Lee's Summit R-7 School District

Parents Sue School District Over 7-year-old Daughter’s Death :: California Business Litigation Blog

Solitary Confinement? Parents concerned over school's use of "Isolation Booth" - YouTube

R-7 board urges Congress to stop budget cuts

Spokane Nominated as Blue Ribbon School – HometownDailyNews.com

Kate Casas: Rural and Urban Education Needs Not That Different After All

Diagnostic Checklist Form E-2 and Research Questionnaire Form E-3 | Autism Research Institute ARI's Diagnostic Checklist, Form E-2, was developed by Dr. Bernard Rimland to diagnose children with Kanner's syndrome, which is also known as 'classical autism.' Many parents and professionals have also used the E-2 checklist to assist in the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The responses on Form E-2 are entered into a computer which calculates a diagnostic score. The score along with its interpretation is sent to the person or agency submitting the checklist. In addition, a file number is assigned to each child for data recording and analysis, and to ensure confidentiality. There is no charge for this service.

Life on the Other Side of the Wall: An Open Letter to the Media An Open Letter to the Media “Asperger Syndrome”— That’s what I saw on the news headline in bright, bold red letters on Friday. If I didn’t already know what it was because I have it I probably would have been afraid of it. In the article that followed the autism spectrum wasn’t properly explained and to the uninformed, the only thing to gather was that all things autism were dangerous.   What is being left out of the conversation is that those were Asperger’s, and other autism spectrum disorders, are far more likely to be a victim of a crime than the one committing it. And often times the person on the spectrum  will not  speak up about it because of communication issues. What is also being left out of the conversation is perhaps the most important line about the autism spectrum and that is, “If you’ve met one person with autism you’ve only met one person with autism.” It is dangerous and irresponsible ...

Teacher accused of improperly strapping autistic child; faces firing - South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com

Educational Leadership:The Inclusive School:Sometimes Separate Is Better

"I Am Adam Lanza’s Psychiatrist": A Response From the Mental Health Trenches to "I Am Adam Lanza’s Mother" | xoJane

Recent Tragedies Not Related to Autism | International Coalition for Autism and All Abilities

http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2012/12/05/sibling-caregivers-struggle/16899/ My children would not be facing this is the school district had done their job.  Not only did they rob my son of a future, but they forced his sisters to be responsible for him after I am gone. About half of adult siblings of those with developmental disabilities either are or plan to be the primary caregiver for their brother or sister, but many are unprepared for the responsibility, a new survey finds. The national  poll  released Wednesday indicates that among adult siblings of those with a disability, 23 percent are currently serving as primary caregivers while 1 in 3 expect to take on that role in the future. And many are finding the experience to be daunting, fraught with emotional and financial challenges and little support. The survey conducted by the market research firm Ipsos on behalf of Easter Seals solicited feedback from 351 brothers and sisters of people with developmenta...

http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/priv.confid.observe.htm Parent Observations v. Student Confidentiality by Pete Wright and Pam Wright Print this page " Do I have a right to observe the class before agreeing (or not agreeing) to a placement for my child? The special ed director said I cannot observe the class because of  confidentiality issues with the other children. " Pete says: I have represented kids with disabilities since 1978. In all these years, I have never had an instance where a school denied a parent, or the parent's private sector expert, the opportunity to observe a potential placement. The school board attorneys with whom I have worked over the years have always permitted observations by parents and the parent's outside experts. When a school administrator takes this position, it creates an appearance of two things (both bad): (1) that the program is clearly not appropriate and the parent will quickly discover this, and (2) that the school is...

