Yes, it’s that time of year again: the new school year is fast approaching!
Are you feeling the stress and pressure right now? I remember when my son was going back to school, I never felt ready. There was so much to think about, such as purchasing uniforms and school supplies and trying to find them at a bargain. I was always in a frenzy to get everything done last-minute so that my son would be well-prepared for his first day and throughout the school year.
In retrospect, I probably could have been more prepared and organized as a parent of a child on the Autistic Spectrum, who would be facing yet another year in one of Philadelphia’s school district or charter schools. My son attended both, so between those different environments, we’ve encountered a lot of challenges and lived experiences.
Whether it’s a district school or a charter school, there are numerous factors to consider on behalf of your child. For decades, the special education experience in Philadelphia and other schools around the country has been daunting to say the least, rife with all kinds of educational challenges for children. Then, in comes the pandemic. All schools, post-shutdown, were faced with even more issues to consider that didn’t exist when my son was in school! For instance, parents now must grapple with even more complex issues such as compensatory education concerns due to the lack of or limited access to free and appropriate education (FAPE) during mandated virtual learning at home. Though my son as graduated high school, I still empathize with you all that still have school-age children.
Below are some tips and suggestions to help prepare yourself and your child for the new school year:
Keep Your Child and Family Safe from COVID-19 and Other Viruses
It appears COVID-19 and its variants are here to stay, and there is yet another virus on the rise in our country: monkeypox. Though the impact monkeypox is having or will have on schools around the country has yet to be fully understood, it makes sense to continue the safety practices we’ve adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic. We should also keep up to date on the current recommended precautions outlined by the CDC when it comes to these viruses.
Most importantly, educate yourself and your family on how your school district is implementing safety measures in the face of COVID-19 and any other virus threatening your child’s health and well-being. The below link leads to a School District of Philadelphia’s webpage where parents can find information on COVID-19 safety precautions and policies in schools:
Transitioning from Early Intervention to Kindergarten
If your child was attending an early intervention program or another pre-k program and your child is or will be five years old by September of a given year, they are now ready for kindergarten. It’s wise to check when the deadline is for enrolling your child in either the neighborhood school or charter school of your choice. If you’ve missed the deadline, be sure to contact the school as soon as possible for information on next steps.
Children with special educational needs will need an initial evaluation from a school district or charter school. Generally, the staff person to contact is the special education liaison or coordinator at the school to arrange a date and time for the evaluation and a subsequent meeting to create your child’s Individualized Education Plan or IEP. The special education liaison or coordinator is then responsible for placing your child in the appropriate classroom based on their needs and accommodations established during the IEP meeting. Further, the special education liaison or coordinator is responsible for arranging for any specialized services, such as speech and occupational therapy, for example, to the level of support, e.g., Autistic Support (most restrictive), Learning Support (less restrictive) or inclusion in a general education class with a paraprofessional for educational and/or behavioral support (least restrictive) or any number of special education support arrangements based on what your child needs. If it is decided by you, the parent, and the school staff that your child would be better served in an “approved private school”, it is the school district’s or charter school’s responsibility to arrange this accommodation, assist in appropriately implementing the necessary services the child will need and assume the cost of the school.
Begin to Organize Your Paperwork
If you are a parent of children with special needs who are attending public schools, you know about the array of school forms, records, and documentation you will receive throughout the year. It helps to have a “system” or dedicated place to keep them for quick accessibility.
One such system is to set up 3” binders to keep copies of Individualized Education Plans (IEP), evaluations, reevaluations, Notice of Recommended Educational Placements (NOREP), past and present for all, and any other important documents concerning your child’s educational plan.
Or, if you have the space, you can use a large filing cabinet to house all these documents. I say “large” because you will amass tons of documents over the years, and I would suggest keeping all of it just in case. You may need a paper trail to dispute how your child’s education plan is being implemented, either in the upcoming school year or sometime later, or if aspects of the plan are not being implemented to meet goals and accommodations initially set forth in the IEP at any given time during the K-12 years.
