Please suggest good elementary schools for IEP in MCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our MCPS elementary has been very good at services for an IEP (and 504 for our second child). It’s not all doom and gloom. I am guessing with a diagnosis young (as you have) that the need is well documented which will help. My kids went to Flora Singer in the Forest Glen area of Silver Spring. But, as pp mentioned, staff can turn over so things can change in any MCPS school.

Thank you! I’ll look into these..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here- The IEP is for Autism. He has a speech delay (both expressive and receptive) but cognitively does well. I’m looking for an elementary school where he’s accepted and also where he is placed in a general Ed classroom with a teaching aide or some extra help. Was thinking of looking for schools in Montgomery, Fairfax and Loudoun county but was partial to MCPS. Rethinking a little after the reviews here.

MCPS has aspergers programs and more dedicated autism programs. If you're in bounds for one, it can make the placement easier. (It shouldn't, but it did for us, anyway.) And it makes the bus rides easier.

[Anonymous]

Ignore the over-the-top MCPS haters. That is partly a function of this board attracting the most extreme opinions, and partly a function of special education services being a challenge everywhere right now.

Here is the link to MCPS webpage with a description of all of the programs.
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/departments/special-education/21.08.30%20MCPS%20Programs%20and%20Services%20Locations%20for%20Spec%20Ed%20Students.pdf (includes which schools have which programs.)
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/special-education/programs-services/
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/special-education/programs-services/age-elementary-to-secondary.aspx

Every school has Learning and Academic Disabilities (LAD) services available. In addition, the specialty programs are distributed at different schools. Students are placed into the most appropriate program, and if it is different than their home school, they are bused to the school. From an affordable housing situation, I would look Mid-county to upper county. Maybe Rockville or Gaithersburg area. I would look at the school pyramids for an ES-MS-HS sequence that has Autism services programs. This way, you and your child get connected to your neighborhood through the PTA. Any friends would also be staying in the same ES-MS-HS pathway. For example Maryvale ES--Wood MS--Rockville HS are all in the same cluster and offer autism program services. If you don't like the housing near Maryvale, you could purchase elsewhere that feeds into Wood, and then if Maryvale is the appropriate placement for your child, they would get bused there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are the schools you would recommend? MCPS is huge. Any particular school that you or your friends had a good experience with? I would take that as a starting point for my search..

DP. I will highly recommend Forest Knolls ES. It has a great staff, excellent teachers, and a very involved parent community. And it should have homes in your price range. There's also a neighborhood swim club.

[Anonymous]

If you have an IEP + a medical issue that makes your kid high risk for covid complications, it's time to go packing like we did. they do not care if the kid dies.

[Anonymous]

If inclusion is your main goal, I'd look at Howard county who prioritizes inclusion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ignore the over-the-top MCPS haters. That is partly a function of this board attracting the most extreme opinions, and partly a function of special education services being a challenge everywhere right now.

Here is the link to MCPS webpage with a description of all of the programs.
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/departments/special-education/21.08.30%20MCPS%20Programs%20and%20Services%20Locations%20for%20Spec%20Ed%20Students.pdf (includes which schools have which programs.)
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/special-education/programs-services/
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/special-education/programs-services/age-elementary-to-secondary.aspx

Every school has Learning and Academic Disabilities (LAD) services available. In addition, the specialty programs are distributed at different schools. Students are placed into the most appropriate program, and if it is different than their home school, they are bused to the school. From an affordable housing situation, I would look Mid-county to upper county. Maybe Rockville or Gaithersburg area. I would look at the school pyramids for an ES-MS-HS sequence that has Autism services programs. This way, you and your child get connected to your neighborhood through the PTA. Any friends would also be staying in the same ES-MS-HS pathway. For example Maryvale ES--Wood MS--Rockville HS are all in the same cluster and offer autism program services. If you don't like the housing near Maryvale, you could purchase elsewhere that feeds into Wood, and then if Maryvale is the appropriate placement for your child, they would get bused there.

For as many MCPS detractors on here there are MORE MCPS employees. This is an employee who gives it away by linking to the official MCPS pages. It’s all to keep the 3 billion budget.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here- The IEP is for Autism. He has a speech delay (both expressive and receptive) but cognitively does well. I’m looking for an elementary school where he’s accepted and also where he is placed in a general Ed classroom with a teaching aide or some extra help. Was thinking of looking for schools in Montgomery, Fairfax and Loudoun county but was partial to MCPS. Rethinking a little after the reviews here.

Does he have other goals on his IEP that aren't for speech?

When you say teaching aide do you mean a 1:1? That's really impossible to get unless there are extreme needs/behaviors. If he has other goals in addition to speech goals, the special ed. teacher or para will support him but only for a certain amount of time that is written in his IEP.

