My question involves education law in the State of: Pennsylvania
Hi There,
My son has Asperger's disorder as well as ADHD. I have just now heard that he has been seeing his school counselor (not voluntarily; he's 8) each week for one hour for the entire school year thus far. I was never notified, and never asked for consent. We have autism services for him (BSC, TSS hours for school day), and there is zero reason to suspect abuse, so that is not the issue. A flyer was also sent out a few months ago asking for signed permission for my child to participate in "group lunch bunch" for children experiencing changes in the family; divorce, death, marriage, etc.
I recently married my husband who is not my son's father. We also experienced my mother's passing in December from breast cancer. This letter was sent in November, and since it was very vague, I told my husband (as I was spending a lot of time taking care of my mother with my father in a different state) not to sign, because I didn't know what it was. We had a full-time nanny to help my husband in the AM and PM at the time, who my son loved. She raised three kids, all in their 20's-30's now, and doctors, so I valued her opinion when she said she didn't think it was necessary for my son to participate in, especially if he's missing class. I then asked my son if he wanted to participate, and he said that he didn't really want to, that he would rather do lunch with his friends, so I didn't sign him up for it.
Within the past week, I received the same letter, so I called his guidance counselor to ask for more info and if that would be something he thinks my son would benefit from. He told me it is usually very fun, etc., and that he would. I asked my son again if he wanted to do it, and explained it more thoroughly to him, but this time he said he already knew what they do, because he has been going since November. He has an IEP in place, which is the least restrictive IEP imaginable, simple accommodations, mostly dictating 20% of the school day for Learning Support if necessary. We don't have weekly counseling written into it. My son is quite verbal, off task a lot, but is incredibly bright, with a very high IQ, completes all homework and classwork, but talks back and can be defiant.
He has missed a lot of days of school this year, but the school has been very understanding about it, has told me not to worry about it at all, and we have completed all work on time, and gotten it in via fax, scanning, etc. We have a private counselor in addition to wrap-around services for behavior outside of school, a Positive Behavior Support Plan through our private agency, and social skill instruction is written into the IEP through the district. I am a special ed teacher as well, so I made sure that his IEP was not too restrictive, and nothing that would make him "stand out" from the others too much to lessen embarrassment if he needed extra help. I asked my son what kinds of things he and the counselor talk about, and he told me "all kinds of things; do I like my family, do I like my step-dad, am I generally happy, and we work on how I can learn to behave a little better".
When I talked to the guidance counselor, he mentioned none of those things to me, but said that they talk mostly about WWII and the Titanic (my son's obsessions) and about how he is aware that he has no friends as well as the reasons for this. The counselor explained to me that he is trying to "break down the barriers" with my son to get him to admit that his lack of non-superficial friendships at school hurts him, whereas he "pretends like he's ok with it" My son has always loved and adored his step-father, and we are very stable with very good occupations and are very active in our community. Does this sound like actual therapy to anyone, beyond what would be considered appropriate for the school to decide to do each week religiously for an entire hour, and never mentioning a single thing to me? Are they obligated to get my consent for this? Are they at the very least obligated to inform me that he's basically seeing the counselor as a therapist? Or are they not obligated to me in any way over any of it?
I don't necessarily have a problem with it, and have no concerns over what my son is saying, we are in no custody battles, we get along well with everyone, and my son only continues to improve so I'm wondering what would even give the school a reason to have him see the counselor so often? And, without signed consent on the first paper, are they allowed to go ahead and have him participate in that anyway? If so, what was the point of sending the letter home a second time seeking permission for the same thing he's been doing this whole time without anyone signing for it to begin with? To be clear, he has been seeing this counselor 1. for the weekly sessions and 2. for the weekly group sessions with other children. We have a great relationship with the school, our IEP meetings are always fun and light, but from what I have read thus far, a school typically is allowed to do this if there is a referral to the counselor, or other personnel involving suspected abuse. Any advice would be appreciated!
