applying to private ms and test prep for kid with AuDHD

[Anonymous]

Next year, my 9yo DS with AuDHD will be looking at applying to mainstream privates for middle school. He has always been in public school and has an IEP - although he has been meeting goals and has been having less and less support. He is overall doing ok academically and socially with very little support this past year, but I fear he will be lost in the shuffle in public middle school. He does not need the restricted environment of a SN private and should be able to handle the academic challenge of most mainstream privates with outside tutoring and supports. We are not at all looking at competitive mainstream privates, but are looking for nurturing independent schools with solid sports teams and good extracurriculars like orchestra and theater programs.

What is this process like? We are only familiar with public school so far. Anyone BTDT and can offer advice? It looks like he will need to take standardized tests. Is the ISEE or SSAT better to take? When should he take them? Should he have test prep? Does he need another neuropsych? His last one was a while ago. I really don't want to spend money on an educational consultant as I feel that I know my kid best and can research/visit schools. However, if you used an educational consultant who was extremely helpful in a situation similar to this, please recommend them.

[Anonymous]

Will he need accommodations for the ISEE or SSAT? If so, look up what their requirements/deadlines are.

[Anonymous]

I think he may need extra time so as not to feel rushed. I also see they offer the ability to answer in the test booklet itself which may be good since he often makes careless mistakes - and I could see him making errors in transferring to an answer sheet. How would I get those accommodations for him?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think he may need extra time so as not to feel rushed. I also see they offer the ability to answer in the test booklet itself which may be good since he often makes careless mistakes - and I could see him making errors in transferring to an answer sheet. How would I get those accommodations for him?

You'll need documentation of the disability related need (ie, evaluation) and that he uses those accommodations in school regularly (for extra time, at least; he probably doesn't take many tests with scantrons). Does his IEP include extra time already? He probably also needs extra/extended breaks and small group testing. The websites of the test he will take includes instructions for applying for accommodations.

[Anonymous]

Bump