Central Office Referral - MCPS - Timing?????

[Anonymous]

Public MCPS high school just sent file to CO for referral to a non-public high school. Anyone with recent experience on how the timing of the process works? We are trying to figure out logistically how soon the placement could be. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

There was about 6 weeks between our referral to CIEP and the CIEP meeting happening. The placement was pretty much immediate because DC was already in a SN private that MCPS agreed was the best placement for him. I think there may have been a week between the CIEP meeting and his “placement” by MCPS at the school DC was already attending. We received a prorated refund of the tuition we had paid for that semester. Good luck, OP. Wishing you and your child the best.

[Anonymous]

We are in the same boat. My kid is stuck at home between placements and is losing her mind….

[Anonymous]

First you have to have the CIEP meeting. If they agree that non public is the right environment, the file will be sent to a few schools. The school then will review the file and if they feel your child is a good fit, invite your child to interview with them. Then the school will send an admit/deny letter to CIEP who will then let you know the status.

You get input at the CIEP meeting where you want the referral packet to be sent. If you already have an idea, you can contact the school and ask for a tour. The admissions directors usually can tell you 1) if they have space for your child 2) if they can meet your childs needs and 3) if they think your child might be a good fit. If you do this before CIEP, then you can tell them where to send the referral packet.

Once your admitted to a school, then MCPS has to figure out transportation. If you're willing to drive while transportation is being worked out, you can speed up the timing.

Good luck

[Anonymous]

I can answer for MCPS- but I am thinking that each district would be different so you might get better advice if you tell us your district.

For MCPS: Are you sure that the file has been sent? CIEP’s goal is to have the meeting within 30 days of receiving the file- but we’ve had issues in the past of the school not getting the file to CIEP for a month after an IEP meeting and then the timeline is quite delayed. Once you are at CIEP, it really depends on the schools you are referred to and how quickly you schedule interviews and your child accepted. CIEP is also having issues with a lot of schools not having space, so there can be a wait for an opening even if you get admitted to a school. Patience is key (and very frustrating).

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can answer for MCPS- but I am thinking that each district would be different so you might get better advice if you tell us your district.

For MCPS: Are you sure that the file has been sent? CIEP’s goal is to have the meeting within 30 days of receiving the file- but we’ve had issues in the past of the school not getting the file to CIEP for a month after an IEP meeting and then the timeline is quite delayed. Once you are at CIEP, it really depends on the schools you are referred to and how quickly you schedule interviews and your child accepted. CIEP is also having issues with a lot of schools not having space, so there can be a wait for an opening even if you get admitted to a school. Patience is key (and very frustrating).

Good luck.

OP said in the title and first sentence of the post that it is MCPS.

[Anonymous]

We went through this process earlier this year. First you will have a meeting with CIEP where the list of schools that will get your child’s application package will be decided. Then schools will contact you for interviews - these will include you and your child. Finally, schools make their decisions, and if more than one is willing to accept your child you’ll get to pick between them.

In our house this full process took about five or six weeks, and it is my understanding that was an expedited version (my kid’s original placement was physically unsafe). My kid’s application went out to three schools, two contacted us for interviews, and one was a yes. After acceptance it was about another two weeks before kid actually started attending.

Good luck to you and your family, OP.

[Anonymous]

For any of the people who responded to my post, which school did your child end up going to that the school let you interview while you were waiting for the process to happen? We had IEP meeting last Thursday. The file was sent to Central Office yesterday morning.

[Anonymous]

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/siteassets/district/departments/studentservices/problem-solving-for-student-success.pdf

This document spells out the rules on timing. The meeting has to be held within 3 weeks of referral to Central Office. So that doesn't always happen?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For any of the people who responded to my post, which school did your child end up going to that the school let you interview while you were waiting for the process to happen? We had IEP meeting last Thursday. The file was sent to Central Office yesterday morning.

You’ll need to meet with Central Office and decide on a list of schools your kid’s application will go - many of the private placements can only be accessed via CIEP. You could apply on your own to a school that accepts private pay students - Ivymount, for example.

[Anonymous]

Is there a benefit to applying on our own now? To KTS?

[Anonymous]

I informally interviewed with Frost, now Sheppard Pratt-Rockville, St Elizabeth’s in Balt, and Laurel Hall.

Frost let me know that they had 2 spaces left and were not interested in a challenging behavior child.

Laurel Hall said he would be a good fit bit they had no space.

St Elizabeth’s said he would not be a good fit

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there a benefit to applying on our own now? To KTS?

Yes! If you walk into a CIEP meeting with an acceptance from a school then they can send the packet to the school to make it official.

[Anonymous]

What happens if none of the suggested schools accepts your child?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What happens if none of the suggested schools accepts your child?

CIEP keeps sending out referrals until a school admits. It takes time and it’s frustrating.