For context, I’ve been paying the next county over for my daughter (neurotypical) to go to school in that district since she has first started school.
This year I paid the same $500 fee x2 since my son (autistic) will be going to kindergarten. The school board accepted both children and my $1000 total. I also told them ahead of time he is autistic and already has an IEP, so yes they knew.
I went to the school not two weeks ago for my daughter to take a gifted test. What was supposed to be a great day for her passing her test and starting gifted this year was overshadowed by the principal and the woman who gave the gifted test (she works with gifted and special ed) when they found out my son is autistic.
I was asked if the school board knew about the autism, and if they had approved my son to which I said yes. They took me and my children into the principals office where she (principal) told me they would have absolutely no room for him in the “autistic classroom” and that he would have to go into a regular classroom and MAYBE get speech once a week. She also said if he was to have an accident or need to be reminded to go to the bathroom, or cannot wipe himself, he will be kicked out of their school. He is potty trained, he just needs a little bit of help. And I have him wear pull-ups in public places just in case he does have an accident.
I broke down a little in the office because hearing that was like a punch to the gut. They knew for years my daughter had a special needs brother who would be attending. We are hopefully moving to the school district this year, they knew that as well. After asking if that was it, if there was absolutely nothing else I could do for him to be able to just get the education and help he needs, the principal told me her hands were tied. She made a comment like “ we would love to keep (daughter) she is gifted! But maybe you should think about sending him to (county I live in) or homeschool.” I explained, for the millionth time, my husband and I both work in their county and it would be impossible for either of those options. She said they would have to take him if we lived in the county, but I can’t in just two weeks.
I just wished they would have informed me before when it came up over the years, but after doing my own mediocre research, I found that in Mississippi by law, they have to meet his needs since the school board accepted him and my money already. So, if anyone knows if that is right or not, please comment. I understand we are out of county and classrooms are full, but they already accepted him, and I just don’t know what else to do at such short notice for him to start school.
What do I do?! I’m a desperate mother just trying to get my son into school. The schools here in the south are mostly segregated (white=private, poc=public) in most counties, but not theirs. That is one reason I like for my kids to go there. The other of course is because my husband and I both work in that county.
Location: Mississippi
Edit: forgot to mention I DID speak with the Special Education coordinator, and she is basically saying the same as the principal. She won’t give me a straight answer on anything and the last time I spoke to her on Thursday, she told me she would call the superintendent and get back to me. I will be calling her on Monday.
Oh and the principal told me she was going to tell the school board office to hold my money. Like they are trying to go back on the decision maybe?
Comments
What does the IEP provide for?
Ask for an IEP meeting (they need to have one regardless to adapt the IEP). That will get you a straight answer about what services and accommodations they’re planning to provide for him, and you’ll get to talk to people who likely know this area, and the laws, better than the administrators do.
They may just be trying to explain that they can’t implement his current IEP as-written, which is common when students move between districts. That doesn’t mean that he wouldn’t get services, just that they might be different from what is on his current IEP.
I don’t know how much money you make (they can usually fudge the numbers a bit), or what the situation where you live is, but when I interned at Legal Aid, they did so much IEP enforcement that they pretty much had an attorney doing it full time. Might be worth a shot giving them a call.