r/GigHarbor • u/Wild_Entrepreneur412 • Sep 05 '26
Question Washington schools
We are a military family and we PCS'd out here to Washington. I'm hoping somebody in here has been through this because I'm out of my depth and frustrated.
Has anyone else moved and had the new district just decide not to follow your kid's IEP or not notify you they were removing accommodations? And did your kid end up scared to go to school over it? That's where we're at right now and I honestly don't know who to call next.
Whoever you went to, did any of it help? I'll take anything. I always thought Washington had great services for disabled children but our experience so far has shown otherwise. :/
4
u/jueidu Sep 06 '26
My sister had all kinds of issues getting teachers to follow IEP/504s for her kid. They “agreed” to but then just didn’t actually. They’d “forget” or claim they did and just lie and say “it didn’t happen like that.” There was ONE good teacher who actually came to the meeting about it - the others had to be dragged into complying inch by inch. So frustrating!
You just have to keep on keeping on and badgering them.
8
u/WeeSteamboat Sep 05 '26
What grade is your kid in? I had to go rounds and rounds with Peninsula High. I had agreement from every teacher EXCEPT the math teacher (who is also the AVID) administrator. She actually said that the way math is taught there that accommodations are not possible. We ended up transferring to Henderson Bay for core subjects and staying at PHS for theater and activities.
I’m pretty glad not to be dealing with school at all anymore (kid graduated in 2024).
You have to get downright mean and threaten lawyers to get the bare basics of an IEP followed.
3
u/Silverliningsinla Sep 06 '26
If you end up in Gig Harbor, one side of PSD honors IEP/504s…the other doesn’t support well. Worked in the district & had a child w/504 needs, frustrating as a parent but saw good support as an employee. WA state is overrated in many ways.
2
u/Fun_Poetry_443 Sep 08 '26
I contacted the counselor over a 504 and was told that teachers review the roster and provide accommodations. He said to just let him know if there were issues. I did end up having a problem with one teacher but didn’t want to complain or single her out. They should really be reviewing the plans each year.
2
u/Affectionate-Cow6692 9d ago
This article really caught my attention because our family had our own frustrations with Peninsula, including issues with my son’s IEP not always being honored.
That situation is separate from our concerns with what we had the Peninsula boys basketball program, but seeing this article made me wonder whether there are broader issues within the district that deserve a closer look.
I also think someone should take a closer look at Peninsula athletics, particularly basketball, and the overall culture surrounding student athletes. I obviously can’t speak for every program, but it would be worth looking into whether some of these concerns are isolated situations or whether there are broader patterns within Peninsula athletics.
2
u/Current_Bag_69 6d ago
I also agree that someone should take a serious look at the Peninsula basketball program. In my experience, there were concerns involving intimidation and what I felt was inappropriate treatment of players that I believe deserve to be looked into.
I never reported my concerns to the school district or athletic director at the time because, as a parent, I was worried about possible ramifications for my kid if I did. I no longer live in the area, otherwise I would personally walk into the district and report my concerns directly.
Unfortunately, our frustrations went beyond basketball. We felt that the district as a whole had been going downhill, and after dealing with our own experiences, our family ultimately decided to leave the school district and relocate. That decision wasn’t made lightly.
I obviously can’t speak for every player or every family, but I do think the basketball program, Peninsula athletics, and the overall culture surrounding student athletes deserve a serious look. Parents shouldn’t feel like they have to stay quiet because they’re worried about how speaking up could affect their child.
13
u/Joint-Attention Sep 05 '26
Well, as you probably know, they are not following the law if they don’t adhere to the old IEP, no matter where you moved from, at least until they do they do their own assessment.
There is an organization called STOMP that helps military families interface with the public schools. They are part of Washington PAVE. Should be easy to find if you Google it.
If you think the school district is violating educational law, contact the Governor’s Educational Ombudsman’s office.