No Child Left Behind, Except the Military Child

Hi,

Alright, listen, I won't pretend to know much about the "No Child Left Behind" Act, but I believe there are national standards for children with special needs.  However, the standards don't apply fully when a child moves districts or states.  

I have a son who qualified for special needs preschool, or "early childhood" programs.  We didn't realize his need until about 9 months before we moved.  We didn't know when we would move at that time.  

If you have a special needs child, you realize that the process of getting recognized by the "system" (as I'll call it) can take some time.  I am sure that these systems are somewhat overwhelmed by the need of so many for these programs, and I am truly grateful that there are programs in place to recognize, and teach special kids.  

However, we were well on our way to having our son finally entered into the "early childhood" program in our district when we were given the news that we would move.  

Unfortunately, the process would not be finished by the time we moved, and we were told by the local "system" that we would have to restart the process at our next location.  What?!

I couldn't believe that my son would have to wait through an entire process that we had almost completed, again, just because his dad serves in the military.  Surely the military had some protection for these special kids.  In fact, they did not.  

Fortunately, after being told "no" several times, we did finally get a person within the "system" to recognize the delay our son would face in getting proper schooling if we did not finish getting his "IEP" or education plan at our current district.  This was because someone was kind, not because it was the law.  I'm sure other parents have had delays in their child's education because of these kinds of moves.  

Unfortunately, we don't have much, if any, control over when we move.  Our moves are a matter of business and timing for the military and the career my husband holds within it.  Certainly, the timing of this move was not our optimal choice, but it was when it was.  

I don't know if there are many in the military who have run into this situation.  Perhaps some with "special needs" children have had enough time on station to have their child completely entered into special needs programs.  Once a child is recognized as having "special needs", they can move districts with fewer delays.  However, if a move comes in the middle of the process for that recognition, a child, and their family, can face significant delays, and may have to finish an entirely new process in another district.  

Again, this is probably not common-place, but is not fair for those who have to face this trouble.  

Fortunately for us, our son had everything complete in order to start this school year.  If we had not been shown the kindness by the person in our last assignment, we would still be waiting, and probably for several more months.  

Thanks for listening.  :)

C.M. 

New Everything!

Hello! 

Again, I don't want to complain too much without some good news, so I will start this blog with something that I am really thankful for: free medical care. I've already mentioned this before, but it's a big one, so it is worth mentioning again.    

With that said, I do wish we didn't have to get new doctors every move.  Just when you feel you get an understanding with one doc at a base, you move.  

Doctors aren't the only things that change.  Most of you will understand all the things that come with a move, but imagine 5 permanent duty station moves in 10 years!  Yikes. Some in the military are more stationary, and some are less stationary.  

Alright, here is my list of the changes that I can name off the top of my head that occur with a move (in no particular order) :  new DMV, new DPS, new Vet, new stable, new climate, new schools, new doctors (for peds, family medicine, flight medicine, etc.), new commissary, new power company, new gas company, new water company, new church, new house, new teachers, new neighbors, new friends, new yard, new neighborhood, new hairdresser, new grocery stores, new schedule (sometimes), new arrangement of furniture, new piano teacher, new farrier, new place to service car, new restaurants, new phone company, new HOA (I really love this one),  new cost to get home, new cost of living (sometimes more, sometimes less), new streets, new culture, new job, new commute, new a lot of stuff.  I've put a positive spin on these with the word "new", but it could be replaced by "different" or "changed" to be more neutral.  I can't think of a good negative word for the changes, but if you like, you could substitute "stinkin'", or "rotten", or whatever you like.  :)  Alright, I just made myself laugh a little with that last sentence.  :)  

Anyway, I think you get the point.  A lot of changes occur with every move, even if you aren't in the military.  Some are positive, and some are not so great.  Some changes are easier to deal with, and some are really difficult.  

With that said, I think I am done for the day.  Hey, I didn't put you through too much, did I?  

Thanks for listening!  

C.M.  

School transitions and quality of districts.

Hello, again!  

Well, we are heading toward another year in school in a new state.  This has been our first move involving a school change for our oldest, and I think she is excited.  She does, however, miss her old friends and her old school.  Fortunately, we moved during the summer, so the switch occurred during her yearly transition from one grade to the next.  Whew!  

I know many aren't as fortunate as we have been.  Changing schools mid-year, or mid-semester can be especially challenging.  

