Application Season has begin - Public vs. Private

[Anonymous]

Hi all - it's Fall, so another application season commences. We decided on private preK again this year for various reasons.
Our DC is being reassessed as their initial assessment with mild borderline ASD level 1 is being reviewed again following recommendation - 2nd opinion, since now it could be ADHD, or just a development delay. We're not sure which route to go public or private. Initial IEP discussions determined gen ED/mainstreamed, with some supports on SPT - but all very minimal. If we were to pursue public, we'd likely continue with our outsider providers.

Anyone else in the same place, curious about public or private, especially for borderline cases?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi all - it's Fall, so another application season commences. We decided on private preK again this year for various reasons.
Our DC is being reassessed as their initial assessment with mild borderline ASD level 1 is being reviewed again following recommendation - 2nd opinion, since now it could be ADHD, or just a development delay. We're not sure which route to go public or private. Initial IEP discussions determined gen ED/mainstreamed, with some supports on SPT - but all very minimal. If we were to pursue public, we'd likely continue with our outsider providers.

Anyone else in the same place, curious about public or private, especially for borderline cases?

"has begun" - sorry typo!

[Anonymous]

You're going to have a tough time finding a mainstream private school that will work with an IEP. And since they're legally required to, well, you can do the math on admissions chances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi all - it's Fall, so another application season commences. We decided on private preK again this year for various reasons.
Our DC is being reassessed as their initial assessment with mild borderline ASD level 1 is being reviewed again following recommendation - 2nd opinion, since now it could be ADHD, or just a development delay. We're not sure which route to go public or private. Initial IEP discussions determined gen ED/mainstreamed, with some supports on SPT - but all very minimal. If we were to pursue public, we'd likely continue with our outsider providers.

Anyone else in the same place, curious about public or private, especially for borderline cases?

This is going to vary enormously based on the the specific schools in question.

We found much more and better support in a mainstream competitive private than public for my kid with an IEP but other posters here have had the opposite experience.

Beware of any poster who says across the board that public or private is better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi all - it's Fall, so another application season commences. We decided on private preK again this year for various reasons.
Our DC is being reassessed as their initial assessment with mild borderline ASD level 1 is being reviewed again following recommendation - 2nd opinion, since now it could be ADHD, or just a development delay. We're not sure which route to go public or private. Initial IEP discussions determined gen ED/mainstreamed, with some supports on SPT - but all very minimal. If we were to pursue public, we'd likely continue with our outsider providers.

Anyone else in the same place, curious about public or private, especially for borderline cases?

This is going to vary enormously based on the the specific schools in question.

We found much more and better support in a mainstream competitive private than public for my kid with an IEP but other posters here have had the opposite experience.

Beware of any poster who says across the board that public or private is better.

We're on the same camp, we were not convinced of the IEP so we did not sign off - and frankly the services were so minimal, that private providers will certainly be in the mix. That's the feeling we are getting that a mainstream competitive private may frankly provide more services.
Would you mind sharing your experience with varying privates, without exposing any confidential information about where your child is currently going, etc.?

[Anonymous]

Go and tour. If they are allowing visits when school is in session, watch the classroom and pick a kid who stands out as needing a little more support. Watch how they interact with the classroom, the teachers etc.
This will tell you a bunch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go and tour. If they are allowing visits when school is in session, watch the classroom and pick a kid who stands out as needing a little more support. Watch how they interact with the classroom, the teachers etc.
This will tell you a bunch.

Excellent advice

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi all - it's Fall, so another application season commences. We decided on private preK again this year for various reasons.
Our DC is being reassessed as their initial assessment with mild borderline ASD level 1 is being reviewed again following recommendation - 2nd opinion, since now it could be ADHD, or just a development delay. We're not sure which route to go public or private. Initial IEP discussions determined gen ED/mainstreamed, with some supports on SPT - but all very minimal. If we were to pursue public, we'd likely continue with our outsider providers.

Anyone else in the same place, curious about public or private, especially for borderline cases?

This is going to vary enormously based on the the specific schools in question.

We found much more and better support in a mainstream competitive private than public for my kid with an IEP but other posters here have had the opposite experience.

Beware of any poster who says across the board that public or private is better.

We're on the same camp, we were not convinced of the IEP so we did not sign off - and frankly the services were so minimal, that private providers will certainly be in the mix. That's the feeling we are getting that a mainstream competitive private may frankly provide more services.
Would you mind sharing your experience with varying privates, without exposing any confidential information about where your child is currently going, etc.?

