and am VERY sorry about this. I suggest you cross-post this to WA.

Do you just create a new thread in the other forum or is there a keystroke or mouse trick that does that?

but no problem creating a new thread, whatever's easiest.

Also maybe post in the DU education forum, but you should also look for other boards specific to your state and even to your district or county.

If you have any capacity whatsoever to assist afterschool, do that, and to be brutally honest, there are parents/guardians who are better off pulling their child out of a bad situation, but it needs to be done in the correct manner and with a plan.

Good luck.

If not, I would ask a meeting with the team to discuss the need for an aide, if you think he need one.

I just sent his special education teacher and advocate an email letting her know that I want to address this again at the next parent teacher conferences which are next week. I also let her know that if this is what I can expect from this school I will be researching our rights.

Is there a parent support group nearby?

I can't swear to it (my kid is 30), but I believe it's a federal mandate, for which the states get money earmarked for that kind of support.

Most often the problem is finding an aide who is trainable, caring, and lasts.

It may be useful if you have, to have a witness that has knowledge of the laws. Of course, you will have to pay her, but if you have to go to Due process, it may be a good move.

to provide services that allow him to meet his academic potential.

They get to pick which services (in collaboration with a child's parents), but they are obligated to do something that works.

If your son has an IEP, the most effective way to get a school district to fox things is to get an outside expert (a professional that *you* hire), to state that your son is not meeting his potential and cannot meet it unless things are changed. Unfortunately it costs money and takes significant effort. You can also make the case yourself using whatever documentation you have.

I recommend the Wrightslaw books - excellent.