Those of you that know me will not be offended because you know my heart is in the right place, those that don't know me, it's ok: I have a problem with boiling everything down to what is 'ethical' in an broad instance, my reason being that just like when talking about 'proper placement and setting' you have to remember that we are always talking about what is 'proper' for the ability of the child and the situation of the moment...while 'ethical' is a term usually, in my experience, applied to 'making things equal', we are not starting at equal, how do we force equal upon us....ability-wise...so, my opinion is that even if it is a grade level below his age and academic placement, if it something that will help him then let him do it....some skills are not definable by age or grade, but, by experience and ability...remember the section on the IEP labeled Present Levels of Performance? That is where this would fall...is the subject matter something he covered in 6th grade? Is the subject matter something he needs help with or would benefit him to experience? It is UNethical to demand what is not appropriate to ability or to deny exposure just because the law gives us the wiggle room to force our own version of 'exclusion' because we feel offended at the implications....as always...love, laughter, hugs and prayers.... :D

And that touches on what is appropriate...or inappropriate for his educational needs....as far as how they handle the kids in general, that is a problem i had here with convincing the district that the word 'Individual' in IEP meant that Jack's educational plan was 'Just For Jack'...the parents of these kids need to personally assess the performance abilities of their kids and where they INDIVIDUALLY want their kids to go academically and change it

Hi @PandS- I teach middle school and have mixed thoughts on this one- my question is a bit different- who is teaching the 6th versus 7th grade electives and what is the class environment? In my personal experience the 6th grade teachers are often better qualified because of state testing requirements. The 7th grade reg ed classes are in my experience fraught with issues. I would rather my kids skip 7th grade all together- haha. All material covered is review or will be covered again in 8th. Most middle school curriculum is 6-8 anyway and could be multi-age. The middle school reg-ed electives in my grade are combined for that reason. So though I do agree it sounds wrong- it may actually be the better place to be overall. What are the 7th grade electives versus the 6th?

@A MyAutismTeam Member I do agree with you in principle, however IF it were in fact because for HIS benefit then it would have been an IEP discussion and written into his IEP (he also could have been "retained" officially)....ALL of the students in his 6-8 grade ID class are "included in 6th grade elective" I believe soley for the benefit/ease of the staff, and that is what I am having a hard time with.... and considering he is in 7th now, i 8th he would be still included in 6th...and then he goes to high school with no "typical peer" that has any experience with him nor does he know anyone, and that I believe isn't right or fair for any child to experience....

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A MyAutis...

My son always attended the "grade in" classes, to have him attend a grade beneath him wouldn't have been ethical.