Today marks the first day of preschool for Paige and Claire in Idaho. What a mess this whole school-thing has been.
Apparently in Idaho a child may only be tested via standardized tests and MUST test at 7% or below to qualify for services.
They told us that because the girls are Chinese this works against them receiving servicesl. They actually said that!! In this day and age?!? What? Sounds like discrimination- which I mentioned but they said it was federally mandated?!?! They told us that at least their school district will try to help the girls as any other school district would take one look at their ethinicity and send them away.
Paige's speech tested at a 3 1/2 yr old level. She is 4 1/2. This does not qualify her for speech help here. What?! Claire actually tested HIGHER in language abilities than Paige. WHAT?
Claire MAY qualify for some OT as the OT guy (whom I had to BEG them to bring up to meet her) gave her a screen for reading/writing issues and she scored in the seventh (7%) percentile.The OT guy was shocked when he heard Claire passed the speech test - they told us Claire "hit it out of the ballpark". He told us he couldn't understand more than 4 words out of Claire's mouth.
She also said that because the girls have progressed, they don't need any more help- only if they hadn't progressed would they be worried. Eh?? Umm... they progressed because they were getting services. The lady in charged said our girls are at the SAME level as all other kids their age. Oh really?? Who are they comparing them to? It's so much crazy info my brain cannot even process it all!
At any rate, Claire is going to get some help. The lady in charge told me that the speech therapist decided that Claire does have a speech issue so she's going to administer a different test on Claire. Ummm... think she could've administered a different test on Paige, too?
So it looks like we will be paying a private speech therapist to help Paige.
Erin wants to do EVERYTHING her sisters do. It's so cute!
If she could go to school, she'd do it in a second!
Claire
Paige
2 comments:
I have to say that I TRULY feel your pain. When I took Cassie in to be evaluated at the school, their reason for her being in-eligible? Yes, they said she was delayed (in many areas) but because she was adopted and did not have the same experiences that a child born here would, that she was not able to qualify. So...how does that make any sense!? Wouldn't that make her MORE eligible to get help? Argh. At least we found the Scottish Rite speech group, and they give speech therapy for free. You might look into that as well. Ours had a long wait list, but it only took about 6 months.
Frustrating to work with schools, sometimes. In CA we have that same 7% or somewhere around there. I guess part of it must be a lack of funding. But for us Mama's trying to help their kids, it is a challenge!
What a mess Suzie, I'm so sorry - hopefully they realize that your sweet girls need some help and they get it for them.
We think Owen will need some speech therapy help (he's a real challenge to understand), I think it's a sad commentary on society that they would send away your girls because they are Chinese and accept my fair skinned little man... dudes - come on! It's 2010!!!
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