[Anonymous]

OP, this board is very negative and extremely myopic. You will read exactly the same types of complaints on the Fairfax and Loudoun boards. Everybody thinks their system is "the worst," which is logically impossible. IDEA is a mandate that provides pie-in-the-sky expectations and no funds to match that, so every system falls short in some way. There is no panacea. In a relative sense, MCPS is a good district. And despite being an unfunded mandate, IDEA makes the US a much better place for special education than most other countries. Your kid will be OK in any of the three districts you listed. You should probably supplement with private services if you can afford it but that would be best everywhere, not just in this area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, this board is very negative and extremely myopic. You will read exactly the same types of complaints on the Fairfax and Loudoun boards. Everybody thinks their system is "the worst," which is logically impossible. IDEA is a mandate that provides pie-in-the-sky expectations and no funds to match that, so every system falls short in some way. There is no panacea. In a relative sense, MCPS is a good district. And despite being an unfunded mandate, IDEA makes the US a much better place for special education than most other countries. Your kid will be OK in any of the three districts you listed. You should probably supplement with private services if you can afford it but that would be best everywhere, not just in this area.

I appreciate your ‘both sides’ position but respectfully disagree. There is something incredibly ‘off’ about the culture of MCPS which is in another league from the other districts you mention. My take? No inspector general in MCPS. So while I appreciate your equivocal take I think you are leading the Op down a ‘both sides are not so bad’ argument which is patently false. Now granted you will find cheaper housing in Moco - zero job growth in 15 years there so this would help with private supplementation. Op - Just know you are sending your kid into a really cold place that has no checks on it - either internal or external. (MCPS BOE is a rubber stamp)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ignore the over-the-top MCPS haters. That is partly a function of this board attracting the most extreme opinions, and partly a function of special education services being a challenge everywhere right now.

Here is the link to MCPS webpage with a description of all of the programs.
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/departments/special-education/21.08.30%20MCPS%20Programs%20and%20Services%20Locations%20for%20Spec%20Ed%20Students.pdf (includes which schools have which programs.)
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/special-education/programs-services/
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/special-education/programs-services/age-elementary-to-secondary.aspx

Every school has Learning and Academic Disabilities (LAD) services available. In addition, the specialty programs are distributed at different schools. Students are placed into the most appropriate program, and if it is different than their home school, they are bused to the school. From an affordable housing situation, I would look Mid-county to upper county. Maybe Rockville or Gaithersburg area. I would look at the school pyramids for an ES-MS-HS sequence that has Autism services programs. This way, you and your child get connected to your neighborhood through the PTA. Any friends would also be staying in the same ES-MS-HS pathway. For example Maryvale ES--Wood MS--Rockville HS are all in the same cluster and offer autism program services. If you don't like the housing near Maryvale, you could purchase elsewhere that feeds into Wood, and then if Maryvale is the appropriate placement for your child, they would get bused there.

For as many MCPS detractors on here there are MORE MCPS employees. This is an employee who gives it away by linking to the official MCPS pages. It’s all to keep the 3 billion budget.

Or perhaps I am a parent who has been in MCPS for 15 years and know how to use google to find information on the MCPS website. A skill that perhaps eludes PP ....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are the schools you would recommend? MCPS is huge. Any particular school that you or your friends had a good experience with? I would take that as a starting point for my search..

DP. I will highly recommend Forest Knolls ES. It has a great staff, excellent teachers, and a very involved parent community. And it should have homes in your price range. There's also a neighborhood swim club.

_Extremely_ strong second for Forest Knolls! I have more than one DC with unique needs and FKES has been fantastic with all of them, even across staff turnovers. K teacher there was a complete game-changer for one SN kid, too. Plus the community in both the school and the neighborhood is just terrific. We're so happy to have the chance to raise our family here.

[Anonymous]

Bannockburn ES
Carderock ES

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bannockburn ES
Carderock ES

+1. I'm the one who asked you about the area and type of IEP. I don't think whomever recommended Forest Knolls ES has your best interests at heart.

MCPS has good teachers and programs, but you have to know which programs and which teachers aren't into playing politics with the children. Unfortunately the current MCPS leadership is not very good and until they're replaced you'll probably see a lot of bitter comments posted here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bannockburn ES
Carderock ES

+1. I'm the one who asked you about the area and type of IEP. I don't think whomever recommended Forest Knolls ES has your best interests at heart.

MCPS has good teachers and programs, but you have to know which programs and which teachers aren't into playing politics with the children. Unfortunately the current MCPS leadership is not very good and until they're replaced you'll probably see a lot of bitter comments posted here.

Sounds like you have an agenda to replace the leadership and nothing pertinent on he topic at hand.