Montessori public school of arlington refuses to take my child because of Special need

[Anonymous]

I have heard/read many negative feedbacks about MPSA and decided to ignore it. Applied for it and my 3 y.o got in but they refused to take my DC because of its special need. DC child can read and do simple arithmetic, very creative, great at problem solving. Since my child was 6 months, I have been taking Montessori approach for teaching and disciplining. Nature born gifted prodigy. I admit that DC needs more support in terms of shared attention more than others kids. But sadly rather than trying to get to know my child, they recommended me to go to Child find further more some place where my DC is more suitable for. The special need’s teacher did her best to avoid my child and so did the staff.
If my child’s special needs stops it from learning, exploring, and nurturing the amazing talent that God gave us, what is the main purpose of Montessori approach anyway? I truly wonder 🧐

Pardon my English, I’m still an English learner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have heard/read many negative feedbacks about MPSA and decided to ignore it. Applied for it and my 3 y.o got in but they refused to take my DC because of its special need. DC child can read and do simple arithmetic, very creative, great at problem solving. Since my child was 6 months, I have been taking Montessori approach for teaching and disciplining. Nature born gifted prodigy. I admit that DC needs more support in terms of shared attention more than others kids. But sadly rather than trying to get to know my child, they recommended me to go to Child find further more some place where my DC is more suitable for. The special need’s teacher did her best to avoid my child and so did the staff.
If my child’s special needs stops it from learning, exploring, and nurturing the amazing talent that God gave us, what is the main purpose of Montessori approach anyway? I truly wonder 🧐

Pardon my English, I’m still an English learner.

Based on this sentence alone about a 3 year old, I don’t blame them.

[Anonymous]

I have heard/read many negative feedbacks about MPSA and decided to ignore it.

Sounds like you dodged a bullet! Why are you still chasing this after all the negatives?

😎

[Anonymous]

They do not have the resources to help your child. Public schools receive resources that are paid for. Private schools do not have access to those resources.

If you want what’s best for your child, you’ll want to have your “prodigy” attend a school where they can get the necessary support.

[Anonymous]

You might want to have this moved to the special needs forum for better advice. Child find is a great resource and many kids who get that early intervention are able to be successful in a general education setting. It’s important to start early.
I will also add that since Montessori is a child-led philosophy if they need more “support in terms of shared attention” it very well might not be a good fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They do not have the resources to help your child. Public schools receive resources that are paid for. Private schools do not have access to those resources.

If you want what’s best for your child, you’ll want to have your “prodigy” attend a school where they can get the necessary support.

MPSA is a public lottery

[Anonymous]

I’m a parent of a special ed kid in APS. I second asking that the thread be moved to the special needs forum.

I don’t know legally what your rights are legally. Wrightslaw.com has a lot of legal information. The APS parent resource center has been helpful for us. PEATC is a good resource for Virginia special ed and they have information and webinars about legal rights.

As a parent, I would absolutely recommend that you DO NOT send your kid to any program that does not want them if you have another alternative. No pedagogical approach is worth it. Your daughter will be there for hours every day and it will be obvious to her and to the other kids that she is not wanted. The risk that it will crush her spirit and lead to long term emotional and social issues is too great. You can much more easily supplement at home for academic enrichment. Recovering from emotional trauma is much harder. Please find a program that will welcome and support her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have heard/read many negative feedbacks about MPSA and decided to ignore it. Applied for it and my 3 y.o got in but they refused to take my DC because of its special need. DC child can read and do simple arithmetic, very creative, great at problem solving. Since my child was 6 months, I have been taking Montessori approach for teaching and disciplining. Nature born gifted prodigy. I admit that DC needs more support in terms of shared attention more than others kids. But sadly rather than trying to get to know my child, they recommended me to go to Child find further more some place where my DC is more suitable for. The special need’s teacher did her best to avoid my child and so did the staff.
If my child’s special needs stops it from learning, exploring, and nurturing the amazing talent that God gave us, what is the main purpose of Montessori approach anyway? I truly wonder 🧐

Pardon my English, I’m still an English learner.

Based on this sentence alone about a 3 year old, I don’t blame them.

Relax. English isn’t her first language so no need to take whatever she said literally. Clearly she is a mom with a special needs kid that loves her child and wants what is best for them. Seems like this school isn’t giving her child what they need. Being a bit more charitable with people goes a long way. No need to always attack. Try to give ppl the benefit of the doubt.

