what barriers hinder parent attendance at PTA?
347942
Parents being more interested in this week's CSI episode than their child's education.
135671
If your kids are going to the school you're running, I'd suggest you send them to another school. Mind you,this isn't to criticize you or your school, but I've seen too many examples of students cracking under the pressure of the expectations of their teaching parents. The teacher expects way more from his own children than from others. Pressure is very hard to handle for children and defenitely doesn't help them in the learning process.\nGood luck to you.
726222
As a mother of 3(and a day after all 3 of their P-T conferances!!) I absolutely agree with you..\nToo many parents out there coddle their 'poor innocent children' and don't even know the first thing about teaching them responsability and discipline..I really think that it is a major problem right now but will really come back to bite us in a few years when they are 'adults'.\nMy now 10 year old had major problems with late work and 'forgetting assignments last year. The teacher cared enough to call me and both her and I sat down and developed a plan to work this out together..we checked her work leaving school and I checked everything at home. It was time consuming for both of us; I also NEVER blamed the teacher-i made my 10 year old accountable and wanted her to understand that she needed to become responsable. A year later at her 5th grade conferance(last night!) her teacher this year had nothing but good things to say..how she dives into her homework at study time..asks for help and never has late work this year..plus she had almost straight A's..\nI think teachers are wonderful and are one of the most under-paid professions out there..\nUnfortunately some parents take those things as some sort of personnal insult or don't seem to understand that in a few short years their children will need to enter the adult world.\nI hope knowing that a very, involved caring mom(able to admit that my child isn't perfect!)completely agrees with you will help
1171278
First of all, if your child is in special education, she CANNOT be held back. If she is not learning effectively in the general education setting, then she needs additional Resource pull-out. You need to have a new IEP called, her difficulties with academics discussed, and additional instructional supports put in place. If your child is receiving speech, she may need more phonics-intensive reading and writing instruction than what is provided in the regular ed classroom. \n\nHolding a child back in elementary school, who is not receiving special services, is an effort to avoid putting the child in special education. Sometimes a repetition, especially of kindergarten or first grade, allows a child with a mild developmental delay to "find his/her academic feet" and be able to perform effectively at general education instructional styles and pacing.\n\nHowever, No Child Left Behind limits the number of children that can be held back in any given year, so many students aren't held back when they should be, and end up in special education for "Developmental Delay" or even "Specific Learning Disability"  when a simple retention would have kept them out of special ed.\n\nSpeech-Language Impairment is not a matter of developmental delay, however. No, retention will not help your child.\n\nAn IEP is supposed to be designed so that a child is accessing learning effectively, at his/her potential. A child with an IEP should be making appropriate gains each year compared to him/herself, and it is the IEP that needs to be revised if failure is happening. And yes, a "speech-only" student categorized as Speech-Language Impaired CAN be given Resource room academic instruction, if his/her learning needs warrant it.\n\nYou need to have a new IEP meeting, and increase your child's time in special education services, if her academics are that shaky right now.
653696
DON'T WAIT UNTIL HE STARTS SCHOOL!\n\nEarly intervention is key in cases of Autism Spectrum Disorders and Nonverbal Learning Disorder, and delayed speech.\n\nPlease ask her to take the following steps immediately:\n\nFind a pediatrician that specializes in children with developmental disabilities.\n\nContact the school system for a complete evaluation (this is free, and could have been before the child trained 3!).\n\nThe school system will choose a team of professionals to evaluate the child, including, but not limited to a speech therapist, an occupational therapist, a physical therapist, a school adjustment counselor, a school psychologist, a teacher and an expert in special education.  His parents  will be part of the team, and they may bring any experts they so choose to the team meetings.\n\nThe child's new pediatrician will submit a recommendation for the services the child needs.  The child may require an independent evaluation by additional specialists (pediatric neurologist, etc. to develop a treatment plan.\n\nMake sure that the team adopts the recommendations of his pediatrician and specialists in their entirety; appeal the team's decision, if necessary.\n\nThe team will develop an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) that specifies the services to be provided and the frequency of the provision, as well as the modifications that will be made to "regular" education to accommodate him.\n\nHis parents have the right to accept or reject the IEP, in whole or in part, and appeal same, in whole or in part.  If they choose to appeal and another, independent evaluation is required, the school must pay for the evaluation.\n\nThe school system is required BY LAW to provide early intervention services beginning at age 3, so he will probably begin in a special program, immediately.\n\nThis is a very complex subject not easily dealt with in this forum, however the above is a start.  DON'T WAIT!
432264
I am a teacher and can definately answer this one!!!!!!!Children who do not have parental support in the home usually suffer at school.  They are usually the ones who act up...not only because they are undisciplined, but also because they do not have the support system at home to make sure that they are doing their homework.  They fall behind and end up misbehaving because they do not understand the material.  As they fall further and further behind, their behavior gets wors, as well as does their self-esteem.  I work at an inner city school.  The teachers work very hard to give the students as much indivual help as possible.  We want to see all kids succeed! We also want them to understand that they must learn to deal with the baggage that life has given them and overcome that to be the best they can be to reach the goals they want to accomplish.  The best deal is for schools, parents, and communities to work together to help ALL children succeed.
938676
Both the teacher and the OT are at fault.  The teacher should know the schedule for your step daughter, and the OT should come down and get her, if she has not been sent down at the correct time.  If it was a one, maybe two time thing I could understand, but ALL YEAR?  That is just wrong and something needs to be done!  IEP's MUST be followed by LAW!  There should be a director of special services or special eduacation for your school district.  I would go straight to them to avoid the run around.  I hope things work out for you and your step daughter.
