The Lab School - esp. details

[Anonymous]

Not every kid with an LD or ADHD needs Lab (or Kingsbury, etc) but it offers several clear advantages for certain students, particularly those with more severe LDs, or with several different areas of need:

Kids with learning issues can get remediation (getting caught up), not just accomodations (like extra time). There is research that says an early elementary school student with dyslexia who receives intensive, comprehensive remediation has a good chance of overcoming most of the issue - and intensive means at least an hour a day, every day. It's hard to do that after school, when the kid is tired - which is what would have to happen in many mainstream schools.

Second, it offers academic learning presented in a way tailored to kids with learning disabilities - lots of art, drama, experiential learning - not as specials but as an integral part of the curriculum. So bright kids who have language issues, or can't yet read, or can't yet really write, are able to make academic and cognitive progress in a way that they might not in a traditional classroom - at least, not until they get that crucial remediation.

Third, it offers learning disabled kids a safe space where they feel successful. Even by kindergarten kids, and especially very bright kids, are comparing themselves to their peers, and the LD kids often conclude that they are lacking in some crucial way. At Lab, everybody is getting help, everybody has some needs, and there are lots of models for success.

As a PP said, kids from Lab often move on to very competitive, challenging schools, and do very well.

[Anonymous]

12:16 -- i think the problem is your assumption that what worked for your DC is the best way for every child. I'm glad you were able to get him what he needs in a mainstream school. But that just isn't the case for every child. I'm reacting to your statement to "give your child a break." If the Lab School allows this child to learn to his or her best potential, then sending him or her there IS giving him a break. Please do not act as if there is some shame associated with going there. It is a fantastic resource for kids who need it, who often go on to very successful academic careers.

[Anonymous]

My child gets tutoring from the Lab school but attends a regular public school; she has mild dyslexia. The tutoring services are wonderful, and the people at Lab were up front with me that she didn't need an environment like Lab. So maybe the best thing would be to go to talk to them and see if they think it might be a good fit.

[Anonymous]

If you are in Fairfax County another school which might be a good fit is Oakwood. I have several friends whose kids go their and it has really helped them. The classes are extremely small they have special services available. It might be closer commute.

[Anonymous]

OP, have you considered public school at all? ADHD/LD & GT is an acknowledged combination of "symptoms" in the MoCo school system.

My DD is in a Highly Gifted Center and there are several GT/ADHD kids in her class. MoCo has a GT/LD program for kids in the higher grades (middle school and up I think), although I think the preference is toward mainstreaming and the separate programs are smaller. Look on the MCPS website and search for the Department of Accelerated and Enriched Instruction (AEI) for more info on these programs. There is even a specific person w/i AEI who deals with these types of issues -- Mara (can't remember last name). I met her at a parent support group in MoCo for parents of ADD/LD kids.

Depending on the degree of ADHD, the specific type of LD and the nature of the GT, public school might not be a bad fit. One advantage is that a kid can't be "counseled out" (and it's free).

[Anonymous]

OP to 11:03: Thank you so very much for the MoCo info! We have considered public, but only long enough to rule it out. We're in FFX County, where my child would be in a class with 30+ kids, and no GT center till 3d grade. Based on some friends' experience with similar diagnoses (I have another child in public GT here), FFX only gives an IEP after the kid's performance dips below grade level. Doesn't matter the diagnosis and what supports could help the kid fully develop his potential. Also, my son just Would Not Cope in a large class, or with a billion kids running around the playground at recess. He really needs a smaller environment with more nurturing hand-holding. It's nice to know that MoCo offers that kind of detailed work.

[Anonymous]

I have heard nothing but great things about Lab - kids seem to get what they personally need there. It is known to be pricey but I know I would do it if my child needed some special accomodations to make sure he loved learning.

