PARENTAL WARNING!!!
Do not sign blank “Student Learning Plans”!
At the conclusion of the 2005
school year I received in the mail a packet from my son’s high school. In this
packet was a cover letter, an informational flier on “Student Learning Plans”
and my son’s “Certificate of Academic Achievement – Student Learning Plan.”
One of the first things I
noticed after reading through the information that was mailed to me was that
there was no written plan on my child’s “Student Learning Plan,” yet I was expected
to sign and return this plan. The second thing I noticed was that the time was
not taken to enter my child’s WASL scores for the 4th and 7th grade, I can
understand the 8th grade WASL score not being there, due to the fact he didn’t
take it, yet it should have still reflected a zero. I have to say I was
appalled that the school was asking me to, basically, sign a blank paper.
After doing some research I
found that many other parents were being asked to do the same thing I was, sign
a plan where no plan / interventions / strategies were documented on the form.
This sent off warning bells in my head so onto the
After reviewing the OSPI
information (below) I realized the only thing my child’s plan had on it was the
courses/competencies to stay on track for graduation, which I was well aware
of, and the Parent Strategies, another thing I am well aware of. What it didn’t
include was the WASL results and the actions the school intends to take. These
are the important things that the parent needs to be aware of before signing
the form. In addition, it is recommended through OSPI that this information
preferably be given through a parent conference; I received it through the
mail.
Since receiving this packet
of information I have sent a letter to my child’s high school, refusing to sign
the blank Certificate of Academic Achievement – Student Learning Plan and
requesting a meeting to discuss the plan. As I write this I am still waiting on
a reply from the school.
I would like to let parents
know they have rights and should never sign anything from the school that is
not completely filled out or that they don’t agree with. These are our
children; we are their parents and we know what is best for them. If you
receive one of these forms, please look it over very carefully before signing
it, know what you are agreeing to and if you are in doubt, ask questions!
Below, you will find the
items I received from the school and the information available on the OSPI
website.
Lisa Sampson
Executive Board Member Parent Empowerment Network / Mothers
Against WASL
From OSPI website
What must be included?
Grades
5 and 8-12: WASL results; actions
that the school intends to take to improve the student's skills and strategies;
strategies to help parents improve their child's skills; annual adjustments as
needed; parent contact.
Grades
8-12: Also to specifically include
courses, competencies, and other steps needed to meet academic standards and
stay on track for graduation. Annual adjustments are to be made to the plan, as
necessary.
How
are parents involved in these learning plans?
Parents
or guardians must be notified of the student plan, preferably through a parent
conference. Progress on the plan must be
reported to parents or guardians at least once a year.
