New and need help on exactly what to say for IEP meeting pls

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Hi all, I've lurked for a while, but now I could really use your help.

My 11yr old has aspergers. He is in a regular classroom on an IEP that provides speech 2x week and an intervention specialist that works with him solo or in a small group for part of his regular classroom day.

When Nick was diagnosed, the doctor recommended he not be given homework after school because he is basically tapped out by the end of the day and has exhausted his resources just getting through the school day. I was initially skeptical, worried we may not push him enough to reach his potential...but now, a couple years later, I see what she meant and I totally agree. He really is tapped out academically by the end of the day - and his after school time is better spent decompressing in preparation for the next day.

I spoke to this last year with the IEP panel, but they adamantly refused to eliminate homework. They modified the amount (he got about 1/2 as much as typical) but kept saying homework can't be eliminated...and warned me that the homework workload would only increase as he progressed in grade level. I get that in a typical world - but isn't the point of an IEP that it is an individualized plan...and therefore each progressive grade would just need to be modified proportionately to match Nick's abilities?

So how do you get them to eliminate homework? Our school seems to think that request is ridiculous - yet I find it ridiculous that I am the one completing the homework. (I complete it because I've found that if it's not done, Nick has to spend his recess in class doing it - and to me it's unfair for him to be punished for something he shouldn't have been asked to do in the first place.)

Is there some strange law or guideline that kids MUST have homework even if they are on an IEP and homework is not in their best interest? What can/should I say to get them to understand and agree? Or would pushing for no-homework put the school in a position to say Nick needs to be in special classes or a special school or something?

Thanks in advance for your help!
Jane

Check out this page on homework exemptions:

http://www.autism-pdd.net/forum/forum_p ... W=homework

I found it easy to get a "parental discretion" clause on homework in elementary school, but that is not usually done in middle or high school. Instead, you might ask for a study hall or academic support to replace an elective, and with that your child can probably get through 80% of the work during the school day. That worked super well for us.

As kids get older, homework is less likely to be practice, and more likely to be a substantive demonstration and exercise of skill, writing essays, for example. You won't want him to skip all that, if you want him to advance academically.

Your son is maturing and may not need to be 100% sheltered from homework anymore. I would ask for parental discretion with the goal of trying to transition him into being able to do most of the regular work, just perhaps on a lighter course load.

Is he in middle school or elementary?

And ... If you can find some official guidance, great. We've 100% played it by ear.

maybe ask for a study hall time where he could complete homework during his school day? And still they should reduce the amount so he can do it in this time. I know I had a few teachers who only gave me the major assignments to do.

Thanks for the links and replies!

He's in 5th grade (elementary goes to 6th grade here). Parental discretion is pretty much where we landed by the end of last year, so maybe that's as good as it gets...but that's what I aim to find out.

I was curious if anyone knew of "official" rules/laws/etc. that might come in useful...as far as if the school has to give homework...or just how much accommodating they need to do without demanding he come out of the mainstream.

Bottom line...if I have to do his homework for the next 7 years to keep him mainstreamed, that'll suck, but I'll do it.

I'm going to view those links now and see what else I can come up with before the meeting next week. Thanks again for helping!