Denise: My son is in 3rd grade and has dsylexia. He was on a 504 plan last year. Since the first day of school this year he has been failing math and reading. Is behind 2 grades in reading. Should he have an IEP or be in special Ed for these 2 classes? What can I do to help him? He is in a dsylexia class of some kind. But what about these other issues of not passing and struggling? I have a meeting with the school in a week. What do I need to know?
So, what will serve them better? And IEP or a 504? We are also struggling to get our school in Florida to help our 4th grader who has a low 2nd grade reading level. She has been behind since KDG. We have asked the school for help every year and they say she will catch up. We finally had to have her tested outside the school system to have her diagnosed.
Your state parent training & information project can provide you with training & information on support groups in your state. http://www.parentcenterhub.org/find-your-center
He is struggling to keep up with course content. The pace will get faster. He is also becoming aware that he is not learning at the same level as his peers. You should become familiar with the resources on Wrightslaw and online to understand dyslexia. My questions would center on specific assessments, deficits, remediation,etc. What programs are they using in the dyslexia class to remediate him? What are the benchmarks and has he reached any at all or even last year? What are his specific deficits? Yes, collaborate with the school but conduct your own research and know that there are also online games and programs to give him a boost. Try to connect with other parent advocates and organizations that focus on dyslexia. Keep him motivated outside of school with extracurriculars.