Can teachers send you to a resource center that is expensive (Like Sylvan) w/o offering lowcost options?

Question

My first grade daughter, who is a twin, is far behind her sibling. So are 9 other students that were in the same Kindergarten class and also made honor roll like my child, that I know of. I have already been told she will FAIL first grade if I don't send her to Sylvan or Reading Resource (another pay per trip resource center). The teacher is pushing me to send her to the doctor for medication. The principal says Sylvan is the answer. I work with my child every afternoon for hours, helping her learn skills she should have mastered in Kindergarten. Now, I'm being told by sources outside my school system that there is case law saying that schools can't tell you to go to any resource that costs the parent. If they do, the administrator from the other school district told me, the school would have to pay fees. Schools can only suggest you look at all available options and send child to their teacher afterschool. Does anyone know anything about this? I appreciate all help! Sara S -GA

Answer 1

If your school is a Title 1 school and fails to reach its AYP goal for 3 years, the school will have to provide supplemental services such as tutoring, after-school programs, etc.

I would start researching on http://www.wrightslaw.com/. They have tips on advocacy and an explanation of laws regarding what the school can and cannot do. There is also the ability to ask questions.

I don't think they can force you to pay for tutoring. I would go up the chain of command and request an evaluation for your child and see if she qualifies for special services. Good luck!

Answer 2

I live in PA. Our daughter also got great grades in kindergarten, then 1st, and 2nd and 3rd were rough. She's been going to Sylvan, and yes it helps, but it's cost us $5800 so far.

We were given names of teachers in the district that could tutor, but even their fees were high. I look at it this way, why do we pay taxes! I feel that it's the schools responsibility to TEACH all children. However, most times the teacher's union makes it impossible for the district to afford the wages it would take to make sure these kids get that extra help. It's not just your district, it's everywhere. But no, I do not think they can FORCE you to take your child to Sylvan, or anywhere else....Have you ever thought about hiring a High school student that is in the gifted program, or honors program that needs a Sr. Project? Sometimes this can really help! Sometimes children just have a hard time learning from their own parents. Good luck! And write that letter to the school board!

Answer 3

Schools can only make suggestions, if they insist they will have to pay for it. You should go to the school board about this, it sounds like the principal is a lazy ***!! and doesnt deserve the title of principal. The school special services department should have offered you an IEP...which is individual education planning meeting and they should suggest things that could help your daughter without sending you Sylvan. Also its a good idea to check with your pediatrician to see if there could be an underlying medical condition with your child, it is very common in twins for one to have difficulties that the other twin doesnt have. Good Luck!!

Answer 4

I don't know your child and do not intend to make a medical decision that could be harmful to your child, but before you cave in to the recommendation that your child be put on medication, I beg you to take some time and go to your childs school by surprise and see for yourself what is going on in the classroom. Lord willing, you will find that although competent in their skills as an educator, they lack in the imagination to hold the attention of the more "spirited" group of children. I was a student of the 70's and knew only one classmate on med's for ADD, TWENTY-EIGHT PERCENT of my third grader's class is on either adderall or concerta, both amphetamine based drugs for ADDHD, and it is addictive even at the age of 6. I am still living the nightmare of listening to teachers give me medical advice because my oldest (12) son was hard to control in class. I finally jerked them both out and found a very inexpensive alternate form of education at a local church, where they use discipline and merit to control the behavior of all of the students, not dunning the moms into a doctor visit and a months supply of some wonder drug. As far as the Sylvan situation, not no, but you know what no, those teachers are there to teach, if they have to stay in their class during lunch, or planning periods to ensure that every student in their class is as successful as possible, they are doing their job that they are paid to do. I don't want to hear the crying act about the pay, they knew the payscale when they were still in high school, do your job. I can not tolerate a half hearted performer in my line of business and most of my employees are making less than $9.00 per hour, but they give all they have for it. If you pay Sylvan to teach your child what she should have learned in class already, and has the opportunity to learn in class now, why are we even paying a teachers salary? Last time I checked most of the daycare workers were making around $7.50 per hour and they at least sing the alphabet song to the kids. And by the way, your sources are correct, the school cannot advertise or endorse any for profit commercial learning system. I would bet they are either commissioned by Sylvan, or have underlying reasons to admit their failures as educators.

Answer 5

In my system, we are not allowed to recommend "paid" services, nor can we charge students for tutoring ourselves. We offer free tutoring for children after school twice a week. Teachers are not medical doctors and we are also not allowed to recommend that children be "medicated." I would talk to your school board and file a complaint. It sounds like you are doing a great job working with your child. Try not to get discouraged. All children progress at different rates, especially twins.

Answer 6

it relatively is an extremely nice piece of poetry, Buk! it would make a internet site in a e book of nice poetry. I actually have a difficulty with the F-notice however. It enforces the belief of "driving a horse is uninteresting," which pulls a contradiction to the subject. So I take "bore" as progression, progression and so on, however the F-notice does not help this take. i think of it bleeds this verse, Buk.

Answer 7

I suggest you write a letter to your school board