Pyle/Whitman for kid with mild behavioral issues/SN?

[Anonymous]

After seeing all this stuff about how Whitman is such a pressure cooker, what do people think about how the Pyle/Whitman pyramid would handle an otherwise intelligent kid with mild behavioral issues/special needs? What is the attitude and resources? Are these actually schools to be avoided for such children?

Especially interested in Pyle as he will soon be in MS.

[Anonymous]

OP does your child have an IEP or 405 plan?

[Anonymous]

IEP but in another school district, we'd be moving.

[Anonymous]

I don't think they'd handle him well. My kids went thru Pyle and Whitman. They'd put the kid with impulse control next to the best behaved kid in class and hope they'd follow the example. Very little actual teacher care for this kind of situation. And very disruptive (not a positive learning experience) for the rest of the class.

Mclean School might be your best bet.

[Anonymous]

Could your child qualify for the Tilden program? https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/tildenms/departments/academicsupportcenter/programs/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Could your child qualify for the Tilden program? https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/tildenms/departments/academicsupportcenter/programs/

The first is only for students with Level 1 Autism who can be mainstreamed most of the day. They won’t have a one-on-one.

The second is a program every school has — it’s just hours-based SpEd.

The third is for students with intellectual disabilities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After seeing all this stuff about how Whitman is such a pressure cooker, what do people think about how the Pyle/Whitman pyramid would handle an otherwise intelligent kid with mild behavioral issues/special needs? What is the attitude and resources? Are these actually schools to be avoided for such children?

Especially interested in Pyle as he will soon be in MS.

As a former teacher/sub for MCPS, I often did long-term subbing at Pyle. For what it's worth, I found it to be one of the better MCPS schools for working with students with MILD behavioral issues. I saw much more support there than I did at any other MCPS middle school I long-termed at (ten or so middle schools). As far as I could tell, absolutely no school in MCPS has any ability to work with students with intense behavioral needs. Indeed, Pyle is officially designated as one of the three middle schools for students with mild emotional disabilities. The other two MS are (or were) Shady Grove and Hallie Wells.

Pyle actually integrated many supports for such students into it's day-to-day operations for ALL students; I doubt many parents of "normal" children realized that they too were benefiting from such supports. They were much more amenable to things like time extensions on tests, moving to quiet spaces, scaffolding work, and so forth, than other middle schools I was at.

Most of the middle schools I worked at in MCPS did absolutely nothing for such students, indeed generally made the situation worse. Pyle was at least trying hard. MCPS Middle schools I found to be utter disasters for working with and integrating students with mild behavioral issues were: Takoma Park Middle, Silver Spring International, Argyle, and Silver Creek (although at SC there was a single para who was incredible and awesome). North Bethesda was fairly "meh", but the principal at the time was retiring end of year and was clearly already relaxing on the beach in his mind; I assume it's situation has changed under new leadership, whether for better or worse I don't know. Parkland was very good, though not specifically tuned to ED; but the principal at the time has moved onward and upward. Others I was at (E Brook Lee, White Oak, etc) I don't really have enough data on.

So...Pyle, IMHO, is one of the better choices in MCPS.

You may want to glance through the following document to know what MCPS offers, or at least claims to offer:

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/departments/special-education/revised17-18%20Special%20Education%20Program%20Descriptions%20and%20Services%20Locations.pdf

If you posted more specific questions and concerns, it would be helpful; otherwise the answers can only be generic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After seeing all this stuff about how Whitman is such a pressure cooker, what do people think about how the Pyle/Whitman pyramid would handle an otherwise intelligent kid with mild behavioral issues/special needs? What is the attitude and resources? Are these actually schools to be avoided for such children?

Especially interested in Pyle as he will soon be in MS.

As a former teacher/sub for MCPS, I often did long-term subbing at Pyle. For what it's worth, I found it to be one of the better MCPS schools for working with students with MILD behavioral issues. I saw much more support there than I did at any other MCPS middle school I long-termed at (ten or so middle schools). As far as I could tell, absolutely no school in MCPS has any ability to work with students with intense behavioral needs. Indeed, Pyle is officially designated as one of the three middle schools for students with mild emotional disabilities. The other two MS are (or were) Shady Grove and Hallie Wells.

Pyle actually integrated many supports for such students into it's day-to-day operations for ALL students; I doubt many parents of "normal" children realized that they too were benefiting from such supports. They were much more amenable to things like time extensions on tests, moving to quiet spaces, scaffolding work, and so forth, than other middle schools I was at.

Most of the middle schools I worked at in MCPS did absolutely nothing for such students, indeed generally made the situation worse. Pyle was at least trying hard. MCPS Middle schools I found to be utter disasters for working with and integrating students with mild behavioral issues were: Takoma Park Middle, Silver Spring International, Argyle, and Silver Creek (although at SC there was a single para who was incredible and awesome). North Bethesda was fairly "meh", but the principal at the time was retiring end of year and was clearly already relaxing on the beach in his mind; I assume it's situation has changed under new leadership, whether for better or worse I don't know. Parkland was very good, though not specifically tuned to ED; but the principal at the time has moved onward and upward. Others I was at (E Brook Lee, White Oak, etc) I don't really have enough data on.

So...Pyle, IMHO, is one of the better choices in MCPS.

You may want to glance through the following document to know what MCPS offers, or at least claims to offer:

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/departments/special-education/revised17-18%20Special%20Education%20Program%20Descriptions%20and%20Services%20Locations.pdf

If you posted more specific questions and concerns, it would be helpful; otherwise the answers can only be generic.