Set up a Communication Log
It is also a good idea to keep track of phone calls, emails, notes from teachers, and notes from meetings in a notebook and folder. Write down dates and times of communications with the school (teachers, principals, etc.) in a dedicated notebook.
This record-keeping log is so important for advocacy and, in the event you need documented evidence in the future. Don’t rely on your memory!
Review Your Child’s IEP
Does your child’s IEP reflect their current needs in terms of accommodations, and educational/behavioral goals?
Your child’s needs will change from school year to school year and even during each school year. Your goals for your child may change slightly or drastically, depending on what you feel is best for him or her at any given time.
I encourage you to request an IEP meeting with your child’s teachers, school leaders, and supplemental staff who provide services to your child as early as possible prior to the start of school to address concerns, changes, and any questions you may have. Remember, nothing is set in stone!
Therefore, never hesitate to request an IEP meeting after the start of school if you feel it’s necessary. Remember, of all the members on the IEP Team, you and your child are the most important!
Help Ease Your Child’s Back-to-School Transition
After a few months out of the routine of waking up and going to school, the transition back to school isn’t easy for any child, much less a child with a disability or behavioral challenge.
Therefore, it’s important to start talking about the upcoming school year a few weeks before the first day, e.g., discuss the new classes and activities they can participate in once school starts. Talk about it with excitement and enthusiasm to foster excitement and enthusiasm in them. This can go a long way to reduce any back-to-school anxieties your child might be having.
This technique of talking up an event helped my son, who always needed advance notice (and still does) when a change of any kind is coming. My excitement and enthusiasm eased the fear of the unknown in his mind. This is instrumental to the overall success of the transition to a new situation for many individuals on the Autistic Spectrum. They need time to process the changes in schedule, place, or routine. Otherwise, things could totally go left, as they say.
If your child is going to a new school, try to schedule a tour and meet the new teachers before the first day. Begin talking about how there will be a new schedule and routine when school starts and gradually start implementing them well before the first day, with a focus on mornings and evenings. Most importantly, make sure the new routine for bedtime and wake up time are consistent. Consistency is key! However, make sure you practice what you preach! If we want our children to be well-rested, organized, and ready to go each day, we must establish those same routines for ourselves as parents.
Stay Updated on the Latest in Special Education News
To be the best advocate for your child, always stay current on what is happening in the world of special education in your state and around the country. This could be anything from the newest updates in your school district’s policies, state and federal laws or the latest educational advancement for children with the same disability as your child.
While my son was in school, I researched, researched, researched, to the point of often knowing more about special education laws or best practices and techniques in teaching kids on the Spectrum than school staff which was so disheartening. I make this point to emphasize that the school system needed and still needs to do a better job at educating our children. Become an expert for the sake of your child.
Be Present
One of the best ways to advocate for your child is to be present for school events. Whenever there are Back to School Nights, Open Houses, or parent/teacher conferences, be there! It’s so important. Join parent advocate committees at school or establish one yourself, and don’t forget to make your presence known at home and school association meetings.
Parents of children with special needs must speak up and speak out at every given opportunity, even among parents of general education students. They say there is strength in numbers, so showing up for each other speaks volumes to school staff and parents alike, to demonstrate that our children’s lives are valuable and matter too.
Philadelphia Family Voices is Here for You!
So, parents, there is a lot to think about, and it can absolutely overwhelm you. Don’t I know it! However, with organization, knowledge, and support from an organization I am proud to be a part of, Philadelphia Family Voices, you can get through not only the start but the duration of the upcoming school year and beyond.
All of us at Philadelphia Family Voices have children with a disability or a behavioral challenge and our own lived experiences with schools in Philadelphia and the School District’s or charter school’s policies and procedures. We’ve walked in your shoes and understand what you’ve been through or are going through currently.
Philadelphia Family Voices is here for you and your child. If you’d like help or support, please reach out to us at our Parent Support Line at (484) 228-1229 or via email at philadelphiasupport@philadelphiafamilyvoices.com.
Written by Mary Drake, Supervisor- Autism Navigator Program