716073
state your reasoning's for being late....be sincere. Now is not the time to sugar coat the subject...\nGive the child motivational things to help in the "rush" of getting ready on time.\nExpress to the teacher that you understand that so many tardies = out to an absent and that your willing to do a Saturday or after school training time if your school permits....\nThis will show the teacher that even though you were late you do take there class seriously..\nGood luck
996666
I would seek help from your administration. Perhaps a meeting with your administrator is needed. Usually, students follow their parents lead. \n\nMost importantly, don't take it personally. One bad apple shouldn't make you get down on yourself. You are so valuable to our children's future so please don't let it get you down.
994689
my school has 3 tardies equals one absence, and 7 absences gives you an automatic F in the course, no matter what. you can file appeals but they don't go through often. it's a terrible system, and people with passing grades can get screwed if they're late a lot and get a lot of tardies.\n\nif a student doesn't want to go to school, a strict attendance policy isn't going to motivate him.
1083544
Parents are the central participant in their child's education. This is, of course, because parents are the ones who are primarily responsible for all aspects of their child's upbringing.\n\nThey have right of refusal for pre-service testing, services, and/or program placement. If the school disagrees with them strongly enough, Due Process must be followed.\n\nThey have the right to request that their child be tested for placement, additional testing (including an independent "second opinion" by a tester of the parent's choice, paid for by the school), and additional IEP meetings, whenever they like (although there should be at least one year between testings to avoid having the child "learn the test").\n\nThey have the right to full explanation of all information pertaining to their child, including every element in their child's IEP and classrooms.\n\nThey have the right to Due Process (mediation, and if that fails, court hearings) if they disagree strongly enough with the school's decisions.\n\nHere's a site that covers almost EVERYTHING. Very Excellent!\n\nhttp://www.wrightslaw.com/
143901
The principal is responsible for seeing that his or her students arrive and depart in a safe manner. If they can not be out there they are to arrange for other teachers or perhaps the assistant principal to watch the parking lot. Saftey of their students should be your principals number one priority. If you are uncomfortable I would talk to either an AP or the principal.
348708
yes it is a bad idea but what would be the solution ? have you tried getting involve in the school and to offer reasonable solutions ? if nothing works and you are concerned enough then wait to take your child to school just in-time for class or have someone else do it for you. you could also try another school. lol.
537037
People getting AIP in PE/Sports generally have a physical disability that interferes with regular PE class participation. Parents also will have documented something they are doing at home (exercise activiites, karate class, or whatever) to provide their child with physical health activities. Or, the student is receiving regular, intensive Physical Therapy.\n\nInstead of taking PE, a student on AIP either takes an additional elective, a study hall, or (as noted above) participates in a club meeting at the same time.
872580
My heart goes out to you and, I must say I am surprised by the lack of support you got from the school. I certainly wouldn't let this matter drop - ask for another appointment with the Head and tell them your grave concerns; then, if nothing happens, contact the Local Authority and speak to the Attendance Officer.\n(All these unauthorised absences are not going to cast a very favourable light on the school!)\nFinally please don't give up on the idea of custordy - speak to Social Services (it would help if you had an accurate log of absences and lateness - this the school is obliged to give you) to see if they can support your claim for this child.\nGood luck.
284286
I agree with doing away with compulsory attendance laws, but with limitations. I disagree with some states (like Florida) who suspend a kid's driver's license if they are under 18 and drop out. If a kid doesn't want to go to school, let them stay home ! They're just a distraction for those kids who do want to learn.\n\nAs for the limitations I mentioned above, I think the danger is that parents will simply say they are homeschooling their kids and really, having them working on some money-making venture.\n\nI am all for parents educating a kid in whatever manner they please- as long as they are trying to get them an education.
861070
I have been an advocate for my brother for the past 35 years and have taught and worked with families with special needs kids and have a child of my own with special needs.  I live in PA so I don't have specific contact info for your state, but here are a few ideas:\n\nGet your facts together and practice having a calm and patient attitude with the people you contact - this will go a long way to getting what your child needs.  \n\nAs your child's best advocate, you need to have all the info about the child's diagnosis, and specific current needs that you & all the people working with the child have discovered.  Take notes, ask for info in writing, and be able to summarize the most important info for new people you contact.\n\nYour first resource level is the people who work directly with your child -- ask them for their ideas about what services your daughter needs most & how to get these services.  Could the therapists work with your daughter during the period before or after the 1/2 day kindergarten so she does not miss classroom time?  Schools are ususally good at accomodating therapists and should have some office space set aside for this.\n\nThe next level is the special education coordinators from your school & district.   If the IEP calls for programs they cannot provide directly in your local school, they can pay for your child to get these services at another school or district.  (you may have to weigh the impact of a longer bus ride on the child).\n\nIf the district cannot answer your questions, you need to find out about resources at the county level - the county office of your state's department of education.  \nTalk to your State Representative - they usually have district offices, and their staff helps constituents (voters like you) solve problems with state government offices.\n\nDoes your school district have an organization of special needs parents?  Meet with these parents, especially the ones who have older kids and have been through all this, they are really good at helping you advocate in an effective way while keeping on positive terms with your shcool staff.\n\nIf several other parents are facing similar difficulties and have not been satisfied, you may have more of an impact if you approach the school administration together and calmly but firmly discuss alternatives to legal action.  Letter writing and showing you are serious and united in your concerns may get things moving.  \n\nRemember not to get negative or confuse issues like ESL classes (not all Spanish speakers are illegal),  The more prepared and calm you are -- the more you will be taken seriously.  Over the years I have seen so many parents successfully guide their special needs kids and I have seen so many improvements and accomplishment  -- all the meetings and appointmnets and seminars and time spent with special kids really is worth it!  God bless you & yours with plenty of love & patience.