Hi There,
My son has Asperger's disorder as well as ADHD. I have just now heard that he has been seeing his school counselor (not voluntarily; he's 8) each week for one hour for the entire school year thus far. I was never notified, and never asked for consent. We have autism services for him (BSC, TSS hours for school day), and there is zero reason to suspect abuse, so that is not the issue. A flyer was also sent out a few months ago asking for signed permission for my child to participate in "group lunch bunch" for children experiencing changes in the family; divorce, death, marriage, etc.
I recently married my husband who is not my son's father. We also experienced my mother's passing in December from breast cancer. This letter was sent in November, and since it was very vague, I told my husband (as I was spending a lot of time taking care of my mother with my father in a different state) not to sign, because I didn't know what it was. We had a full-time nanny to help my husband in the AM and PM at the time, who my son loved. She raised three kids, all in their 20's-30's now, and doctors, so I valued her opinion when she said she didn't think it was necessary for my son to participate in, especially if he's missing class. I then asked my son if he wanted to participate, and he said that he didn't really want to, that he would rather do lunch with his friends, so I didn't sign him up for it.
Within the past week, I received the same letter, so I called his guidance counselor to ask for more info and if that would be something he thinks my son would benefit from. He told me it is usually very fun, etc., and that he would. I asked my son again if he wanted to do it, and explained it more thoroughly to him, but this time he said he already knew what they do, because he has been going since November. He has an IEP in place, which is the least restrictive IEP imaginable, simple accommodations, mostly dictating 20% of the school day for Learning Support if necessary. We don't have weekly counseling written into it. My son is quite verbal, off task a lot, but is incredibly bright, with a very high IQ, completes all homework and classwork, but talks back and can be defiant.
He has missed a lot of days of school this year, but the school has been very understanding about it, has told me not to worry about it at all, and we have completed all work on time, and gotten it in via fax, scanning, etc. We have a private counselor in addition to wrap-around services for behavior outside of school, a Positive Behavior Support Plan through our private agency, and social skill instruction is written into the IEP through the district. I am a special ed teacher as well, so I made sure that his IEP was not too restrictive, and nothing that would make him "stand out" from the others too much to lessen embarrassment if he needed extra help. I asked my son what kinds of things he and the counselor talk about, and he told me "all kinds of things; do I like my family, do I like my step-dad, am I generally happy, and we work on how I can learn to behave a little better".
When I talked to the guidance counselor, he mentioned none of those things to me, but said that they talk mostly about WWII and the Titanic (my son's obsessions) and about how he is aware that he has no friends as well as the reasons for this. The counselor explained to me that he is trying to "break down the barriers" with my son to get him to admit that his lack of non-superficial friendships at school hurts him, whereas he "pretends like he's ok with it" My son has always loved and adored his step-father, and we are very stable with very good occupations and are very active in our community. Does this sound like actual therapy to anyone, beyond what would be considered appropriate for the school to decide to do each week religiously for an entire hour, and never mentioning a single thing to me? Are they obligated to get my consent for this? Are they at the very least obligated to inform me that he's basically seeing the counselor as a therapist? Or are they not obligated to me in any way over any of it?
I don't necessarily have a problem with it, and have no concerns over what my son is saying, we are in no custody battles, we get along well with everyone, and my son only continues to improve so I'm wondering what would even give the school a reason to have him see the counselor so often? And, without signed consent on the first paper, are they allowed to go ahead and have him participate in that anyway? If so, what was the point of sending the letter home a second time seeking permission for the same thing he's been doing this whole time without anyone signing for it to begin with? To be clear, he has been seeing this counselor 1. for the weekly sessions and 2. for the weekly group sessions with other children. We have a great relationship with the school, our IEP meetings are always fun and light, but from what I have read thus far, a school typically is allowed to do this if there is a referral to the counselor, or other personnel involving suspected abuse. Any advice would be appreciated!
Special Needs and Accommodation: Can a Guidance Counselor See a Student Without a Parent's Knowledge or Consent
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