[Anonymous]

Any kind of snook is the worst place for a 3 year old with special needs. They’re doing you a favor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have heard/read many negative feedbacks about MPSA and decided to ignore it. Applied for it and my 3 y.o got in but they refused to take my DC because of its special need. DC child can read and do simple arithmetic, very creative, great at problem solving. Since my child was 6 months, I have been taking Montessori approach for teaching and disciplining. Nature born gifted prodigy. I admit that DC needs more support in terms of shared attention more than others kids. But sadly rather than trying to get to know my child, they recommended me to go to Child find further more some place where my DC is more suitable for. The special need’s teacher did her best to avoid my child and so did the staff.
If my child’s special needs stops it from learning, exploring, and nurturing the amazing talent that God gave us, what is the main purpose of Montessori approach anyway? I truly wonder 🧐

Pardon my English, I’m still an English learner.

OP. Is this for kindergarten? Or their preschool program? If it’s their preschool program did you apply based on income? If so there are many better alternatives such as the VPI program. If it’s for kindergarten your neighborhood school actually might be better. I was really into Montessori and my daughter went to a private Montessori preschool for a year (pulled her out because their hours were terrible for working parents). I visited an Arlington public Montessori classroom and honestly was not impressed. The classes are huge and the teacher seemed really angry. I definitely don’t think it would be a good fit for a special needs child. Also I am in one of the parent advisory committees and trust me, the performance of MPSA isn’t that great. You can obviously complain to the central office about how you were treated but in the end your child will not get the education that he or she deserves. So look at your neighborhood school, the VPI program (if applicable) or other option schools. I heard Campbell isn’t that great with special needs kids (I know two special needs parents who left) and I don’t know anything about Key and Claremont re special needs. But the parents I known who take their kids there seem to love it. According to the parent of a special needs kid at ATS, the school has been great for her child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have heard/read many negative feedbacks about MPSA and decided to ignore it. Applied for it and my 3 y.o got in but they refused to take my DC because of its special need. DC child can read and do simple arithmetic, very creative, great at problem solving. Since my child was 6 months, I have been taking Montessori approach for teaching and disciplining. Nature born gifted prodigy. I admit that DC needs more support in terms of shared attention more than others kids. But sadly rather than trying to get to know my child, they recommended me to go to Child find further more some place where my DC is more suitable for. The special need’s teacher did her best to avoid my child and so did the staff.
If my child’s special needs stops it from learning, exploring, and nurturing the amazing talent that God gave us, what is the main purpose of Montessori approach anyway? I truly wonder 🧐

Pardon my English, I’m still an English learner.

OP. Is this for kindergarten? Or their preschool program? If it’s their preschool program did you apply based on income? If so there are many better alternatives such as the VPI program. If it’s for kindergarten your neighborhood school actually might be better. I was really into Montessori and my daughter went to a private Montessori preschool for a year (pulled her out because their hours were terrible for working parents). I visited an Arlington public Montessori classroom and honestly was not impressed. The classes are huge and the teacher seemed really angry. I definitely don’t think it would be a good fit for a special needs child. Also I am in one of the parent advisory committees and trust me, the performance of MPSA isn’t that great. You can obviously complain to the central office about how you were treated but in the end your child will not get the education that he or she deserves. So look at your neighborhood school, the VPI program (if applicable) or other option schools. I heard Campbell isn’t that great with special needs kids (I know two special needs parents who left) and I don’t know anything about Key and Claremont re special needs. But the parents I known who take their kids there seem to love it. According to the parent of a special needs kid at ATS, the school has been great for her child.

Oops missed that your child is 3. Ignore the kindergarten comment. Look at the VPI program if applicable and also the child find program. I believe my friend’s kid got placed in tuckahoe’s preschool program because she was designated as having a learning disability. Believe it was through child find. Agree with PPs who say to check the special needs forum. There are so many programs that the county and APS offers but it is hard to navigate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They do not have the resources to help your child. Public schools receive resources that are paid for. Private schools do not have access to those resources.

If you want what’s best for your child, you’ll want to have your “prodigy” attend a school where they can get the necessary support.

MPSA is a public school.

[Anonymous]

So, I'm generally pretty critical of mpsa. It's not my favorite program, especially for older kids. But they have been excellent with the special Ed students referred to them. They are patient and are making gains. They care. Please listen to them. Follow their advice

[Anonymous]

Also, many kids don't thrive in Montessori. Two of mine are horrible fits for the model. They've thrived in their neighborhood preschools and grade schools. Not every kid does well with option models.

[Anonymous]

I don't know what your special need is, but Montessori is alreasy a special program, so if your needs are for something not Montessori, you should go to a different program that fits your need.