Don't Trust the State

[advocate4kids]

I must add, I have had dealings with the state on MANY issues. I had
a complaint investigation where I was asking to see the guidance
couselor logs for my child to see when he was seen and what they spoke
about. The state came in and saw logs. When they asked the counselor
about them, she said she kept them for her own, personal files.
Because she said that, the state felt I had no right to see them. I
only received the dates he was seen and even then, 2 of the dates he
wasn't even in school. I fought for 3 months over this and then found
out under FERPA, that I could file a federal complaint. The state
DOES take longer than their 60 days. Don't think that they stick to
the time frame. I have yet to have an investigation take less than
60. Trust me, I have been there, done that, and keep going back.
Don't expect a quick response. You need written proof of things. I
kept receiving annonomous e-mails and letters from people and called
the state to see if there was anything I could do with them and
because they were annonomous, there was nothing I could do. I have
been the coordinator for the parent support group in Jackson for 3
years now. The parents get the flyers every month and last month we
started with a phone call to all special education families in
Jackson, even students out of district get the call. We have offered
child care in the past. Why don't parents come? This is where as
parents, we can work together. There have been many issues in the past
that this group has worked out WITH the district. Because of all 3
meetings last week, I have a meeting Monday, a Special Education
Advisory Council meeting Tuesday, a PTN meeting Wednesday and a Parent
to Parent meeting Thurday, I can not make your meeting Wednesday. The
last 1/2 hour of the parent to parent meeting will be a parent open
forum where there will be no school personnel. We invite school
personnel to these workshops so that they hear what we hear and learn
what we learn. I want them to learn things that we offer. If parents
can't make the Wednesday meeting, there are welcome to come to the
meeting on Thursday at 7pm at Crawford. We are NOT a district run
group. We are parent run, district supported which means they send
out our flyers and supply the cookies and drinks and give us space. I
hope to start to see some more new faces.