Unfortunately for us, we have been stationed in states where the schools are struggling to keep pace academically.  Both our current and last assignments were in areas that also recently dealt with a high influx of students due to massive area growth.  The high number of students caused the school systems in these areas to struggle with getting new schools, new administrations, and new teachers fast enough.  Also, quality teachers, I've heard, are harder to come by in these areas as the housing prices went up so drastically that the teacher's salaries couldn't keep pace.  What a conundrum. 

 Honestly, I don't know where our children will fall on a state ranking list of school performance.  I have done what I can to supplement their education in my own way with books, and computer programs, and other educational products. 

As of yet, I don't mind, but the local district is putting more kids in the schools in our zone, by using 5 schedules of year round school so that the school can handle the number of students, and be used 12 months of the year.  That is true only of the elementary school here, so students in other schools are on a regular 9 months schedule.  That can make a mess for parents of many kids.  Hopefully, the change in schedule won't be a huge problem for my kids.  I don't think it will be, but we have so many transitions as it is.  :)

I have a son with some special school considerations, and transitioning him into this district was not easy.  I believe special kids' transitions could (should) be made easier for military families who are constantly on the move.  There will be more on this in a later blog. 

Have any opinions on military kids and schools?  Please feel free to leave your respectful comments.:)

 

On the bright side...

Hi,

Well, I'm not all about complaining.:)  

I am truly glad that we have healthcare costs covered in the military.  Sure, sometimes the care we get isn't the best, sometimes it is, but it is available.  

I can go in for something I'm not sure about and not worry about the cost.  I'm sure if I had to pay for some of these visits, I probably wouldn't go, and something of concern might get missed.  

I also appreciate that our whole family has records of shots, visits, etc. written down for our records, so that if I lose track, the military can get me back on.  

A great burden is lifted when we don't have to worry about healthcare costs in the military.  

C.M. 

The HOA: Where freedom is lost.

Alright, this doesn't have much to do with being military, except that I've lived under quite a few rules laid down by apartments, landlords, HOA's, base housing, etc..  

HOA: Hierarchy Over America (because I won't use the more choice word for the "H".)  

We sacrifice so much of our freedoms already, being a military family, but HOA's take so much of our freedoms away.  I can see why they were established, but think they do more harm than good.  When neighbors complain that your garbage-can is out a couple of hours late on pick-up day, then something has gone terribly awry.  It seems these HOA's are the court of the absurd.  

Perhaps I'm a little miffed that someone made a complaint against us on our 2nd day in our home because our dog barked.  Never, in the 8 years we've had our dogs has anyone made a complaint against them, but our new HOA wanted to make sure we felt welcome as soon as we moved in.  Come-on, we weren't able to even wipe the dust from our feet, let alone remember to follow the myriad rules our neighbors have imposed upon us.  

Listen, if a neighbor's house smells bad, or they keep music going at all hours of the night, or if their dog barks excessively, then yes, it's nice to have some recourse so that you can have peace in your own home.   How a person decorates their home, or what colors they use, or when they put their trash can away should be their own business.  If someone else finds that offensive,well they can say, "at least I can decorate my house the way I want," and be grateful that those freedoms aren't in the hands of someone else.  

I can guarantee our dogs barked, but not excessively, and certainly not during sleeping hours.  We have always been mindful to keep them quiet out of respect for our neighbors, and ourselves.  I think someone was just looking for something to complain about, honestly.

We've heard of our neighbors being particularly careful in this neighborhood, for fear of the HOA.  We are not alone, at least.  

It just doesn't seem right to me. This kind of thing seems like "let your neighbors take your freedoms".  

If you have been blessed, and do not live under the authority of the HOA, be glad to have retained some of your freedoms.  :)

Can my state give me the boot?

Well, I don't have much time again today, but I still am sad that my home state won't claim me without my providing all kinds of proof that it is the place I want to call home.  Spouses don't get a "home-of-record" as the military member does.  I have always called my state home, and have only been a temporary resident of the many other places we have called home because the military has moved us to these places. My husband definitely has more of an attachment to my home state than to his own, anyway.   

I met my husband in my home state, married him in my home state but am not allowed to claim residency in my home state even though what moved us from home is the military.  I want to retain the right to vote in my home state without having to jump through hoops, too.  I can't help that we move all the time, and I haven't been able to vote in overseas elections, and don't want to vote in other states because those places aren't home.  I think spouses should be able to establish their own home of record, if they wish, too.  It seems only fair.  And in divorce situations would be more fair for the departing spouse, too.  

What do you think?