Tell me about the program for twice exception kids in Montgomery County, please

[Anonymous]

I think the information is correct. When we inquired about the program we got the same advice from a highly regarded consultant and then we got the same answers from MCPS.

DD had too few hours to qualify for anything outside of gen ed and they wanted to see her in gen ed first.

OP, the GT part in elementary is not really GT. They are just more understanding and the classes are smaller. You are better off in AAP or an MCPS CES for elementary. I've heard very positive reviews about 2e MS in MCPS

[Anonymous]

If you can figure out which program you want, get a home in that school's footprint. Much easier to get into a program if you don't need transportation.

[Anonymous]

Vaporware. County came up with concept when it was a solid place for middle class families. They now have one ‘facilitator’ for 210 schools! Well meaning but ineffective. MCPS likely wants it to die on the vine but there is still some juice in the orange to squeeze prestige wise for coming up with concept. So they are trapped. Move along, nothing real to see here

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the information is correct. When we inquired about the program we got the same advice from a highly regarded consultant and then we got the same answers from MCPS.

DD had too few hours to qualify for anything outside of gen ed and they wanted to see her in gen ed first.

OP, the GT part in elementary is not really GT. They are just more understanding and the classes are smaller. You are better off in AAP or an MCPS CES for elementary. I've heard very positive reviews about 2e MS in MCPS

Man have to disagree. Went on a site tour pre-pandemic and what I saw there was simply a middle school baccanale. After witnessing 2 rowdy classrooms and a child in the hallway run full force into another in front of my MCPS counselor guide - literally ran this girl over - and then proceeded to pick himself up an go on running (no comment by the counselor) was enough to convince me - this was no country for my kids. Put house up for sale 2 weeks later and never looked back

[Anonymous]

I’m still unclear what the OP thinks cannot be met in a gen Ed class? If the child would be in a gen ed class in FCPS, why do you think MCPS would put her in a self contained program? The elementary GTLD (and Asperger’s/Connections) programs are for students who are not successful is a mainstream class. Middle school is different- but we are talking about a young elementary schooler.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m still unclear what the OP thinks cannot be met in a gen Ed class? If the child would be in a gen ed class in FCPS, why do you think MCPS would put her in a self contained program? The elementary GTLD (and Asperger’s/Connections) programs are for students who are not successful is a mainstream class. Middle school is different- but we are talking about a young elementary schooler.

This is OP. Her needs can be met in a gen Ed classroom. I thought the 2e program in MoCo might be like AAP but with a supercharged special Ed component since all the kids ALSO have special needs. I didn’t realize that all the kids have high support needs for their special needs.

She’s got low support needs but she does have SOME needs, and because she performs above grade level, her support needs tend to be overlooked unless she exhibits a negative behavior. That’s what I’m trying to address. I’m looking for some way to address both the giftedness and the autism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m still unclear what the OP thinks cannot be met in a gen Ed class? If the child would be in a gen ed class in FCPS, why do you think MCPS would put her in a self contained program? The elementary GTLD (and Asperger’s/Connections) programs are for students who are not successful is a mainstream class. Middle school is different- but we are talking about a young elementary schooler.

This is OP. Her needs can be met in a gen Ed classroom. I thought the 2e program in MoCo might be like AAP but with a supercharged special Ed component since all the kids ALSO have special needs. I didn’t realize that all the kids have high support needs for their special needs.

She’s got low support needs but she does have SOME needs, and because she performs above grade level, her support needs tend to be overlooked unless she exhibits a negative behavior. That’s what I’m trying to address. I’m looking for some way to address both the giftedness and the autism.

MCPS does not have options for this at the elementary level. I definitely would not move thinking that a program would work. However, both of the mentioned programs above might be great options for middle school and up.

[Anonymous]

IN ES, there is not a lot for 2E kids in MCPS. Some 2E kids are admitted to the normal CES programs like other gifted but non-disabled students. Students with IEPs and 504s in this program still get what’s on their plan, but usually these kids don’t need a ton of special instruction.

There is an elementary GTLD program at Barnsley elementary (https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/barnsleyes/classroom/gtld/) but you must be placed there by the home school IEP team. It is for GT/LD, GT/ADHD and GT/any second exceptionality (including autism). IEP law mandates that kids be evaluated individually so you can’t be barred from entry into a program simply because the student has or doesn’t have a particular diagnosis.

My kid was at did this Wings Mentor program at his home ES, but it was really only a person coming in once a week for an hour to work on a personal project with him. There was no connection to the curricula. It was totally unrelated to any needed special instruction. It was basically just to boost his self-esteem and a bone to offer the parent when the school was messing up other stuff. I don’t really think it had a significant impact on him.

You can see more about offerings here.
https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/enriched/gtld/

[Anonymous]

We looked into the elementary 2e program, and it's really hard to get into. In addition to the 2e, your kid has to be acting out or really withdrawn or something in Gen ed. Even with all that, you have to fight mcps for placement. I don't think MCPS would place your child if you moved here.

I honestly would try hiring an advocate to try to improve your current situation before I would move to MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m still unclear what the OP thinks cannot be met in a gen Ed class? If the child would be in a gen ed class in FCPS, why do you think MCPS would put her in a self contained program? The elementary GTLD (and Asperger’s/Connections) programs are for students who are not successful is a mainstream class. Middle school is different- but we are talking about a young elementary schooler.

This is OP. Her needs can be met in a gen Ed classroom. I thought the 2e program in MoCo might be like AAP but with a supercharged special Ed component since all the kids ALSO have special needs. I didn’t realize that all the kids have high support needs for their special needs.

She’s got low support needs but she does have SOME needs, and because she performs above grade level, her support needs tend to be overlooked unless she exhibits a negative behavior. That’s what I’m trying to address. I’m looking for some way to address both the giftedness and the autism.

Instead of moving, you are better off spending money on an advocate and/or good evaluation to get a strong IEP to get her support needs met within the gen ed or aap classroom.

[Anonymous]

I'm an elementary special ed teacher in MCPS. GT/LD is a special ed placement in MCPS (unlike the CES programs). It is very hard to get that placement and the home school model program would have to NOT be meeting your child's needs in order to get a placement there. A lot of the kids in the program have had some fairly significant behavior concerns in their home school in order to get placed there.

Although it should not be like this I agree with the following:

If you are in the local cluster with the program you think your child needs, they are more likely to get placed in that program (doesn't require changing schools).

You ARE more likely to get a particular service placement if you are very persistent (contact the special ed supervisor often, make sure they are at meetings, require any school refusals to be documented in the prior written notice, and if possible bring a lawyer or advocate).

Look at it this way: what does the more restrictive environment offer that the home school doesn't? Your child's IEP needs to reflect present levels, goals, and service needs in those areas that are either impossible or increasingly difficult for the home school to meet in order to necessitate a change of placement.

[Anonymous]

Listen: home school model in MCPS is broken. The only homeschool that works is when you use that phrase as a verb.

[Anonymous]

What are your kid's grade like? She is going to need low grades to qualify for GTLD.

[Anonymous]

This is OP. Thanks, all. I didn’t understand this at all from reading the materials on the MCPS website.