Having lived through the process, or should I say pushed our way through, I am one of those cases to which you write. And I must say, our lawsuit was an absolute last resort on our part. The district stonewalled all of our efforts to get our son an education. Hey RAC, we were not looking out for ourselves. We were literally forced to file against the district. We knew it was a waste of resources. We knew that a lawsuit would take away from some other service. A point we asked the district to consider before we filed...yet, they would not. Furthermore, we gained nothing except that which the district is legally obligated and agreed to provide-an education for our son. The FCMAT report points out many glaring weaknesses at the SB School District and the report covered only the Spec Ed department. The is the frightening thought. How many FCMAT type reports need to be bought and paid for before everyone realizes the problem is a lack of leadership. Dr Sarvis is woefully unqualified to lead this a school district .Go to a board meeting and witness for yourself. It is time for Dr Sarvis to resign.

Surprise of the century : 6/2/2009

Don't worry, there won't be an education system in the next 10 years, just a bunch of mules bringing in goods on their backs from China

Realist

Check out the newly hired Jacob Jensen : 7/1/2009

http://www.thedesertinde.com/Wheres%20Jacob_0628.html

The vote was 5-0? Oh, no here we go again