How Do They Sleep At Night Sometimes I sit and relive the past four years.  I think of all of the tears, anger, frustration, fear, anxiety, and hurt that my family has gone through.  Then I think of all of the other families that are going through the same thing.  Their lives being destroyed while they sit back and helplessly watch it happen. One thing always comes to mind.  How do the people that are paid with my tax dollars sleep at night?  How can they destroy the life and future of another human being and then take their paycheck?  How can they hug their children while they are destroying the lives of other children?  I was raised in the 60s and the 70s.  My parents were strict and taught us to be honest, caring, and loving human beings.  We were taught that you never progress in life without hard work, integrity, honor, and respect.  You never hurt others or lie.  I wonder what the parents our of teachers, principals, s...

This is my dear to me because my son's psychologist stated that my son needed one-on-one help with multiplication and division because he couldn't do either in the 10th grade.  Because of his dysgraphia he should be allowed to use a calculator in other areas of math that he understood.  The Autism Coordinator for the district said that they would just give him a calculator for all math. I stated that is not what the psychologist said and the AC said that was my interpretation. http://www.wrightslaw.com/advoc/ltrs/accoms.mods.kelly.htm Give Calculators or Teach Math Skills? You asked about using calculators on a math test.   Children must learn math skills - calculators are tools but they are not a substitute for the need to learn math skills. Children must learn (memorize) the times tables up to 12 X 12 = 144. This means repetition, repetition, repetition, over and over, using flash cards, multi-sensory approaches, hands on. The child must master the times tables so...

Complaint: Students with disabilities restrained or isolated at Prince William school - The Washington Post

GPA standards for teachers increase | The Columbia Daily Tribune - Columbia, Missouri

Which Congressman Is Blocking Bill That Would Protect Kids with Autism? - ABC News "Chairman Kline believes state officials and school leaders are best equipped to determine appropriate policies that should be in place to protect students and to hold those who violate those policies accountable," said Alexandra Haynes Sollberger, the communications director for the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. "For this reason, the committee has not scheduled any action on seclusion and restraint legislation at this time."

When I filed my child complaint with DESE I complained that the district would not put my son's evaluation scores in the IEP and they would not allow me put them in my parent concerns.  DESE found in favor of the district.  I just read the following on their website from one of their webinars.  How can they state what is mandatory and then deny it in a child complaint? 21. Apparently some attorneys are recommending that evaluation findings and/or specific baselines not be included in IEP's, but from a compliance standpoint, is that recommended or even permissible?   Answer: It is required to have a summary of the most recent evaluation/reevaluation results and changes in the current functioning in the child.  We recommend they include it somewhere in the IEP.  Most people put it in the present level but the requirement is that it is in the IEP.

Race to the Top District Grants: Five Local Applicants, No Local Finalists « KC Education Enterprise

Webcast: Moving from Awareness to Action in Bullying Prevention: Training Resources for the Field

Asperger’s gone, dyslexia stays in first change to psychiatric manual in almost 20 years - The Washington Post One reason for the change is that some states and school systems don’t provide services for children and adults with Asperger’s, or provide fewer services than those given an autism diagnosis, she said.

Death at School: Parents Protest Dangerous Discipline for Autistic, Disabled Kids - ABC News Student was assigned to the ED classroom at Underwood Elementary for Twenty-four (24) school days.  During this time, the Student was placed in the Room on at least Fourteen (14) different school days, ranging from 420 minutes a day in the Room to 70 minutes.  The Student was placed in the Room for an equivalent of over nine (9) full days (3,860 minutes – 420 minutes in a full school day) (DEX 50, p. 1503).  Of the twenty-four (24) school days the Student was absent three (3) days, and received out-of-school suspension six (6) days.  (DEX 50)  There is only one (1) day during the 2003-2004 school year (24 attendance days) that Student remained in the ED classroom the entire day.  (DEX 50).

Death at School: Child Restraints Spark Controversy | Video - ABC News Student was assigned to the ED classroom at Underwood Elementary for Twenty-four (24) school days.  During this time, the Student was placed in the Room on at least Fourteen (14) different school days, ranging from 420 minutes a day in the Room to 70 minutes.  The Student was placed in the Room for an equivalent of over nine (9) full days (3,860 minutes – 420 minutes in a full school day) (DEX 50, p. 1503).  Of the twenty-four (24) school days the Student was absent three (3) days, and received out-of-school suspension six (6) days.  (DEX 50)  There is only one (1) day during the 2003-2004 school year (24 attendance days) that Student remained in the ED classroom the entire day.  (DEX 50).

