District wants to change placement :(

[marisa]

It has been a long time since I posted or commented on anything, but I could use some advice/imput on this. My daughter Laura will be going into 1st grade in the fall and the district wants to change her placement. She is currently going to a private special ed school that the district pays for (we lve in NJ). The district wants her back in the public school and showed me the EXACT same program as last year. Ummm, it wasn't appropriate last year, but now some how is?!?! We all know it is a money thing. Anyway, I am requesting new evals done since a change in placement is recommended and am also requesting it be indepentent and postpone IEP until after new evals are complete. Don't know if that is going to fly, but we will see. any advice or anyone have similar issues? I talked to an attorney and it will cost me $2500 to retain. Ugh, this is only 1st grade and the district is totally playing hard ball. I don't think I can keep up with those kinds of legal fees.
Thanks in advance,
Marisa

[marisa]

I should add that the district has NEVER educated a person with Ds. The last person with Ds in district was about 20 years ago and bviously they were sent out back then.

[Googsmom aka Jennifer]

You may already have this but I just thought i'd share

www.spannj.org/

If you scroll all the way to the bottom there is a SPAN Parent Assist link. I'm thinking they are parents who help with the process and are there to ask questions and help you out kinda like an IEP partner.

I have found in my last year of being a IEP partner that when the parent has some support on their side the school *usually* tries to accomidate the request.

Best wishes and {{{{{HUGS}}}}