Contact
Subscribe
Aug 2006 Issue
by Laurie Richardson, Educational Advocate
“My son gets special education support for reading and math and he is making progress, but he doesn’t have friends. He is often sent to the dean’s office for bad behaviors and they have warned me if he has one more dean’s referral they will send him to behavior school.”
“My daughter is constantly told she is not trying hard enough.
The teachers tell her she is smart, but that she doesn’t seem to care.”
“My daughter is 11 years old and seems to be very smart. She tells me she gets bored in class. What can I do to insure that she is being challenged?”
“When I call my school and leave a message, no one ever calls me back.”
Advocating for your child’s needs can be intimidating to the very best parent. Learning who to call and what to say can often remedy the situation quickly. Whether your child attends public school or private school it is important to feel comfortable advocating.
Remember the old cliché, “It’s not what you say, but, how you say it?” That is still partly true. We need to keep our communication with the school staff as positive as possible. We need to remember our focus is on the child’s needs, not about our adult frustrations with the school district. However, knowledge is powerful. As you learn what federal and state laws provide for children, as well as the school district’s policies and procedures it will help you feel confident as you advocate for your child.
Federal and state laws are particularly important for children who have or are suspected to have a disability. Looking on the internet under special education or Section 504 will provide parents answers to many questions. Calling a respected educational advocate can also be helpful. Remember that if your child is already identified with a disability your first call to the school should be to a special educator. If your child attends a private school and has a disability the school district office can direct you to the right contact.
Requesting the school district to evaluate your child for special education services needs to be in writing and addressed to the principal. Include in the request that you are aware of the 45 school day time line for completing an evaluation. If you do not get a call within a few days after delivering your letter, call the principal or district office immediately.
Call your child’s teacher whenever you have a concern. If you do not get a response in a timely manner then call the principal of the school and explain your frustration and allow the principal to correct the issue. If you are still unhappy, go to the school office and request the “Parent Concern Form.”
The Clark County School District welcomes parent concerns and when the parent files a concern on the CCF 660 form the issue will be taken seriously and hopeful resolved within a short period of time. The form requires the parent to state the problem and state a reasonable resolution. The CCF 660 form is in every school office. Mail the form to the district office. Outside the CCSD, calling the district office and requesting to speak to an administrator should also facilitate a resolution.
Parents who stay focused on the problem and keep their emotions stable generally have success. However, if you find yourself losing your temper, your heart begins to race or your concerns are not validated, calmly explain that you are not happy with the tone of the meeting. Suggest that another meeting be scheduled and request an administrator from the district attend.
Respectively moving up the educational totem pole is an effective technique. Staying as calm as possible yet honestly expressing your opinions will promote credibility. Be willing to compromise as much as possible by being fair. Shake hands at the conclusion of the meeting to indicate a willingness to work together, even if a resolution has not yet occurred.
If you are successful advocating for your child, make sure you send a letter to the school and also send a copy to the district thanking them for their willingness to address your concerns. This will help to build a stronger parent and teacher relationship. Most importantly your child will benefit as he feels a peace between his parents and his school.
Laurie Richardson is an educational advocate with Clark County Legal Services. She is also the 2006 Nevada Mother of the Year, and was chosen from a national pool of women as the 2006 National Mother of the Year by American Mothers, Inc. For more information on American Mothers of Nevada, visit AmericanMothersNV.org.
