(Adobe Stock via Minnesota News Connection)
(By Mike Moen. Minnesota News Connection) – Imagine seeing your child struggle with school issues but educators cannot see it. It can occur for households seeking special education services as Minnesota districts and parents work through unique cases.
Individualized Education Programs are a key tool K-12 schools use when meeting the learning needs of students with disabilities such as autism or speech and hearing impairments. Federal law mandates IEPs but a medical diagnosis does not lead to automatic approval, with negative effects on learning or social skills also required.
Todd Tetzlaff, human resources director for North Branch Area Public Schools, said what is playing out at home might be different from what is happening in the classroom.
“The child is very distracted, off-task,” Tetzlaff explained. “But then at school, they’re gathering data and they’re looking at it (saying), ‘Boy, the kid’s assignment completion rate is 95%.’”