July Board Meeting:
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone!
Here's the official Agenda (PDF) for the July board meting, which includes
(a) the usual resolutions (Larry Stanton, etc.),
(b) a new policy for interviewing CPS students that I and other journo-watchdog types will need to take a look at,
(c) something new about "momentary physical intervention" in the classroom that looks juicy,
(d) plus the usual slew of approvals for new and/or repurposed magnet schools (Miles Davis, LaSalle II, Kershaw, Oscar Mayer, Disney II), charter renewals (Perspectives, LEARN, Passages), and Ren10 approvals (Burroughs II, Disney II, VOISE).
UPDATE: Student intervention policy on board's agenda CTDN
A proposed policy to be considered by the city's board of education would outline the circumstances under which "limited force" could be used to control unruly students.
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Tue Jul 22, 2008 at 10:33 AM
July Board Meeting:
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! What I'd like to know, where is the board decisions that were made for the last 2 Board meetings? Nadig papers posted the notice about the Haugen boundary changes without mention of APMA, where is that press release? Again, the Board doing whatever it wants irregardless of the "children" it represents.
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! What I'd like to know, where is the board decisions that were made for the last 2 Board meetings? Nadig papers posted the notice about the Haugen boundary changes without mention of APMA, where is that press release? Again, the Board doing whatever it wants irregardless of the "children" it represents.
Tue Jul 22, 2008 at 5:00 PM
July Board Meeting:
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! CPS says that the item about student interviews comes from legal and has more to do with DCFS and the public defender's office than journalists. but it does give administrators a lot of leeway in fending off anyone who wants to enter the school or interview students, and does include folks from "outside publications." there's even a student interview request form, which sounds like a pain at least.
as for "momentary physical intervention," there aren't many specifics. no definition of momentary, for example. but the new policy seems aimed at saying that you can't sit on a kid until he calms down -- limiting physical contact to situations involving physical harm and the need to remove a child from a situation. not punishment. this one came from school safety, i'm told. but i haven't seen it yet, either.
more to come.
-- alexander
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! CPS says that the item about student interviews comes from legal and has more to do with DCFS and the public defender's office than journalists. but it does give administrators a lot of leeway in fending off anyone who wants to enter the school or interview students, and does include folks from "outside publications." there's even a student interview request form, which sounds like a pain at least.
as for "momentary physical intervention," there aren't many specifics. no definition of momentary, for example. but the new policy seems aimed at saying that you can't sit on a kid until he calms down -- limiting physical contact to situations involving physical harm and the need to remove a child from a situation. not punishment. this one came from school safety, i'm told. but i haven't seen it yet, either.
more to come.
-- alexander
Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 8:56 AM
July Board Meeting:
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! here's the story from the CTDN
Student intervention policy on board's agenda CTDN
A proposed policy to be considered by the city's board of education would outline the circumstances under which "limited force" could be used to control unruly students.
link
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! here's the story from the CTDN
Student intervention policy on board's agenda CTDN
A proposed policy to be considered by the city's board of education would outline the circumstances under which "limited force" could be used to control unruly students.
link
Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 9:27 AM
July Board Meeting:
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! Rod and other sped experts -
Any alerts or highlights about this proposed "student intervention" policy from a special needs students point of view????
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! Rod and other sped experts -
Any alerts or highlights about this proposed "student intervention" policy from a special needs students point of view????
Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 11:23 AM
July Board Meeting:
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! Teachers and aides do not come to work to get hit, bit or scratched by disruptive studdents nor do other students come to school to be attacked. Teachers and aides need to write up incident reports on these students because if this is happening then the placement in incorrect. Employees also need to file police reports or this type of behavior will continue. In the eyes of the law a disability does not allow you to physically harm another. Employees have rights in spite of what your principal or case manager may tell you when they place a 200 lb autistic child who is not on his meds into your closet/classroom.
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! Teachers and aides do not come to work to get hit, bit or scratched by disruptive studdents nor do other students come to school to be attacked. Teachers and aides need to write up incident reports on these students because if this is happening then the placement in incorrect. Employees also need to file police reports or this type of behavior will continue. In the eyes of the law a disability does not allow you to physically harm another. Employees have rights in spite of what your principal or case manager may tell you when they place a 200 lb autistic child who is not on his meds into your closet/classroom.
Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 11:49 AM
July Board Meeting:
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! I am pleased to see the above. When I was attacked more than once at my last school, I filed police reports and incident reports but I didn't get very far because they kept telling me SPED students could only be suspended 10 days and that I had to deal with it. One time, I was scratched so badly that I had open cuts on my neck. I only succeeded getting one student who was attacking me and others into a tuitioned out program. I hope it is changing more in the direction of teacher rights to protect themselves (and other students).
