I am glad that things are going better for you and your child, in spite of the way that it happened!
I want you to know that you do NOT have to wait to get information. Be the squeaky wheel who gets the oil. Call the School Transportation Dept and ask about the bus driver, schedule, etc. If they don't know yet, ask if you can leave your name and info so that they can call you ASAP. "Kill them with kindness" and get to know them. This helped me alot.
As for summer school, call the school where you think it is and ask them. Or go to the school. If it's at another school, go there. Tell the receptionist that you would like to speak to the summer school teacher for your child before school begins. I have never had trouble with this request.
In terms of advocacy, tell your husband that you need to have a few excellent reference books at home at all times. You will be more than reimbursed for your investment. You will be able to quickly look up information and answer your own questions/solve your own problems before having to pay for an advocate for every issue that comes up.
Also, some advocates are free. Finally, find out where the "Parent Resource Center" closest to you is located and go there. This resource is required by law. Ours has a library, pamphlets, phone numbers, seminars, and a resource person to talk to. Ours is wonderful...She really helped me one day when I was frustrated and upset!
Good luck and blessings!
Well, I'm finally getting what I'm wanting, but not because of my persistence. I wrote the letter and sent a copy to 3 separate people, the principal, the special ed. administrator, and the original teacher to do Daniel's evaluation. After nearly a week, I finally heard word on what was going on. Sadly, this word did NOT come from the school. The Birth to 3 speech therapist Daniel had had (now is Stephen's) happened to be at the school and so went to talk to Daniel's teacher. Long story short, she found out what everyone had been dodging me with.
Daniel is definitely getting summer school (though they still haven't amended his IEP despite tomorrow being the last day of the school year). We are supposed to have a PPT meeting August 31st. I had to call the teacher a few days ago to confirm the summer school since nothing had come in the mail a week later.
The PPT meeting is NOT because the doctor recommended it. Or I asked for it.. It's because there's been some redistricting and Daniel will be attending a new school, with a whole new team, and an new teacher. Obviously, this doesn't mean I can't bring up our concerns.
I finally received a written letter from the special ed. administrator today. She told me basically the same thing (except, she told me a different school than his actual teacher did. I figure that she just didn't look it up to see what portion of the district we're under). She also told me that I need to bring a letter from the doctor recommending the services I said he recommended.
I've still got to wait to hear on when summer school even starts, not to mention transportation and how often he'll be going.
The good news is obviously we finally get to voice our concerns. The other good portion is the teacher he's going to be under was the original one I had asked he be placed with. Something about her and the way she laid out her classroom, my husband and I were much more comfortable with. I just hope that once we have the meeting we are heard. I'm trying to find an advocate in the area that we can afford to help us until I can convince my husband I need the advocacy book you all keep recommending.
FINALLY! Got the amendment to Daniel's IEP today for summer school! While I'm upset with the whole IEP is "still appropriate" part, they're increasing him to 4 days a week for summer school. Same time span as this school year.
Only real gripe is that summer school is only for 3 and a half weeks, but I guess that's normal? (His neurologist is telling me it's normal.) and at the end of summer...So he's getting 6 weeks off from school, then going for 3.5, off for 1 wk then back for the full school year.. (Is that normal?)