OT -- thought ya might get a giggle
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| Thu, 04-05-2007 - 8:42am |
background: we've been trying to get the SD to test Martha (7, 2nd grade) for LDs since early 1st grade. At first they denied that she was behind, then they spent a whole year doing little interventions here and there. Finally, I insisted. Martha has a wonderful teacher this year who has backed me up 100%. She has been very good w/ Martha as well, pulling her way up in math but not having any luck at all w/ reading and writing.
I got a phone call yesterday from the Assistant Principal at the elementary school. First, he starts off by saying "Noone is hurt or in trouble or anything else. I just needed to call and clarify several things from our SAT (student assistance team) meeting last week." He continues to bend over backwards to cover his and the other administrators butts. He "ma'am"ed me and re-explained himself SEVERAL times.
The administration didn't have all Martha's paper work with them at the meeting last Thursday. I did. They were reading her CogAT scores as 91, 89 and 87 as raw data scores instead of percentiles. They were indeed the percentile scores which makes her raw data scores more like 121, 118 and 117 w/ a combined IQ score of 119.(it's a generalized test given to a whole classroom at a time but still a good indicator of where she'll score) She is in 2nd grade more than 1/2 the way through school and in reading she's scoring at a end 1st grade or beginning 2nd grade level. They were hedging on testing her because they said, "well, if her IQ scores are that low (87-91) and she's at that level of achievement then there really isn't anything we can do. I tried to argue that they weren't reading those scores right, but they didn't have the actual report in front of them... and the psychologist kept saying, "we can't expect more from your daughter."
I saw the psychologist the next day at school and she pulled me aside and apologized up and down. And even said, "You were right. We should have had all our paper work with us, because we were looking at those numbers wrong. We gave you the wrong information."
Anyway, she's being tested. They all agree, I was right from the start. (I love being right!) We're also having her tested privately specifically for dyslexia so that we can get specific educational recomendations-- then, I can push for an Orton-Gillingham curriculum and a smaller resource class.
so... ya think they're afraid I'll call them on something and report to state board of Ed, if they screw up??? I think they might just be afraid of me. :-)
Betsy

Hee hee. You go girl!!! I have been there explaining data to professioals...scary isn't how much we educate ourselves for our children and the pros don't get it
Dee
Betsy,
WTG for sticking to your guns and not backing down in the face of extreme stupidity. (I feel like we should have a special award for this).
At least they admitted they were wrong and are trying to correct the problem. Milk that for all it is worth!
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