Looking for a school for my Autistic 15 year old son and is severalgrades behind. Moving from NC.
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Anonymous
| Hello everyone not sure if this forum is still active or not. I am a mom in North Carolina and I really want to move to the Maryland DC area. I'm looking at Silver Springs or any areas with very good special education system. I've been researching things on my own and can't seem to find my way through all the factors and information. My son is 15 years old and he is at 4th and 5th grade level. He is learning the general curriculum because he tested out of you know the self-contained curriculum. Everyone give me some guidance about some good schools in the Maryland area that will be a good start for us. I am looking to locate wherever the school is at and commute to work and would like to be near you know bus stop subway stops that can get me into the city if need be. |
Anonymous
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OP - If your son is 15 years old and doing academics on a 4th or 5th grade level, then he would not be able to access the regular high school curriculum of 9th or 10th grade. He would be continuing along educational skills goals from the point in reading and math that he is on i NC. The appropriate classroom for him to do so would be in a self-contained classroom for academics. Depending on his other needs in terms of being on the autism spectrum he might qualify for certain specialized programs serving this population or he would be placed in a mixed self-contained classroom. He would be on the Certificate Track and could remain in school receiving services through age 21. In a high school setting, you could see what the options for mainstreaming and what supports could be offered. |
Anonymous
| In general Montgomery county is better than most for Special Ed |
Anonymous
| Agree that MCPS is a great option. |
Anonymous
Not our experience. Mcps is a joke |
Anonymous
| Howard County would also be a good option, but if you need to commute into DC, it might be too far. |
Anonymous
| Xminds has a lot of information about MoCo options. The ARS program may be a good fit. MoCo is going to start by implementing your current IEP, so make sure it's accurate with as many outside gen ed hours as possible. https://www.xminds.org/ |
Anonymous
| Any county in MD will do to be honest with you. He is 15 years old so most likely in the 10th grade but on a 4th grade level? There is no way he is able to access the grade level curriculum. Perhaps self contained or a cotaught class will be best for him. That is up to the entire team though. Keep an open mind. What worked in NC may not work here. |
Anonymous
MCPS can be better for students with higher need levels - but only if they can qualify for the right program. OP you should look at the MCPS Autism Services web page https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/special-education/programs-services/autism/ and call Kristin Secan Ericson with questions about what programs might be right for your DS. |
Anonymous
SPED services in MCPS is still going to be better than any NC school district. Not sure where in NC the OP is coming from, but pushing kids that are academically way behind into the general ed curriculum, rather than a more appropriately-leveled self-contained classroom, tracks with my experience in a large NC school district. MCPS isn't sunshine and roses, but it's miles better than most other school districts I've dealt with (which is a terrifying thought, when you get right down to it). The quality of the MCPS SPED website and wealth of information provided there on the various services offered, is far beyond what can be found on many other school district websites. |
Anonymous
| are you looking for public or private? |