Janis

HI:)

I have identical twins in 7th grade who are currently in the Santa Monica district (I break out in hives just writing their district:(. My kiddos were born at 31 weeks, did not get early services (I think that was on purpose as they both had brain bleeds after the NICU transferred them at 13 days old), and we are still getting diagnoses.  Currently, I am in a huge battle with the district and am seeking any advice.  My one son, E, goes to an alternative school in the district which was supposed tone great ($7,000 IEE and an educational advocate helped get us there), however, he was inappropriately touched by another student while in the classroom repeatedly for almost 2 months and ended up in a partial hospitalization program over the summer.  He made great progress there.  But his school has gotten even worse: they are not following his IEP, he is stuck in front of a computer for all classes except for Reading/Writing.  He has dysgraphia, which they ignore, and the list goes on.  His triennial is in February and I know they are going to switch him to his "home school" in the district, which is where his brother goes.

And that school is equally not appropriate, for different reasons.  at that school, my son, G, (who they found eligible under Autism in May) has been in a state of decline for a year.  He gets bullied, physically attacked, and last year....same month the I learned of the sexual touching at his twin's school,  a few bullies had taken a picture of G using the bathroom and posted it on social media...and the principal did nothing. I was told they couldn't determine who did it because if the Instagram account...however, my son is miserable, doesn't want to go to school (I don't blame him), and now has rages and is on medication for depression.   

Our district is known for being terrible when it comes to special education (there was just a $45 million verdict against them for treatment of nonverbal twins).

I have looked at the nonpublic schools, but they do not seem like a good fit for either of my kids:(.

At this point, I think I should probably make complaints (the SELPA and the District Special Ed Director know everything and are doing nothing), but I really need advice and to take action.  For both children, there is IEP noncompliance, no meaningful progress, evertyhing is on computers, so they allow kids to just keep guessing answers until they are correct...and then they say "Oh! E got an 82% on his quiz."  

I had part 1 of G's annual IEP before the holidays, I told them I wanted an IEE, as well as  compensatory services due to the pandemic, and I received an email saying "lets talk about this:Ill call you after the holidays."  So once I send them PWN about both these issues, exactly what do I do next?  I know who I want to do the IEE, and the tutor for the compensatory services.....but I am never able to talk to anyone who will actually do anything (including special ed director and SELPA director).  It's so frustrating.  Honestly, I would do anything to leave this horrible place and find decent schools where my kids aren't bullied, beat up, and they are taught nothing....but still moving along because the district says they are "meeting grade level expectations."

Please help.  Things cannot get much worse.  And I am a single mom and cannot afford an attorney.  And I have not begun to scratch the surface of how bad it is (not providing books, excluding E from field trips, etc.).