This could start a revolution in Virginia, Diva. Our schools are diverting federal funds to other places in their budgets and are cutting back on qualifying children with special needs for IEPs and Special Ed assistance. It's a shame, as many children who need special assistance are not getting it. Many are disrupting the regular classrooms where they are placed as part of a "philosophy" of mainstreaming them, whether they can handle it or not. Or, maybe more appropriately, whether the teachers can handle it or not

I'm guessing things are better in Ohio.

Thanks, Matt! Please spread the word. Things aren't a lot better in Ohio, especially. A couple of high schools have closed here and kids are crowded with all kinds of problems with discipline. I think parents are the best resource for solving these problems. When my new love suggested I start a blog about my field of expertise, I wasn't sure what it would be about; then I thought about the parent of an autistic child in our after school program. She uses behavior science to deal with his various problems and instructed the staff that run the program how to follow through in the after school program. I talked to her and found out she'd also done the same thing with his teachers. A foster parent with two children with autism is coming in next week to train staff on how to deal with them. So, I came up with the idea of parents helping the professionals. I'm hoping that both parents and teachers will benefit from a collaboration that will ultimately have the greatest benefit for children with special needs.

My late sister fought for her then young child and never gave up despite cuts etc.
I am so glad to see you do this.
Rated with hugs

a wild plan:
Fix the damn economy so some women can
not only "stay at home" but also be volunteers
in the school system, conspiring with so-called
educators to make a
bully-violence-boredom-less
school environment.

"Hey yo, where's your mama?"

"YO, she's sitting in on English class. "

"My mama is with the principal, man"

"You got the same lunch period as me, yeah? Let's get our mamas
to foot the bill...i'm thinkin' big pizza with everything..."

"Yeah but all the bs from our mamas..you up for it?"

"Hey man, i get all a's and b's...i got nothin to fear."

"Hey yo, yr mama is hot"

"shut the f. up."

"Kiddin, man, lets do lunch"

What a good idea! Your link led me back to this blog. Parents helping teachers is a great idea. I'm sure they do that already but this makes it official and something that will have to happen more as funding gets cut.

Thanks, Linda, my friend! Zanelle, I always had help from parents when I was teaching and welcomed it. But many schools now require parents to make appointments just to visit their children's classrooms. I'm sure there's a good reason for that given all of the violence in schools in recent years. My forum provides a safe place for dialog.

James, you are too funny! Love your little dialog!