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! I am pleased to see the above. When I was attacked more than once at my last school, I filed police reports and incident reports but I didn't get very far because they kept telling me SPED students could only be suspended 10 days and that I had to deal with it. One time, I was scratched so badly that I had open cuts on my neck. I only succeeded getting one student who was attacking me and others into a tuitioned out program. I hope it is changing more in the direction of teacher rights to protect themselves (and other students).
Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 2:18 PM
July Board Meeting:
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! interesting story in the new york times about restraining kids:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/15/health/15restraint.html
"calm down or else."
link
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! interesting story in the new york times about restraining kids:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/15/health/15restraint.html
"calm down or else."
link
Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 5:06 PM
July Board Meeting:
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! It is odd I have exactly the opposite situation before me right now. I have a CPS high school student who is identified as EBD who was arrested for "assault" for raising his hand and making a fist at a teacher. This student had not even been suspended for 5 days in the 07-08 school year.
The report on file at the school reflects that the student never touched the teacher, but rather the teacher stated in writing she felt threatened. The student also lacked any behavior plan at all. Based on this I urged the low income mother of the student to fight the charges in juvenile court, instead she had her child plead guilty and he was placed in what is called the diversion program.
So I see nothing similar to what you have described at this CPS high school. I have to assume you are teaching in an elementary school self contained program.
Rod Estvan
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! It is odd I have exactly the opposite situation before me right now. I have a CPS high school student who is identified as EBD who was arrested for "assault" for raising his hand and making a fist at a teacher. This student had not even been suspended for 5 days in the 07-08 school year.
The report on file at the school reflects that the student never touched the teacher, but rather the teacher stated in writing she felt threatened. The student also lacked any behavior plan at all. Based on this I urged the low income mother of the student to fight the charges in juvenile court, instead she had her child plead guilty and he was placed in what is called the diversion program.
So I see nothing similar to what you have described at this CPS high school. I have to assume you are teaching in an elementary school self contained program.
Rod Estvan
Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 6:53 PM
July Board Meeting:
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! No one should go to work and be assaulted and be told " oh well it's the nature of the disability".
Has anyone ever studied the experience level of teachers who teach severe and profound or autism in CPS? They are usually very young and non-tenured and some have no credentials in special education.
Elementary teachers, especially teachers of children with autism or those labeled ED, do not report these instances of physical assault. I do not know why they are so afraid to report this-reporting does usually get increased services for the child such as a one on one aide or monitoring of medication by a nurse.
This is another way for CPS to save money because many of these violent children are manageable with a one on one aide, a behavior therapist's behavior plan and the appropriate placement.
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! No one should go to work and be assaulted and be told " oh well it's the nature of the disability".
Has anyone ever studied the experience level of teachers who teach severe and profound or autism in CPS? They are usually very young and non-tenured and some have no credentials in special education.
Elementary teachers, especially teachers of children with autism or those labeled ED, do not report these instances of physical assault. I do not know why they are so afraid to report this-reporting does usually get increased services for the child such as a one on one aide or monitoring of medication by a nurse.
This is another way for CPS to save money because many of these violent children are manageable with a one on one aide, a behavior therapist's behavior plan and the appropriate placement.
Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 9:20 PM
July Board Meeting:
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! Rod,
You're right. Most of my experience was on an elementary level. However, at Spalding, I had a high school student bring a knife into my classroom (it was hidden in his pant's leg) and threaten me with it. It was about lunch time so I was able to send the other students to lunch with another teacher while I waited for security. He was arrested but returned to school and even though I was elementary, I ended up attending his staffing and helping to write his first behavior plan. I think that is one of the problems. All ED students are supposed to have behavioral plans and all SPED students who are suspended more than once are supposed to have plans written. In fact, when I was case manager, I was told that even a student that was suspected of needing SPED services should have a behavioral plan written when you begin to suspend them.
I think elementary teachers are expected to put up with more than high school teachers because CPS doesn't want to look at whether or not the placement is appropriate. In high school, after age 16, you have many more options including kicking the student out of school. The letter above is very similiar to my own experiences and I wasn't a new teacher. It was very hard to get support from the administration and once students learned there were few or any consequences often the behavior got worst.
