How to escalate an issue

Hearing “no” from a para, teacher, or principal can feel like a dead end. However, it’s usually not the end of the road. Knowing how to escalate an issue can be the key to getting what your student needs – without burning any bridges. Here are my top tips and tricks for escalating an issue within BPS. Got any others to share? Click “contribute” at the bottom of the page.

Lesson 1: Start with your strongest relationships.

  • Start with the people at BPS you’re closest with, even if your student is out of their jurisdiction.

  • If they can’t help personally, they can point you in the right direction.

  • E.g., my family is close with an administrator at our old school. She doesn’t cover my daughter’s case anymore, but she always answers my calls and is a great resource for where to go next.

Lesson 2: 6 magic words: “Where can I see this policy?”

  • When you get a “no”, or someone references a policy, always ask where they got the information.

  • If they say they don’t know, or say you can’t see it, ask “Who can I talk to about this policy?” Try to get a specific office, or person’s name, who you can follow up. with.

  • Once you see the policy in writing (if it exists), you may find a better way to phrase your request.

Lesson 3: If it has to do with the classroom space, start with the classroom teacher.

  • Sometimes asking the teacher is the way to go – this typically applies to interventions that happen in the classroom space. For example, we know a student with photophobia (light sensitivity). The parent asked the teacher if it was OK to buy light-filtering panels for the classroom lights. The teacher said OK, the parent bought the filters, problem solved.

Lesson 4: Understand the “chain of command” - and know when to go higher.

  • It can be hard work to find someone with an empathetic ear, who can really listen to you and understand your situation.

  • Sometimes, even with the best intentions, BPS employees are not empowered or are under-informed. Knowing who to go to next – even when they don’t know – can help you move your question forward. Most special-ed related issues follow this hierarchy:

  • Classroom teacher >> special ed coordinator >> principal >> director of instruction

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Alternatives to ABA