[Anonymous]

Its 12:16 here, PP your first description of your son was that he was ADHD with some LD. I for some reason thought I read that he had been GT at some point. The poster that introduced the idea of MoCo Schools has pretty nice suggestions. I think you should at least explore it as an option. Somthing else on another one of your posts came up and that was he has some sensory skills deficits. There are tons of them and all seem to take on different identity. Here is something else I didn't know and that is that the kids are going to the Big 3 or 5 from the Lab school so that makes it a plus. I didn't mean to offend you or anyone about what I said. The main purpose of the post was to show that the glass is half full. Someone said there are no do overs with childhood, well they are right about that. If you really feel that the Lab School is good, healthy and profitable fit for your child then jump in with both feet. When I read your posts I do however think of my son and what it took to keep him up to speed. ARe you considering medication at all? Oh and yes he will grow up and go to college without a doubt and marry the prettiest girl. I had a client one time who was bi polar, Tourettes syndrome and ADHD. He was also allergic to medication. He went to college on an academic scholarship. He often talked about a girlfreind when he came to see me and I have to admit I thought he was a bit too noisy for a date. One day he said I want you to meet my girlfreind that I have been talking about all this time. When I did meet her I thought she was the prettiest girl I had ever seen. He graduated, got a HUGE sales job and they got married. Everything will be fine..Now that I won't take back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP to 11:03: Thank you so very much for the MoCo info! We have considered public, but only long enough to rule it out. We're in FFX County, where my child would be in a class with 30+ kids, and no GT center till 3d grade. Based on some friends' experience with similar diagnoses (I have another child in public GT here), FFX only gives an IEP after the kid's performance dips below grade level. Doesn't matter the diagnosis and what supports could help the kid fully develop his potential. Also, my son just Would Not Cope in a large class, or with a billion kids running around the playground at recess. He really needs a smaller environment with more nurturing hand-holding. It's nice to know that MoCo offers that kind of detailed work.

11:03 here. to be clear, MoCo has some of the same issues you cite -- highly gifted centers don't start until 4th grade, although working ahead a grade or more in math might be possible at a younger age depending on the specific school and cohort there.

Also, in MoCo, a gifted child is not supposed to HAVE to fall below average performance in grade to receive services, but in reality it is really difficult to convincingly show the "impact" part of the prong if the child is performing average. I forget the exact IEP language requirement but the impact must be sufficiently large, sorry I can't remember the exact word they use to describe it (it's not 'severe", but a mild impact wouldn't qualify either). That was our experience.

[Anonymous]

My DC didn't qualify for a MoCo IEP because her GT/LD status meant she's dyslexic but still reads above or at grade level. In other words, you have to already be falling behind before they will help you. That's their lovely, child-centered policy.

So I get outside tutoring from the Lab School, to the tune of $800 per month. Totally worth it, but difficult.

Also, the GT Centers are VERY hard to get in to (one of my kids did, one didn't). And I was told that applications are up with the poor economy. So they are not something to count on.

[Anonymous]

Generally it is very hard to get an IEP if the student is performing at or above grade level, which is often the case with GT kids who can compensate. But with a diagnosis, they should be able to get a 504 and get supports and accomodations. An IEP gives differentiated instruction, but if your son is high performing academically he may do well with some additional supports via a 504.

I got a little confused as to whether the OP is in MoCo or FCPS. If FCPS, you may find that a small private (something like Chesterbrook for excample) may help him over the hump of the early grades, and applying to the GT program with a 504 plan for third grade.

[Anonymous]

When my son didn't get into the GT program I left the public school system and refuse to go back. He is ADHD but he outperformed everyone academically, musically and etc. It was sickening to attend every awards ceremony where he would be honored for everything and never get into GT. At one point they said he had to be an out of the box thinker or something like that. He opened a talent show singing and playing the piano and directing the crowd at the same time. GT is vague to me. I have no respect for it. All it is is a really suped up private school education so why not just select the private school of your choice or at least one that will cover the GT material and go for it. Let's face it you have a much better chance of getting your child into a pretty good private school than the GT program. Now I just had to get that off my chest.

Anyways, back on thought here, again if Lab school will payoff in the end placing your child into a good high school then he will ultimately get to a pretty good college. I say follow your first mind about the Lab School. My point earlier was that if accommodations are all that you want then the public school system can do a pretty good job. If you have problems getting 504 services just scream really loudly and unrelentlessly. I'm offended that Lab school doesn't take kids in the spectrum. Most of them have above average intelligence.