IEP

Dr. Cheryl,

Sorry I have not been getting back to your responses. I have not been checking the blog after I post them. I will make sure to check it more frequently.

I do not think there is any sort of IEP or other special education program for those kids who are in need. The special needs teacher did say something about trying to get some staffing in for the students, but I don't know how much the school will be willing to do with their apparent limited budget. We have even discussed placing that particular student in a math class with students from a lower grade level. It is apparent that she cannot do the work, let a lone get caught back up with the class. Right now, I feel that is our only option.

I am getting similar feelings from other teachers as well. This particular student seems to be struggling in other classes as well. In fact, all the students that I am having problems with (only in 6th grade) all the other teachers who teach that level are seeing similar issues.

I get the feeling that the policy of the school is to move students to the next level, even if they are failing or fail. I originally thought this school would be different than the language school I previously worked at, but I am not beginning to feel it is not different. While teaching at the language school, I was unable to give students scores that were too low because if they received low scores, their parents might pull them out of that school and send them to another school.

I am getting the same feeling about this school. The bottom line is money. Parents think its prestigious to send their children to a private American School, so it makes the student and the family look good. Likewise, the school needs these parents to send their children to the school to function. In a school this small, loosing a student is a big deal. So in order to keep as many students as possible, the school continues advancing students to the next level, whether they deserve it or not.

Actually, this sounds rather similar to some of the things I noticed about the education system in the states, where some students are passed or promoted to the next level just so they can graduate on time and the schools graduation rate looks good.

Aaron