Can the school district deny testing?

[lkohana]

Ok, my daughter's teacher brought some issues to me and we both highly believe my daughter needs to be tested for learning disabilities. I am trying to get a referral from my daughters pediatrician for a specialist to test her for dyslexia. which runs highly in my side of the family.I have a screening with the school district tommorow for them to decide whether or not they will go ahead and evaluate my daughter. The school district said they will not accept anything from a specialist that my daughter would need to be tested through the school district also. I have heard the school district can be a pain. If the school district refuses to test my daughter and she is tested with a specialist and has learning disabilities..how the hell am I suppose to get her the help in school she needs if they don't test her? My daughters teacher said she has a short term memory in class, has no letter and number recognition at all, has difficulty writing big, cannot put the sounds to the letters, she can't even do activities like "circle the object that begins with the letter a" because she doesn't remember the letters, she is starting to withdraw herself, gets very stressed/fustrated thinking she is dumb because she cant remember how to do it and she sees everyone else doing fine. She is far from lazy because she comes home, gets out her work books and tries to do it and gets so emotional because she can't do it. I feel so helpless. Also, is it hard to get referrals through Tricare Prime for a specialist? I have never had to do this before, so any advice will be helpful.

[petsparkle]

I have no idea, but I hope this all works out for you. I would think they would be more inclined to test her if you do have something from the specialist. They still have to do their own screening, but now they've got one specialist who's already said it's necessary.

All the information I have is from UK schools I'm afraid (my sister is a special needs teacher). So I can't be much help on the specifics over here.

[Charynda]

It sounds like your daughter need an IEP, that would be through the schools. I would contact the school district psychologist.

[lkohana]

Originally Posted by Charynda It sounds like your daughter need an IEP, that would be through the schools. I would contact the school district psychologist.

Well, hopefully I will have some luck tommorow with the school district. Thanks ladies

[*~Robyn~*]

How old is she and what grade?? ODS has a lot of the same issues as well. Our understanding is that most schools prefer 2 yrs of failure before they test. , that's how it works here at least. Finally we're begining to get somewhere. If you get your child tested and they are considered developmentally delayed in any area, it'll be rather easy to obtain an IEP. You mention IEP and No Child Left Behind in the same sentence and schools tend to jump. Request an IEP. They have 30 days to comply

[Cat]

I dont understand why they wont test your daughter. Our DS was tested outside the school to see what else was going on with him besides his adhd because of some of the other issues he was having at school. Turns out he has aspergers, but before we could get him an IEP and the school to do their evaluation for special ed services we had to have a diagnosis and now the school is working on that. So if you can find an outside source that takes tricare they should be able to test her and if they find she does have any issues then you can take that official diagnosis to the school and they have to do something. I would think they could get in trouble if you had an official diagnosis from an outside professional and they didnt do anything about it. Its obviously she isnt learning like she should and she would definitely benefit from special services.

Good Luck to you sweetie.

[*~Robyn~*]

Originally Posted by Cat I dont understand why they wont test your daughter. Our DS was tested outside the school to see what else was going on with him besides his adhd because of some of the other issues he was having at school. Turns out he has aspergers, but before we could get him an IEP and the school to do their evaluation for special ed services we had to have a diagnosis and now the school is working on that. So if you can find an outside source that takes tricare they should be able to test her and if they find she does have any issues then you can take that official diagnosis to the school and they have to do something. I would think they could get in trouble if you had an official diagnosis from an outside professional and they didnt do anything about it. Its obviously she isnt learning like she should and she would definitely benefit from special services. Good Luck to you sweetie.

In order to get our foot in the door and get this whole thing rolling (because no one would help really) we have filled out the packet for ADD. I'm still waiting on his teachers paperwork so we can get his appointment. Here's the thing...he doesn't have ADD. Everyone knows that. But!! In order for us to get started and get a referral to a developmental pediatrician, that's the only way I could come up with getting anywhere.

Of course in the meantime, his teacher has said she doesn't think he has ADD but a processing disorder which is what I wanted him tested for to begin with. Now that he's in 2nd (he repeated 1st) grade, performing his writing still way below where he should be (as well as reading), on his "Learning Contract" that we both signed, I requested he be tested for a LD. It was right before Winter Break so it wouldn't happen then and we have year round school so that means a month off but we should be getting started with the school hopefully sometime in the next 2-3 weeks.

I am still going to have him evaluated with a pediatrician and request a referral to a child neurologist because of other issues he is having that I believe may have happened during Labor and Delivery as well as a genetic component. I had hoped that we would get to the Dr before winter holiday was over, but I'll take him out of school if I have to.


OP, go to your school districts website and see what your state policy is on IEP's. I imagine that there is some way to get one.

[*Melissa*]

I am going through the same problem right now. I want my ds who is in 2nd grade tested for learning disablites. The school is giving me a hard time, but I have done some research and you need to write a letter to the school district requesting that your child be tested. I believe 60 business days after recieving that letter they must test your child. I have also asked that my son be given a tutor and they won't do that either. I tried to have him tested privately by a psychologist but tricare won't cover it. So I have to go through the schools system. It has been a very frustrating situation. Let me know if you have any other questions!

[Cat]

Originally Posted by *~Robyn~* In order to get our foot in the door and get this whole thing rolling (because no one would help really) we have filled out the packet for ADD. I'm still waiting on his teachers paperwork so we can get his appointment. Here's the thing...he doesn't have ADD. Everyone knows that. But!! In order for us to get started and get a referral to a developmental pediatrician, that's the only way I could come up with getting anywhere. Of course in the meantime, his teacher has said she doesn't think he has ADD but a processing disorder which is what I wanted him tested for to begin with. Now that he's in 2nd (he repeated 1st) grade, performing his writing still way below where he should be (as well as reading), on his "Learning Contract" that we both signed, I requested he be tested for a LD. It was right before Winter Break so it wouldn't happen then and we have year round school so that means a month off but we should be getting started with the school hopefully sometime in the next 2-3 weeks. I am still going to have him evaluated with a pediatrician and request a referral to a child neurologist because of other issues he is having that I believe may have happened during Labor and Delivery as well as a genetic component. I had hoped that we would get to the Dr before winter holiday was over, but I'll take him out of school if I have to. OP, go to your school districts website and see what your state policy is on IEP's. I imagine that there is some way to get one.

oh sorry I should have specified that my reply was to the OP.

[Aunt Sponge]

Iko - I think it's ignorant of them to claim they will ignore an official test conducted by a Dr. In fact, if they do that they're violating "No child left behind" by failing to assist you in your effort to assist your child.

However, I'veh ad my children tested several times through the school and have been more than disastisfied with how they dealt with things - one school even tried to diagnose my child and put him officially down as ___ without consulting me, first.

So - I suggest that you go through your Dr and insurance to cover the testing and then take that testing and report to the school. If your child has been diagnosed with an official disorder or condition your schoo MUST comply and do what it necessary and give her special classes, an IEP, etc.

If they don't then you do have legal recourse to the issue - your school woudl be wise not to tinker with that.