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! Rod,
You're right. Most of my experience was on an elementary level. However, at Spalding, I had a high school student bring a knife into my classroom (it was hidden in his pant's leg) and threaten me with it. It was about lunch time so I was able to send the other students to lunch with another teacher while I waited for security. He was arrested but returned to school and even though I was elementary, I ended up attending his staffing and helping to write his first behavior plan. I think that is one of the problems. All ED students are supposed to have behavioral plans and all SPED students who are suspended more than once are supposed to have plans written. In fact, when I was case manager, I was told that even a student that was suspected of needing SPED services should have a behavioral plan written when you begin to suspend them.
I think elementary teachers are expected to put up with more than high school teachers because CPS doesn't want to look at whether or not the placement is appropriate. In high school, after age 16, you have many more options including kicking the student out of school. The letter above is very similiar to my own experiences and I wasn't a new teacher. It was very hard to get support from the administration and once students learned there were few or any consequences often the behavior got worst.
Thu Jul 24, 2008 at 6:04 AM
July Board Meeting:
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! Often it is the special education aides who end up with bruises from violent students. Unless the teacher reports the abuse the aides are powerless. CTU has been helpful in some cases-filed under working conditions. Teachers need to remember that aides are at the mercy of the principal and that the teacher sets the tone for classroom discipline.
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! Often it is the special education aides who end up with bruises from violent students. Unless the teacher reports the abuse the aides are powerless. CTU has been helpful in some cases-filed under working conditions. Teachers need to remember that aides are at the mercy of the principal and that the teacher sets the tone for classroom discipline.
Thu Jul 24, 2008 at 7:45 AM
July Board Meeting:
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! I agree that aides often are the victims but I have helped some fill out incident and assault reports. I went to the Union with a whole stack of papers on one particular child (police reports, assault reports, incident reports, anedotals, notes to the principal) and received no help at all. The file included reports from the aides in the classroom. This particular student had even attacked a police officer assigned to the school. Even the Corey H. team agreed in reviewing the file that the student should have a one on one aide, this was never done. A teacher can only do so much if the administration is not willing to support the teachers and aides. Also downtown needs to stop thinking money and live up to their motto of thinking children first.
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! I agree that aides often are the victims but I have helped some fill out incident and assault reports. I went to the Union with a whole stack of papers on one particular child (police reports, assault reports, incident reports, anedotals, notes to the principal) and received no help at all. The file included reports from the aides in the classroom. This particular student had even attacked a police officer assigned to the school. Even the Corey H. team agreed in reviewing the file that the student should have a one on one aide, this was never done. A teacher can only do so much if the administration is not willing to support the teachers and aides. Also downtown needs to stop thinking money and live up to their motto of thinking children first.
Thu Jul 24, 2008 at 10:35 AM
July Board Meeting:
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! http://rccp.cornell.edu/tcimainpage.html -
part of Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (from Cornell U)
also of interest...
Dr. Catherine J. Malatt, manager for Crisis Intervention Services in the Office of Specialized Services, has received a 2008 Victim Service Recognition Award. She was honored by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office and the Victim Witness Assistance Program at a ceremony April 14 at the Chicago Cultural Center for her department’s work assisting students, teachers and parents in coping with initial emotional reactions to a crisis. The Crisis Intervention Unit works with Hartgrove Hospital, American Red Cross, DCFS, and the Chicago Police Department, to develop a comprehensive plan for each school in response to a crisis. (source Intercom)
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! http://rccp.cornell.edu/tcimainpage.html -
part of Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (from Cornell U)
also of interest...
Dr. Catherine J. Malatt, manager for Crisis Intervention Services in the Office of Specialized Services, has received a 2008 Victim Service Recognition Award. She was honored by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office and the Victim Witness Assistance Program at a ceremony April 14 at the Chicago Cultural Center for her department’s work assisting students, teachers and parents in coping with initial emotional reactions to a crisis. The Crisis Intervention Unit works with Hartgrove Hospital, American Red Cross, DCFS, and the Chicago Police Department, to develop a comprehensive plan for each school in response to a crisis. (source Intercom)
Thu Jul 24, 2008 at 12:09 PM
July Board Meeting:
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! To 10:35 Congratulations! The employees in special education classrooms often need crisis intervention.
How about inservicing the school psychologists, nurses and social workers to report employee abuse by students?
They are in the classrooms for observations and I am sure they see behaviors that are a danger to the child or a danger to others. They need to report it so the teacher has back-up.
Intead of writing that" Jacob experiences great difficulty in peer interaction" please write the truth, "Jacob is violent towards peers and adults". Stop pandering for OSS.
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! To 10:35 Congratulations! The employees in special education classrooms often need crisis intervention.
How about inservicing the school psychologists, nurses and social workers to report employee abuse by students?
They are in the classrooms for observations and I am sure they see behaviors that are a danger to the child or a danger to others. They need to report it so the teacher has back-up.