This is extremely helpful thank you! I assume it’s recent info

I don’t want to be too specific because it’s a small world, but this is a kid with above average intelligence but as you say mild behavioral/emotional issues. He has low frustration tolerance and an explosive temper with a tendency to act out verbally (not really physically). He needs some patience and individual academic attention and a place that doesn’t flip out and kick him out of general education if he yells or does something verbally inappropriate, but still maintains a disciplined environment

[Anonymous]

Just no. It's a horrible place for children with those kinds of needs. Teachers, parents and students are judgmental.

Mild special needs is a child who is off task often. A child who has low frustration tolerance and an "explosive temper with a tendency to act out" will be treated like they are a pariah.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After seeing all this stuff about how Whitman is such a pressure cooker, what do people think about how the Pyle/Whitman pyramid would handle an otherwise intelligent kid with mild behavioral issues/special needs? What is the attitude and resources? Are these actually schools to be avoided for such children?

Especially interested in Pyle as he will soon be in MS.

As a former teacher/sub for MCPS, I often did long-term subbing at Pyle. For what it's worth, I found it to be one of the better MCPS schools for working with students with MILD behavioral issues. I saw much more support there than I did at any other MCPS middle school I long-termed at (ten or so middle schools). As far as I could tell, absolutely no school in MCPS has any ability to work with students with intense behavioral needs. Indeed, Pyle is officially designated as one of the three middle schools for students with mild emotional disabilities. The other two MS are (or were) Shady Grove and Hallie Wells.

Pyle actually integrated many supports for such students into it's day-to-day operations for ALL students; I doubt many parents of "normal" children realized that they too were benefiting from such supports. They were much more amenable to things like time extensions on tests, moving to quiet spaces, scaffolding work, and so forth, than other middle schools I was at.

Most of the middle schools I worked at in MCPS did absolutely nothing for such students, indeed generally made the situation worse. Pyle was at least trying hard. MCPS Middle schools I found to be utter disasters for working with and integrating students with mild behavioral issues were: Takoma Park Middle, Silver Spring International, Argyle, and Silver Creek (although at SC there was a single para who was incredible and awesome). North Bethesda was fairly "meh", but the principal at the time was retiring end of year and was clearly already relaxing on the beach in his mind; I assume it's situation has changed under new leadership, whether for better or worse I don't know. Parkland was very good, though not specifically tuned to ED; but the principal at the time has moved onward and upward. Others I was at (E Brook Lee, White Oak, etc) I don't really have enough data on.

So...Pyle, IMHO, is one of the better choices in MCPS.

You may want to glance through the following document to know what MCPS offers, or at least claims to offer:

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/departments/special-education/revised17-18%20Special%20Education%20Program%20Descriptions%20and%20Services%20Locations.pdf

If you posted more specific questions and concerns, it would be helpful; otherwise the answers can only be generic.

This is extremely helpful thank you! I assume it’s recent info

I don’t want to be too specific because it’s a small world, but this is a kid with above average intelligence but as you say mild behavioral/emotional issues. He has low frustration tolerance and an explosive temper with a tendency to act out verbally (not really physically). He needs some patience and individual academic attention and a place that doesn’t flip out and kick him out of general education if he yells or does something verbally inappropriate, but still maintains a disciplined environment

FWIW my kid sounds exactly like yours and we are likely sending him to Westland. It appears very calm and well organized so I am hopeful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just no. It's a horrible place for children with those kinds of needs. Teachers, parents and students are judgmental.

Mild special needs is a child who is off task often. A child who has low frustration tolerance and an "explosive temper with a tendency to act out" will be treated like they are a pariah.

This sounds very contradictory to post from earlier substitute teacher guy. Not saying either is wrong just that they give very different pictures

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just no. It's a horrible place for children with those kinds of needs. Teachers, parents and students are judgmental.

Mild special needs is a child who is off task often. A child who has low frustration tolerance and an "explosive temper with a tendency to act out" will be treated like they are a pariah.

This sounds very contradictory to post from earlier substitute teacher guy. Not saying either is wrong just that they give very different pictures

Well sub guy has one opinion and parent PP has another. That's how it works around here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just no. It's a horrible place for children with those kinds of needs. Teachers, parents and students are judgmental.

Mild special needs is a child who is off task often. A child who has low frustration tolerance and an "explosive temper with a tendency to act out" will be treated like they are a pariah.

This sounds very contradictory to post from earlier substitute teacher guy. Not saying either is wrong just that they give very different pictures

Well sub guy has one opinion and parent PP has another. That's how it works around here.

Also the sub sounds like it’s been a while since they were a long term sub at Pyle.

[Anonymous]

I disagree that MCPS does not have programs for kids with more than mild needs. RICA specializes in that and everyone I know whose kid got in was extremely happy. Also at the HS level, which doesn’t help today but will later, MCPS has ESESES.

As to middle schools, White Oak is excellent for kids with behavioral needs. The principal is someone who strives to meet the needs of each kid and does not put form over substance. One of my kids got IEP services without even having an IEP. The school serves a population with a lot of needs and is used to being creative to find solutions. I could give you example after example of how they made my kids successful. And, coincidentally, the principal is married to the program director of one of the SESES programs.

[Anonymous]

What is his current school doing to support him and how has that been working out? What are you doing outside of school to support him?