IEP problems driving me crazy!! !! !!

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My husband and I requested a meeting at the school following a Dev. Pead Appointment, we requested it in writing, only to get a reply from the school that they would hold an IEP meeting - which is fine, but we replied - as long as they allow us time on their agenda to discuss our sons concerns etc.

Before the meeting my husband and I spent the weekend writing notes, reserch etc and we even did a mock IEP form up so it was easier to read, and to answer those repeat questions we have had in the past from the school. We emailed them a copy before the meeting. We felt if we could get the little repeat questions out of the way we could concenrate on the more important ones we had.

We have the meeting, and there was no sign of our email in sight. They ask us the same repeat questions, which I replied "didn't you get our email, we have answered that question already" they acknowledged that they recieved our email and spent 1hr going through it. Anyway to cut a long story short, we had 1/2hr, we were interupted with phone calls, and people interupting through the door and finally half the staff excused themselves from the meeting. So we were rushed, we never got to discuss our concerns.

A couple days later I approched the principle to air my frustration - to which she replied "the reason why my son was so stressed was because he does too much homework, and she also didn't appreciate that on a Friday was picking my sons books up, and looking at how much work he had completed through the week - (I alwsys returned them on the Monday). The prinicpal said "so you want to have another meeting" A second meeting was organised.
Meanwhile a report "The IEP" from the school came home from the first meeting.

The second meeting was held, and we took our sons psychologist, the school listened to our concerns etc and the psychologist even came up with some ideas to help my son in class. A few weeks passed, so I rang the school about getting the amended IEP report sent home to cover the second meeting that took place. After all there were things that were going to be put in place etc.

The schools reply " no" "you are not entitled to the minutes of that meeting and we are not going to send anything in regards the second meeting". The psychologist even tried, and got the same answer. He has suggested to ring the Catholic Education Office, and take it further.

I feel that they haven't acknowleged us at all.

What do you guys think? Any ideas? Or similarities?

Do you live in the states?

In Sydney, Australia

They actually sound a little rude and inconsiderate. I don't know what the law is there so I can provide advice at all. If you lived here, you have many options.

I am so sorry that is happening to you.

Did you say he goes to a private school?

Hmmm, yeah, well I wonder if the IEP process is quite new for a lot of schools, teachers and even us parents(?). The parameters seem quite wide and so it is hard to know (or even find out) what exactly should be going on, or how often.

It was actually your website that gave me the best info about IEPs, along with the link to Smelena's example. That whole idea of using strengths to combat weaknesses is quite powerful once you start thinking in those terms.

Frustrating though, when you do your own thorough research, and then find that others don't play ball. Hope things improve.

Having been through this process myself here in NZ, I can understand your frustration. We never had any problem in getting the IEP's done and all minutes from meetings were sent out within a week of the meeting being held.

If I were you I would contact the Education Office and express your concerns about what has happened. I would also suggest that if you have another meeting, you take your own notes or even take along a recorder and tape the whole meeting, this way you have your own copy of what has happened.

I cant see why the school would not give you a copy of the minutes for the second meeting unless they did not take note of what happened. It sounds like they are not interested in getting the IEP up and running.

Just wondering if you have Education Review Offices over there in Australia??? If you do I would also take this up with them, as this is the sort of thing they would be most interested in.

I wish you best of luck with finding the right help.

i'm truly unfamiliar with ed. laws in Australia.....here in the states, they absolutely have to give you a copy of the minutes from any PPT meeting for your child

I would also suggest that you not sign anything, until your concerns are dealt with.

Ask for a tape recording of the next meeting, so you can do your own notes.

If the answer is no, bring in a lawyer.

Could this have anything to do with what is and isn't required?

Here they are required to have one IEP a year. That's it.

Which would mean that they didn't document the second because they figured it wasn't "the" required meeting?

My son's school has been good about dotting the i's and crossing the t's with every meeting, but the one that is "the" annual has a lot more paperwork and formality to it, simply because of the legal requirements.