We were convinced of the IEP and in fact my kid started in public and had IEP supports while there before we switched to private.

Private schools can vary. Some have dedicated student support services. Those will be best for kids with IEPs. One general rule of thumb you can use is that if the school does not offer testing accommodations in the admissions process, or seems ignorant of testing accommodations, the school might not be a good fit for a kid with an IEP.

For some kids with IEPs, the small class sizes at the competitive mainstream privates may be enough support. Others will need explicit accommodations such as testing rooms. You can ask what their approach is during admissions.

I do recommend being open about IEPs in tve admissions process. If your child has an IEP, it is better to be up front.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go and tour. If they are allowing visits when school is in session, watch the classroom and pick a kid who stands out as needing a little more support. Watch how they interact with the classroom, the teachers etc.
This will tell you a bunch.

And if there are none, well that too is your answer.

DS started K in traditional private, we had all the private supports in place and meds, etc. and fully disclosed evaluation results.
"Asked [told] to leave" so you would not have seen that interaction. It was the right call in hindsight, but certainly stung at the time.

[Anonymous]

It really depends on the private. None of the schools we looked at for my NT daughter had supports or would’ve taken those diagnoses. These were all the traditional DC schools.

[Anonymous]

Since you don't know I'd err on the side of more support meaning a regular private but I'd choose something really small or a school like Green Acres rather than something like Beauvoir.

You need to give your child a chance to mature a bit before you know what path might be best for them.

A public might be fine or it might be a disaster. At least with private you'd have some measure of control and no one would question you if you switch privates at that age which people do all the time for work reasons or other logistical issues.

[Anonymous]

There are some great and very supportive Montessori schools too for Pre-K. I have friends who had a great experience at Oneness for their delayed child. Later on they switched to a very competitive private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You're going to have a tough time finding a mainstream private school that will work with an IEP. And since they're legally required to, well, you can do the math on admissions chances.

Private schools are not required to follow IEPs.

My child has been in all kinds of schools: mainstream privates, public with IEP, SN private. A good fit private school is head and shoulders better than public school. But public is better than a private school that can't meet your child's needs.

Private schools do exactly what they are going to do. They are not going to treat your child differently. So you need to have an open conversation with any potential private school about what exactly your child needs and see if that's something they routinely provide.

I also wouldn't assume that your child will get an IEP if they are generally doing "fine."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi all - it's Fall, so another application season commences. We decided on private preK again this year for various reasons.
Our DC is being reassessed as their initial assessment with mild borderline ASD level 1 is being reviewed again following recommendation - 2nd opinion, since now it could be ADHD, or just a development delay. We're not sure which route to go public or private. Initial IEP discussions determined gen ED/mainstreamed, with some supports on SPT - but all very minimal. If we were to pursue public, we'd likely continue with our outsider providers.

Anyone else in the same place, curious about public or private, especially for borderline cases?

This is going to vary enormously based on the the specific schools in question.

We found much more and better support in a mainstream competitive private than public for my kid with an IEP but other posters here have had the opposite experience.

Beware of any poster who says across the board that public or private is better.

We're on the same camp, we were not convinced of the IEP so we did not sign off - and frankly the services were so minimal, that private providers will certainly be in the mix. That's the feeling we are getting that a mainstream competitive private may frankly provide more services.
Would you mind sharing your experience with varying privates, without exposing any confidential information about where your child is currently going, etc.?

If you're applying to a mainstream competitive private with your child's profile you shouldn't disclose any of the issues you mentioned if you want a chance at your child getting in. It is true that many will provide support once your child is in but it's difficult getting in in the first place if your child is already having issues. Repeating preK won't be an issue if you have a good explanation like the child is young for the grade and good recommendations. I would be cautious with this strategy as a friend of ours did this for Landon and her child really struggled. They did have a learning specialist who helped and the mother is in the special needs field but it wasn't enough and it was really hard for him.

[Anonymous]

You would need to continue with your outside providers either way—private schools might have a learning support teacher but they will still expect you to provide tutoring, therapy, and other services outside of school.

I think if it is a toss up you should try public first. Sometimes kids like this do well with the structure of public school. If it doesn’t work out, the small progressive privates will still be there—for some kids they work and for some they don’t.