Two "New Kids" in My Class

I mentioned (or hinted at) the fact that I was going to be getting two new kids in my Computer I class 1st period. I actually know them quite well. They were in the 1st period Computer I class first quarter and both of them flunked. I have tried to work individually with both students at some time in the past to help them make progress in class, but have been largely unsuccessful.

It wasn't until last Friday, the last day of the quarter, that Mr. Jewett got an IEP summary sheet for these two students. For those of you not in the know, an IEP is an "Individualized Education Plan." This is a plan of learning for students that have learning disabilities or are developmentally disabled. Both of these two students have been struggling through our class last quarter, getting nothing done. Both are to have extra help from paraprofessionals in the classroom and accomodations on assignments and tests.

I have been asking around. Apparently, there is a Special Education teacher in the building that does nothing. One teacher told me that this teacher last quarter had only one student assigned for a particular class period. A week or two into the quarter, the student moved out of the school. The Special Education teacher said nothing, and used the time as an extra "planning period." In a time when Special Needs resources and funding are critically lacking, I find such behavior absolutely unforgiveable.

As you may know, I spent 15 years working with the Developmentally Disabled in the community. I have a soft spot for such kids. I will be figuring out some way to get these two kids learning something in my classroom, if at all possible.