Why the state of Colorado refuses to give a full day of kindergarten to children like my child with delays?

Question

I know there is a way the state of colorado is sposed to give federal funding to children like my daughter who have major delays for a full day of kindergarten. The district saying it doesn't exist and I know I'm being lied too
But the state of colorado and this school is giving a full day of kindergarten to children who are illegal for free. I asked why at the IEP meeting and the princible denyed the program on there website exisited. It even said full day kindergarten for ESL, they go for free!
Yey, they want my husband and I to pay for a full day of kindergarten for my daughter who she has a delay in 6 areas. She is getting therpies at school but she is only in class 40% . Her school day is only 2 hrs 50 mins -60% for therpy out of class. Besides sueing and calling the newspapers is there a way to give my daughter a full day of school? I have another meeting.
I've been told I'm doing a better job at getting services for my daughter than most here.

I ask to have here therpies at another time and they said I would have to pick her 3 times and drop her off 3 extra times a day just to get her therpies, plus her riding a bus 1 a day added. Her IEP in another state was different a full day of school w/ her thepies, no circus. They won't tell me if any other program are out there at the IEP meeting. I don't feel like they want to tell me any other options bec. they would have to spend more money. She was sposed to be tested 3 monthes ago for PDD and Audio processing disorder and they still haven't tested her. I findly got her in to see a pyhscologist in couple of weeks. My insurance is paying for it, so I can finf out what is wrong with her. Since they are taking there sweat time

Answer 1

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:

Get 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.

As 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.

Your 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.

The 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).

If 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.
Talk to your State Representative - they usually have district offices, and their staff helps constituents (voters like you) solve problems with state government offices.

Does 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.

If 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.

Remember 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.

Answer 2

The school may not be lying. Many school districts have on 1/2 day Kindergarten. Those children who receive full day programs often attend 1/2 Kindergarten then 1/2 day special education. Maybe you can ask to have your child enrolled in a part-time special ed. program so she can receive her therapies during that class. Children who receive full day programs in Kindergarten typically are enrolled in two seperate programs....but remember the other half a day would be in special education classes. If this is not what you want, then you could seek alternative Kindergarten on your own where she would participate with "typically" developing peers. Kindergarten is not mandated in many states. That is why full day programs are not present.

Does your district have a.m. and p.m. Kindergarten? If they do could she enroll in both? You might have to figure something out for lunch time break, but could that be a possibility? Remember, due process is your right. If you feel the district is not meeting your child's needs let it be decided by a hearing officer.

I've seen many kids participate in both regular K and special ed. K and make tremendous progress. Good luck to you and your daughter!

Answer 3

If typically developing kindergarten students at your daughter's school then the school must provide your daughter the same amount of time. Are just the ESL kids getting a full day or do the kids whose primary language is English go all day? That might make a difference in whether your daughter is entitled to an all day prgram.

If I were you I would contact the Special Education Specialists at the Colorado Department of Education. Here is the webpage with their contact information:

http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdesped/staff.asp

If you don't know the name of the person to call, just call the main number and explain your problem and they should send you to the correct program.

If they are of no help, then you should contact a disablity advocates.

Here is someone who might be able to help...


Contact: Nan Vendegna
http://www.cde.state.co.us/earlychildhoodconnections/early.htm#speced

Answer 4

i am the parent of two special needs children...they both started school by the time they were three yrs old...with the local public schools preschool program...and my youngest child participated in a program that was called reverse mainstreaming...

to start with if your child has an iep the wording in public law 94-142, IDEA, and in ADA ALL say your child must be in the "least restrictive" environment for her/him. but does not specify how long the program is supposed to be for. most school districts that have both half and whole day kindergarten classes usually give the full day programs to either the oldest children or to those that need further instruction in either language or basic skill for school.
if your child has an iep either the doctor treating her or the other therapists involved may have determined that for her the length you mentioned is the best for her. the scheduling is not for your benefit but for hers. and as a previous person said, for most kindergartners a full day is still shorter than the other elementary classes (on average 1-1.5 hrs) and they spend the rest of the time with a playground/daycare/beyond the bell program. being that your child has a variety of delays or other issues maybe they do not have the correct facilities or staff to take care of her needs.
do not immedieately run to sue/charge/or otherwise serve the school with papers, before you investigate the other surrounding issues. if your school has formulated and is actually using her iep then you have taken the first steps in getting the proper services(i had to fight for over 2yrs to get services even testing done for my son, and another almost yr for actual services to take effect)see if your school district has a parent/child advocate, if not ck with your doctor or other specialist can recommend one, even try looking to your local agency like united way for other organizations who may deal with similar issues(like assoc for retarded citizens(arc)). or ck online using one of her diagnosis' as a search point to locate a national organization and eventually locate a local branch of it for more assistance.

dont loose hope--my daughter is fine now and a manager(she couldnt hear til she was 2yrs and did not talk on a regular basis till she was almost 4)--my son who is severly learning different and spent what seemed like yrs in the office now builds both shopping centers and websites now.

good luck!!

Answer 5

the school system sucks @$$! I wish they'd put more attention to school, like give them more funding and supplies and more attention to children, children could succeed more if we all were just TREATED THE SAME! but nope, damn politics, they worry about other things like their stinking money, all they care about is money money money, that's how they control people, your butt is in debt w/ them, bang! they own your @$$! gets me angry