School vs Parent academic withdrawal

[Cottage]

Hi

My 15 year old is attending a virtual charter school of choice.  She has just been diagnosed with ADHD so it explains why she has struggled so much the past 3 years.  She was not able to keep up with the school work according to the school rules (she was doing the work but basically one subject at a time or avoiding the assignments that involved writing and completing all the quizzes and tests first.). The school has said it is time for them to do an academic withdrawal (again they are a school of choice).  They are allowing me to withdraw her if that is what we choose.  I think that would look best going forward when applying to other schools, but I want to make sure I am not missing anything.  She does have an IEP. Any thoughts?

[EmilyM]

Hi, virtual school teacher here with thoughts. You said it was a charter, so if you're in the US that automatically means public.

You said she was just diagnosed. Was this diagnosis shared with the IEP team? If you have any interest in staying with this school, this could help with new accommodations to help her with lesson completion.

The way she's been completing lessons sounds reasonable at least to me. If that method keeps her on track and doesn't affect the integrity of learning and practicing the material, I don't see what the big deal is. That very way may be great accommodation for her.

That all said... A huge majority of accommodations in virtual school tend to fall on the parent and virtual school requires a lot of independent determination from the student and family. 

In my state, any public school including charters has the right to deny entry to an expelled student for up to a year, so if it comes down to it, yeah, you're best to withdraw on your own.

[JSD24]

Rules like this are often state specific.  My state has public virtual charter schools but these are not 'schools of choice'.  I'm not sure how a school of choice works.

Knowing where this is would allow for a state specific answer.

[EmilyM]

23 hours ago, JSD24 said:

Rules like this are often state specific.  My state has public virtual charter schools but these are not 'schools of choice'.  I'm not sure how a school of choice works.

Knowing where this is would allow for a state specific answer.

I believe "school of choice" is not an official term, either, so yeah, it's up to local rules.

In my state, it simply means a non-district school that you choose to attend and adhere to said rules and policies.

[Cottage]

I spoke to a Special Education attorney, and he said "school of choice" meant nothing to him.  He said a charter school has to comply with the same special ed laws as public schools.  I also spoke to the county SELPA representative and she also said an administrative withdrawal by the school sounded inappropriate. I emailed the superintendent with this information, and the SEPLA specialist spoke to the head of the school's SPED department.  The school reversed the withdrawal, so my daughter is able to stay. I'm so relieved because her Special Ed case manager at the school is magnificent!