On the first day of school, Josie is very frustrated in class, causes many distractions, has trouble focusing, and even puts other students in danger when things do not go her way.
The school psychologist, Ms. Jones, comes and observes Josie in her GenEd class. She collects data about Josie about how she participates, what things trigger strong emotions, and how she interacts with other children.
"Hi Mrs. Jessica. After observing Josie in your kindergarten class yesterday, I have decided that the best thing for her at this moment would be creating an Individualized Education Plan so she can better learn.
"Thank you Ms. Jones, that sounds great. Lets meet with our team to see what I can do to accommodate her needs in my classroom"
When Josie receives the assistance she needs through her IEP, she is able to learn in the GenEd classroom and participate in the ways that she is able to. Although it is not everything that she needs, her success is headed in the right direction.
After many long days of Josie and her IEP not fitting her needs, her advocates decide to remove her from a large classroom setting 24/7, and establish a different plan where she can succeed without her peers judging her and watching every move she makes.
Josie is thriving in a 1 on 1 setting for 2 hours a day where she can learn how to communicate with others and advocate for herself all while in a safe environment.