Advice on DC schools for Mom with CP daughter

[Anonymous]

I am about to start the transition process from Early CHildhood Intervention to Early Stages. My daughter had a stroke at birth. Fortunately, she is fine cognitively, actually ahead of the "normal" curve. But her right side has been affected and she has issues with walking and her right arm. She is currently in a private preschhol and thriving. She is able to be in mainstream (socially, academically) school but needs a small setting.
ANyone out there have their child go through IEP process in DC ? Any advice?
ANy options in the DCPS system? Our local pre-K has 17 kids one teacher, one aide. No way no how.
Has anyone been able to get the city to pay for private school?

Id appreciate any advice from parents who have been through this. My daughter turns three in June.
Thanks

[Anonymous]

There are not enough pre-schools for 3 year olds in the city due to high demand and limited slots. Pre-K is also optional in DCPS as there are not enough slots for demand. Full-day K is offered to anyone who is eligible. Folks out there please correct me, but in fact, school is not mandatory until 1st grade. Given that scenario, DCPS is not obligated to provide any schooling to anyone until they reach K.

My son began in DCPS when we got a slot at our local school for Pre-K. But we had to have an in-bounds lottery since there were more kids than slots. If he hadn't made it, he would have had to spend another year in day-care. However, to speed things up, we paid for all the testing privately and submitted the info with a request for an evaluation when he entered in August. The IEP was not approved until March. It sounds like you have already had her identified and tested and that this will continue to carry through as she goes forward.

DCPS has become more willing to identify and serve SN kids, but getting them to pay for a private school setting is still not easy and will probably require a lawyer. You will have to be able to prove that the system does have an appropriate setting/placement for her.

Maybe others can say more - my child was not identified until he was 4. Also, since your daughter has just turned 3, you really won't be able to know what her capabilities are at 5 (Kindergarten) until she gets closer.

Please note these are my experiences and I think you should call DCPS. However, there are many people on these boards who are desparate for pre-school slots and won't get them because DCPS is not required to provide. it. It does not mean though that youe daughter isn't entitled to services/interventions, just not school

[Anonymous]

Sorry for the typos, my DS is trying to distract me!

I meant to write that you will have to prove that DCPS does NOT have an appropriate setting for her. Which means going through an IEP process first. I don't know of anyone who went through the process without having to try public school first, but there may be some out there.

[Anonymous]

Actually, if you have an IEP, you automatically get a spot in one of the 3 year old programs - BUT, if your neighborhood school doesn't have one (like almost every school west of Rock Creek Park), you could get placed at a school you wouldn't be comfortable sending your kid to. But even if you choose a private school, you can still get OT/ST services through your local DCPS school. My DC has different special needs than your daughter, but class size is also a big concern for me, and my impression is that even the best DCPS elementary schools have huge classes, so we're probably sticking with private school, unfortunately.

[Anonymous]

PP here, should clarify that we're paying for private school ourselves - I think it's very, very difficult to get DCPS to fund a private placement, especially if it's a class size issue. What we think is an appropriate class size for our kids is very different than what the school district thinks!

[Anonymous]

Call Bridges PCS. It is an inclusion school for pre-school and pre-kindergarten. They have specialists for special ed and therapy onsite (PT/OT/ST/etc.). There are children there with and without special needs.

http://www.bridgespcs.org/index.php?page=about

They haven't had their lottery yet, but all applications received after April 15th automatically go on the waitlist. Last year and two years ago every child on the waitlist got offered a spot (like a lot of schools though, they can't offer it to you until the first week or school).

[Anonymous]

Call the principal at Takoma Ed Center. I believe the building/space might work for her. They have spec needs in an inclusion model and also the teachers have MAs in special ed. Get a spot, see how it works. She might not need private school. My friend's daughter with mild CP goes to Ross and gets OT and PT services there.

[Anonymous]

OP here
Thanks for advice...
ANyone know if any support groups for parents with kids who have CP?
Thanks