Some time in April I had my first declassification from Special Ed with a parent that wasn't going to find out until the meeting. I was actually a bit nervous. So far, whenever I've had a declassification, the parent has been very aware and felt that it was time. This parent was not on the same page as me though.
This students was in my Writing Skills class and although his handwriting was difficult to read most of the time and his spelling was beyond atrocious, he had good ideas and knew how to write. In fact, he fell asleep several times in my class and was kind of an all-around-punk in the sense that he always skirted around the rules and wanted to goof off. Still, I adored him. (That was probably part of the issue - he knew I liked him and could get away with doing ridiculous things...hmmm...)
Anyway, when it came time to have his IEP and three-year re-evaluation for Special Education, I did some standardized academic testing to see where he fell in the category of writing. From other testing measures, I already knew that he is on grade level for reading and math (that is the whole point of Special Ed), so writing was his last hope of staying in Special Ed.
I told him that he needed to do his very best on the tests I gave because that would determine if he still qualified for Special Education.
The day we finished, he came to my Writing Skills class some what anxiously and said, "How did I do on the test? I have been so nervous ever since we finished I couldn't even concentrate in band."
This was somewhat surprising to me. He really did care and take an interest in how he did on these tests and what they meant. Good for him!
Although I hadn't held the meeting yet, I drew a visual aide and told him that there was not a discrepancy between his writing and his IQ, so he did not qualify for Special Ed anymore.
"So I don't have to take this class any more?!"
haha I told him no. (I think that was the main motivator for him. It wasn't about "being in Special Ed", he just wanted out of my class!)
I was really happy for him, but I was nervous about the meeting with his mom. Friday afternoon we had the meeting and his mom, the assistant principal, and his English teacher. and the student himself attended.
When I explained that this student's test scores and grades showed that he didn't qualify for (or need) Special Ed services to be successful, the mom was a little bit put out. I know she was just worried about him, especially because he is going to be in high school next year and it is scary to send your kid off to high school thinking they will have ZERO support any more.
The mom was pestering me with questions and scenarios when the English teacher stepped in and gave a wonderful English teacher perspective and calmed the mom down. I could have hugged and kissed that dear English teacher - she was wonderful! And the assistant principal was very supportive as well. He said, "The whole point of Special Ed is to reach grade level and be successful on your own and you did it. Sadly, very few kids in Special Ed leave, so you have something to be proud of."
I was a little sad to declassify this student because that meant that he wouldn't be in my class anymore, and I really did enjoy him.
He did actually stop by a few times and say hi, which is out of character for him (he doesn't really care much for teachers). He let me know that I was special because he doesn't ever go back and see teachers that he doesn't have any more. haha
The last week of school, his English teacher told me that he pulled off an A- in her class. That was his first A- in English all year long. I think she was a bit skeptical about declassifying him at first, but when he pulled off the A-, her whole outlook changed. She was so excited for him.
I'm really proud of this student and I hope that he is successful in high school and I hope he accomplishes all that h wants to in life. :)
-Ms. Damron-
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