dd's school....sigh.

[mdw2006]

Seriously, I am so done with this school, I just don't understand what the heck their problem is.

 

My daughter has been thru hell this past, year, I have been thru hell, mind you I do take blame that I went thru a depressed state and wasn't being the best parent I could be regarding school work and such.

 

She has missed quite a bit of school this semester, dh calls in to excuse her, she has been sick (we finally found out what was making her sick if an xray was done 3 months ago she would have been fine sooner)

 

anyway she is on a 504 plan which gives her more time to do make up work etc and explains why she has been having the problems she has her depression and anger etc.

 

I go to pick her up today to have a follow up with her doctor and they say I need to come in next week to do a 504 plan,I say we already did that in January, I guess they need to do it again.

 

I check my email and see an email from both the vp and counselor saying due to dd missing so many days that she will not get credit for this semester (even if she passes all her classes and mind you she has all her missed work caught up and turned in) so if she gets all A's they won't give her credit because she missed to much school.

 

NOW if it was skipping and being truant etc sure I understand but that is not the case.

 

Oh and they are making her due that (they call it sulk lunch)it is where they are isolated and have to eat the pbj sandwiches and they are making her do this because she was behind on work and she did (DID) have two F's but now she has everything turned in (she is according to the 504 plan have two weeks extra to get that work in) I know of at least 4 kids failing classes none of them are in this sulk lunch.

 

So I am not happy, dd is finally FINALLY where she is liking being back at school and being around her friends, now they say she has to go to an alternative school or not get credit, taking her away from her friends is not a good idea either, they do their homework together etc.

 

I don't know what to do, luckily they haven't said anything to her about, you won't get any credits this year due to missing so much school because then I know dd will just say "I give up"

 

I am going to the higher ups on this, of course last time I did they said they don't control what goes on at the school it is up to the Principal an VP for that school what is to be done, which doesn't sound right.

Edited March 23, 2012 by mdw2006

[Tigz]

OK, who has set up the 504 plan?

 

You need the absences documented and needs to be placed within the plan.

 

I don't know much about it, but here is one website

http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/sec504.index.htm

 

From THAT page, I found this link:

http://www.wrightslaw.com/heath/sec504.asthma.truant.htm It has more to do with asthma, but I think the info there might help you.

 

As for her appointments, is there any way that they can be made after school? And had the school already notified you that she was about to miss too many days.

 

I am figuring that the school is between a rock and a hard place because absenteeism guidelines are pretty specific and usually come from the state.

[sirrowan]

OK, who has set up the 504 plan?

 

You need the absences documented and needs to be placed within the plan.

 

I don't know much about it, but here is one website

http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/sec504.index.htm

 

From THAT page, I found this link:

http://www.wrightslaw.com/heath/sec504.asthma.truant.htm It has more to do with asthma, but I think the info there might help you.

 

As for her appointments, is there any way that they can be made after school? And had the school already notified you that she was about to miss too many days.

 

I am figuring that the school is between a rock and a hard place because absenteeism guidelines are pretty specific and usually come from the state.

You could have an attorney write some letters to them.

 

Oh and I just wanted to say that this just sucks! Especially if she is passing everything.

[beli]

OK, who has set up the 504 plan?

 

You need the absences documented and needs to be placed within the plan.

 

I don't know much about it, but here is one website

http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/sec504.index.htm

 

From THAT page, I found this link:

http://www.wrightslaw.com/heath/sec504.asthma.truant.htm It has more to do with asthma, but I think the info there might help you.

 

As for her appointments, is there any way that they can be made after school? And had the school already notified you that she was about to miss too many days.

 

I am figuring that the school is between a rock and a hard place because absenteeism guidelines are pretty specific and usually come from the state.

You could have an attorney write some letters to them.

 

Oh and I just wanted to say that this just sucks! Especially if she is passing everything.

What would the attorney do in this case? Especially since as Tigz mentioned that there are specific guidelines set up for absenteeism regardless of excused or unexcused.

[Tigz]

Well, a lawyer that specializes in ADA and all the various disability laws will be a lot of help.

 

I am not very knowledgeable about 504 plans (just what I have read). I do know a little more about Special Ed and IEPs.

I remember that I, myself, was out of school for an entire 9 weeks period in the 9th grade, over half of that in the hospital, the school set up some sort of phone in link, and I was put into a "homebound" school where I had assignments sent to me and I had a phone link for class.

 

That was in the dark ages, so I am presuming that they have a better set up (and better laws) now.