Intead of writing that" Jacob experiences great difficulty in peer interaction" please write the truth, "Jacob is violent towards peers and adults". Stop pandering for OSS.
Thu Jul 24, 2008 at 10:27 PM
July Board Meeting:
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! 12:09 Very true...this has been swept under the carpet for years
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! 12:09 Very true...this has been swept under the carpet for years
Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 12:05 PM
July Board Meeting:
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! If you're using a "behavior specialist" from CPS's I-CARE unit, good luck. The one who served our school didn't know how to conduct a Functional Behavior Assessment or create a Behavior Intervention Plan from data. (Which was in keeping with the sped team's approach to academic and social/emotional goals and objectives, too, btw.)
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! If you're using a "behavior specialist" from CPS's I-CARE unit, good luck. The one who served our school didn't know how to conduct a Functional Behavior Assessment or create a Behavior Intervention Plan from data. (Which was in keeping with the sped team's approach to academic and social/emotional goals and objectives, too, btw.)
Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 12:49 PM
July Board Meeting:
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! There is no plan for students who are violent, swear non-stop to the principals or have no moral boundary regarding behaviors. I have written BIP and asked parents to come to school and pick-up there child when he/she is out of control. They do not come. The child is left in the office with no one to control him or her or put right back in the classroom. There are no extra hands to help out in cases like these. Parents will not heed the adivse of the IEP staff. Behavior specialists do not show up. Schools are stuck.
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! There is no plan for students who are violent, swear non-stop to the principals or have no moral boundary regarding behaviors. I have written BIP and asked parents to come to school and pick-up there child when he/she is out of control. They do not come. The child is left in the office with no one to control him or her or put right back in the classroom. There are no extra hands to help out in cases like these. Parents will not heed the adivse of the IEP staff. Behavior specialists do not show up. Schools are stuck.
Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 12:58 PM
July Board Meeting:
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! If you are threatened or hit by a student you need to file a police report. It does not matter what the disability is nor does the age of the child. The placement is incorrect and if you have notified everyone in writing about these behaviors but gotten nowhere which happens all too frequently in CPS, then a police report will generate action. We are a protected class under the law. I have seen this time and time again but it takes a proactive teacher to do this and it does get help for the child. Otherwise, we will be reading about this child in the Sun-Times.
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! If you are threatened or hit by a student you need to file a police report. It does not matter what the disability is nor does the age of the child. The placement is incorrect and if you have notified everyone in writing about these behaviors but gotten nowhere which happens all too frequently in CPS, then a police report will generate action. We are a protected class under the law. I have seen this time and time again but it takes a proactive teacher to do this and it does get help for the child. Otherwise, we will be reading about this child in the Sun-Times.
Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 1:16 PM
July Board Meeting:
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! How can schools get unstuck?
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! How can schools get unstuck?
Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 2:01 PM
July Board Meeting:
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! Why do teachers violate the law by not completing arrest reports or reporting other instances where children and students may be in danger.
If a principal tells you not to file out the report that principal has now violated state law.
If the principal/administrator retaliates against a teacher there again the principal violates state law.
Stand up for your rights.
Stop breaking the law.
Report any and all crimes that take place on school grounds.
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! Why do teachers violate the law by not completing arrest reports or reporting other instances where children and students may be in danger.
If a principal tells you not to file out the report that principal has now violated state law.
If the principal/administrator retaliates against a teacher there again the principal violates state law.
Stand up for your rights.
Stop breaking the law.
Report any and all crimes that take place on school grounds.
Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 8:48 PM
July Board Meeting:
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! Dear Kugler:
I have a friend that was dismissed from his job (at a charter school) after filing a police report on a student who made a verbal trhreat. Where exactly is it in the state educational code that says the principal has violated the law so I can forward itt to him?
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! Dear Kugler:
I have a friend that was dismissed from his job (at a charter school) after filing a police report on a student who made a verbal trhreat. Where exactly is it in the state educational code that says the principal has violated the law so I can forward itt to him?
Sat Jul 26, 2008 at 5:05 AM
July Board Meeting:
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! Dear Bee:
Just contact the Chicago Legal Clinic at 312 226 2620,312 726 7838, 312 908 8705.
Good luck
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! Dear Bee:
Just contact the Chicago Legal Clinic at 312 226 2620,312 726 7838, 312 908 8705.
Good luck
Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 11:32 AM
July Board Meeting:
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! Why have there been no Board Actions posted on the CPS website since April 2008?
Charters & Magnet Clones For Everyone! Why have there been no Board Actions posted on the CPS website since April 2008?
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