How Do I Get the Public School System Tot Help Me?

Yes, the LAUSD can help with your concern. Just don't get frustrated if its not the kind of help you want. LAUSD is extremely overburdened (this is not to excuse them) so often the PSA (Pupil Student Advisors, I think) & teachers may not always be too eager to offer extra help. On the plus side your daughter has been tested and can be safe to assume that the source of poor grade is likely not due to a learning disability. It is likely that it may be more of an emotional adjustment or disconnect with those teachers. You mentioned you are a single M. and work full time. However, you do have the right to attend/observe your daughter's classes and sit with her. You may be lucky to have the school offer to do this for you, but unlikely in my experience with LAUSD. Who knows the school may have an intern who they can assign this to, you should definitely ask. In the meantime you can also ask to meet formally (IEP-Individual Educational Plan) or informally with her counselor and try to brainstorm as to the cause of poor grades. As parent (and consumer) you definitely have rights and while the school may care about your daughter's educational success, it may simply be short of resources/time. Either way your concern should be heard and addressed. Good luck.

Even in the best of times I've found that LAUSD is at best, intractable. Given the current economic conditions I can only imagine that they've gotten more so. You are legally permitted to request an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) at any time. You need to do it in writing, and then the school has a limited time period to complete the testing and follow up. While their testing may show that there are no issues, due to inane law suits they are not allowed to do some crucial diagnostic tests. I would have my child tested independantly to verify and expand on their results. Dr. Teri Solochek, in Woodland Hills, is excellent. If you're not pleased with the outcome of the IEP I'd hire an advocate to help you through the LAUSD maze.

Having said that, it is not likely that any school is going to observe a child in al their classes, and frankly, it's not likely to be helpful from a diagnostic perspective. It sounds as though she is experiencing a high degree of anxiety, which absolutely will block learning.

Clearly your gut is telling you that there is an issue, and I applaud you for going with it. Keep at it until it get's sorted out! Good luck.

Good Morning K.,

Yes. Anything that is public, government, etc. works for you. So that means teachers, the president, police officers, etc. work for you. Yes, of course go see the principal and ask to observe one day in class and let the principal know the problems your child is having. And let the principal know that it is not that the teacher is bad, it's just you need to see why your child is having a hard time.

On another note, not related to school, you may want to have your child tested for food allergies. I am 37 years old and have had food allergies my entire life. I was always a very good student in school, but had a terrible time staying focused in class. It was a fight to stay alert. After 30 minutes, I had to get up or do something else. That's not ADD. That's a symptom of food allergies. NAET.com is a group of allergists around the world who ELIMINATE allergies. I have been seeing my NAET allergist since the fall of 2008 and my treatments are going well. I am what one would call a severe case of allergies, so my treatments may last another year before they all are eliminated. But the key sentence to focus on is that THEY ARE BEING ELIMINATED.

If you have any questions, you can email me, ____@____.com I suggest that you just jump in the water of NAET.com and find an allergist in your area who can test your child. Testing is free or a nominal fee, depending on the NAET allergist.

Also,Say Goodbye to Illness by Dr. Devi Nambudripad, you will learn all about allergies and the successful treatment and elimination of them. Dr. Nambudripad is the doctor who created NAET.

Be Well.

N.

I would suggest that if you can take the time, observe in the classroom. Discuss all concerns with her counselor (I think you mentioned she was in MS or HS). Lots of luck. Just be patient, but also talk with your daughter about what the specific issues are so that you can bring that to the counselor/teachers or administrators.

If she is testing well and shows progress in classes where she feels a better fit, it may just be that SHE doesn't get past being in a class with poor teaching. It is important for kids to learn that in our lifetime we will not always be in situations that are conducive to us learning and growing. Can you give her examples of your own? I have done this with examples of bosses and co-workers and shown my kids how to try to work it to my advantage. At 15 she is not too young to start to figure this out. By all means, be your child's advocate. Have you met with the teacher? Gone over classroom work? I always save my child's papers until after the grades come out. One time I met with my son's teacher and showed her how his work was consistently above average and she changed his grade. She was not favorable towards boys and used the excuse that this was a rowdy class. I asked her what did that have to do with MY child? She was lumping all the boys together and treated them all poorly. After I met with her, she finally started to look at him as an individual and grade him accordingly. If you meet the teacher and feel no satisfaction from that meeting, then schedule an appointment with the Principal. Many teacher contracts do not allow the Principal to meet with a parent until the teacher has had a chance to defend their classroom practices. My children often did better, even if they were still stuck with the poor teacher, just knowing that I was in their corner. But they also knew that they had to do their job. Do homework, accept lunch time tutoring, participate in class, etc.

Dear K. B,

You have the right to convene an IEP (individual educational plan) at any time. You may request assessments, and the district is obligated to provide them. You are entitled to have the results analyzed by a third party, and you are entitled to hire advocacy to assist you. The district has a limited timeframe in which to comply. I presume you've already had your daughter's vision and hearing tested. Have you had conferences with the teachers where she is experiencing the difficulties? What are they telling you? Could be the teachers are terrible and she is a lightning rod. My son was. I found that bringing in a junior or senior who excelled in the classes, to provide some tutoring was a lifesaver. Also, 9th and 10th grades are rough, lots of classes, lots of high drama, lots of hormones. You'll get through it. My son is at a very fine university right now. This too shall pass!

K.,
As a previous teacher in LAUSD, I would say that the policy, if I remember correctly, is open door. The district is VERY strapped for cash and will be hesitant to pay for a specialist of any kind to observe your child. However, you, or any expert you hire, should be able to observe any time. You simply have to let the office know that you are on campus, and it is considerate to let the teacher know in advance that you are coming. Sounds like your child does better in an atmosphere where she is inspired. Who doesn't? The unfortunate truth is that she may just have to buckle down since every teacher will not mesh with her learning style. If you catch it early enough in the year, you can usually have her placed in a different class...as another option. Best of luck! Your child is lucky to have such an involved parent...I often wished for more of you!
C. H.