Four Parent Discussions Related to Exiting a Student From Special Education

There are a number of young and school-age children who respond to special education and who are advised to withdraw from special education services. It is important to note that these are team decisions involving both school staff and parents. Here are four key discussions to make this exit a smooth transition for the student and families:

Provide parents with information about the process

When discussing the upcoming eligibility meeting with the parents, be sure that the decision is made to either leave the student from special education service or to continue special education service in the same or a different category. Explain to the parents that some students appear to be able to attend a regular school full-time. Other students can attend regular education courses but will be deducted for other services such as language and language services. However, some students may continue in more specialized or standalone classes. This gives parents a starting point to know that a decision will be made at the upcoming meeting and that a change can take place.

Discuss possible changes

Parents may not be aware that leaving a child out of special education can mean a change in routine. Parents often forget and get used to the bus service for students with special needs. A change in the student’s eligibility may mean a change in schedule as the parents may need to take the child to school and may need to adjust their work schedule to arrive later. Another possible change may be that the child has a different teacher, is placed in a different classroom on the same school campus, or is transferred to a different campus. These changes can have a major impact on family routines and plans, so adjustments may need to be made once the change has occurred.

Discuss changes in support level

Some parents may be concerned that if the student leaves special education service, all support will be withdrawn and the student may then fail or start getting bad grades. Sometimes parents need support and reassurance that this decision is being made after reviewing the student’s test information, school records, and recent academic performance. Parental concerns about a student’s education can also be revisited, and these concerns can be discussed throughout the student’s education if future adjustments need to be made or problem areas need to be revisited.

Discuss concerns about loss of community services

Parents will sometimes worry that this exciting change at school will result in all other community services being shut down. For example, if a young student leaves language and language services at school, parents may be concerned that the child will lose community services and will not be able to get out of district or home language services. It’s important to let parents know that each nonprofit program has its own policies and guidelines about who receives benefits or when benefits can be given to a child.

Finally, many conversations between parents and school staff can help make the exit process a smoother transition for students who need the support of their families.

Thanks to Susan Louise Peterson | #Parent #Discussions #Related #Exiting #Student #Special #Education