Rochelle’s Special Education Tips
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
School staff oftentimes find themselves in a quandary when they overlook student misbehaviors as the misbehaviors are the result of the disability. Eventually, there comes a time when it becomes evident that no matter how many supports are put in place, the placement is inappropriate and a more restrictive setting, perhaps a regional setting, is more appropriate to meet a student’s unique circumstances. But when this issue arises at the IEP team meeting, you are asked for the data. Sometimes you do not have the data because you were trying to overlook the behaviors. Lesson: Keep the data. Likewise, a parent may say that all she hears is the negative and asks you to start reporting on the positive. So you start to report the positive without reporting the negative. Then when you say you cannot meet the student’s needs, you are met with opposition. Lesson: Keep the data and do not create a misleading picture.