 

The big problem is the absenteeism. Most school systems are sticklers on it. And she still has another 9 weeks of school to go. From what I have read so far, her absenteeism needs to be addressed in her 504 plan. Although I am not sure who writes up the 504 plan....if it is done on the school level or by specialists through the school board.

 

Truthfully, I wish there was a way that she could go to summer school to make up the missed days. (not have to go all the way through summer school, just the number of days that she missed throughout the school year) But I doubt any school system has that sort of setup.

[angeleyeskkhr]

Put your foot down. When my brother had to have knee surgery, the doc was gonna let him go back to school ONLY if they provided an extra chair for him to prop up his leg in EVERY class. They refused so he was out an additional two weeks. They tried to fail him due to absenteeism alone. My mom threw a fit of epic proportions and he was passed.

[Labyrinthine]

I'll say it...you need to quit being polite and go into that school and throw a fit. If that doesn't work, head on up the ladder and keep throwing fits until they quit screwing with your kid.

 

I am never one to say it is ok to miss a lot of school without repercussions. But your family has been through hell and back and your dd was deeply emotionally impacted and this school has been %*#@ in dealing with that. They have literally done everything they possibly could do wrong.

 

Hell I am so worked up if I knew which district it was, I would be calling them just to complain.

 

Go beat some azzes, mdw.

[sirrowan]

OK, who has set up the 504 plan?

 

You need the absences documented and needs to be placed within the plan.

 

I don't know much about it, but here is one website

http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/sec504.index.htm

 

From THAT page, I found this link:

http://www.wrightslaw.com/heath/sec504.asthma.truant.htm It has more to do with asthma, but I think the info there might help you.

 

As for her appointments, is there any way that they can be made after school? And had the school already notified you that she was about to miss too many days.

 

I am figuring that the school is between a rock and a hard place because absenteeism guidelines are pretty specific and usually come from the state.

You could have an attorney write some letters to them.

 

Oh and I just wanted to say that this just sucks! Especially if she is passing everything.

What would the attorney do in this case? Especially since as Tigz mentioned that there are specific guidelines set up for absenteeism regardless of excused or unexcused.

To make sure they do their jobs. And they aren't putting any opinions in the mix. Like I *think* we shouldn't give her credit or some such. And the ishtty treatment of her daughter......

Edited March 24, 2012 by sirrowan

[sirrowan]

Put your foot down. When my brother had to have knee surgery, the doc was gonna let him go back to school ONLY if they provided an extra chair for him to prop up his leg in EVERY class. They refused so he was out an additional two weeks. They tried to fail him due to absenteeism alone. My mom threw a fit of epic proportions and he was passed.

How petty can admin be to not provide a simple chair to accomadate a temporary disability. It's dumb isht like that that makes schools look bad.

[angeleyeskkhr]

He was in 7th grade and they refused to provide a chair in every class or have someone follow him wit a chair (every class was different rooms like high school). They were being lazy, cheap bastards.

[sirrowan]

He was in 7th grade and they refused to provide a chair in every class or have someone follow him wit a chair (every class was different rooms like high school). They were being lazy, cheap bastards.

Yep!

[baby duck]

I am more displeased with this school district with each post. I tried to look up the attendance laws for your state, but they appear to leave attendance issues up to the school districts. If I'm correct about which school district your daughter is in, they don't have a handbook for the high school posted online that I could find. They did have one for the elementary schools posted, and they state:

 

X # of absences will trigger a letter home

 

X+4 # would trigger a call from a "designated staff member" and the handbook states that this person would have to speak to you personally

 

X+6 # should have led to a request for conference (which may be the stage you are at if they are following the same guidelines in the secondary schools).

 

X+ 14 # absences would lead to the student being considered for retention.

 

 

 

Our high school here has rules that are a bit more stringent and the guidelines for making up missed time in the classroom are clearly established. So, some things that I would look at if I were you:

 

Do you have a copy of her schools handbook?

Is there a clear attendance policy for the school?

Have they followed the steps that were outlined there? (And what step are you on?)

 

 

If they haven't followed the criteria they've established, this gives you another reason to rant and rave. And if DD has made up her work and is currently passing all her classes, you need to be doing some ranting about how moving her now would be detrimental, they *can* use their discretion to overlook her absences since she is currently passing and there were good reasons for her absence and her past poor performance. The alternative school is designed for kids who have dropped out or are in danger of doing so. . . this is not the case for her, in fact moving her would place her in danger of dropping out.