Twice Exceptional Children (2e) - Wrightslaw

Eligibility for Special Ed: Grades, IQ Scores, Evaluations

ABC News Investigation: Moms Fight Back Against Harsh Methods to Restrain Students with Special Needs - ABC News

Second Family Alleges Abuse of Mentally-Ill Son in Russellville Elementary School

Schools Must Pay For Special Education Evaluations, Court Rules - Disability Scoop School districts should reimburse parents for independent educational evaluations of students with disabilities, at least in some cases, a federal court is affirming. Though the U.S. Department of Education has long indicated that parents have the right to an independent opinion at public expense under certain circumstance, the Jefferson County Board of Education in Alabama challenged the rule. The school district declined to reimburse parents named in court papers as Philip and Angie C. after they sought an outside evaluation when they disagreed with the district’s assessment of their child, A.C.

'Isolation box:' Abuse or therapy for Longview school kids? | Local & Regional | Seattle News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News | KOMO News

New Federal Data: Graduation Rates Reveal Achievement Gaps for KS & MO « KC Education Enterprise

Training Lions & Tigers: Discipline and Children with ADHD

Behavior Problems & Discipline: What Parents and Teachers Need to Know by Sue Whitney and Pam Wright - Wrightslaw.com

Doing Your Homework: Behavior Problems: It Isn't Okay Just to Teach the Easy Kids by Sue Whitney - Wrightslaw

Wrightslaw - Functional Behavioral Assessments: What? Why? How? Who? by Stephen Starin, Ph.D.

I know for my family that the Lee's Summit School District was not worth the money.  My children received a less than average education and my taxes paid dearly for it. I have sixteen acres in the Ozarks.  I just received my tax bill for their.  The school district tax levy down there is 2.7500.  In Lee's Summit it is 6.0579.  The difference is cost is not reflected in the level of education. I think that it is time to sell my house in Lee's Summit and move out of this overrated and overtaxed district.  If only I could sell my house for what I paid for it 12 years ago.  I don't think that I can. My personal property tax bill was over $1,600 and my real estate tax is over $3,600.  My real estate tax on sixteen acres with utilities is $200 down there.  My $1,600 property tax bill would have been $774.04.  That is a huge difference.

Kate Casas: If It's Broken, Fix It

Autistic Tampa Student Will Attend His Neighborhood Middle School | StateImpact Florida

Benefit Of Popular Autism Therapy Questioned - Disability Scoop

Lockdowns lifted at three Lee's Summit schools after off-campus domestic disturbance call

Lee's Summit Police Investigating Shooting at Apartment Complex - Lee's Summit Tribune - Lee's Summit News

Girl Shot by Teens Playing with Gun | fox4kc.com – Kansas City news & weather from WDAF TV – FOX 4

Lee’s Summit man charged in shooting that sparked standoff - KansasCity.com

Superintendent's Blog: Failure of Prop B keeps funding pressure on local community

Here is my OCR report.  I have written the truth in red beside their statements.  Please feel free to use in any way that will benefit you or other families. Sherri UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS - REGION VII NOV 6, 2006 Sherri Tucker 1200 Southeast London Way Lee's Summit, Missouri   64081 Re: OCR Docket# 07061178 Dear Ms. Tucker: On May 10, 2006, the U.S. Department of Education (Department), Office for Ci vil Rights (OCR), received your complaint against the Lee's Summit R - VII School District (District), Lee's Summit, Missouri, alleging discrimination on the basis of disability. This is to inform you we have completed our investigation of your complaint and made the following determination. Specifically, you alleged the District discriminated against your son on the basis of disability by not implementing ...