Experience with mediation in FCPS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again. Thanks for the thoughtful posts - especially about the privates. It really is helpful because DH and I are seriously thinking about privates. We'd have to do some really creative financing but we have come to the painful realization that FCPS is okay with failing him. I think, given the cost of privates and the 'hassle factor' described, we'd be better off searching for a good tutor(s).

I think we will continue with mediation. It won't hurt, right?

Private school gets you smaller class size, maybe less stressed teachers, and in some cases only special ed teachers highly trained to work with SN, but keep in mind, they don't follow IEPs and sometimes even when they offer some services like OT in the school, they will recommend additional services outside school at your expense. Also, the typical private schools can only accommodate VERY mild JDs and the privates working with SN have many pros in terms of education, but you miss out on much inclusion which it sounds like you don't feel is helpful anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP again. Thanks for the thoughtful posts - especially about the privates. It really is helpful because DH and I are seriously thinking about privates. We'd have to do some really creative financing but we have come to the painful realization that FCPS is okay with failing him. I think, given the cost of privates and the 'hassle factor' described, we'd be better off searching for a good tutor(s).

I think we will continue with mediation. It won't hurt, right?

Private school gets you smaller class size, maybe less stressed teachers, and in some cases only special ed teachers highly trained to work with SN, but keep in mind, they don't follow IEPs and sometimes even when they offer some services like OT in the school, they will recommend additional services outside school at your expense. Also, the typical private schools can only accommodate VERY mild JDs and the privates working with SN have many pros in terms of education, but you miss out on much inclusion which it sounds like you don't feel is helpful anyway.

Interesting issue re "inclusion." We have toured some of the schools for kids with LDs in the past and are still considering options, but the kids we met there were like any other kids in our public school (articulate, average IQs broadly speaking), except for the fact that they have learning disabilities like dyslexia and/or ADHD. Not sure what inclusion is being missed by going private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP again. Thanks for the thoughtful posts - especially about the privates. It really is helpful because DH and I are seriously thinking about privates. We'd have to do some really creative financing but we have come to the painful realization that FCPS is okay with failing him. I think, given the cost of privates and the 'hassle factor' described, we'd be better off searching for a good tutor(s).

I think we will continue with mediation. It won't hurt, right?

Private school gets you smaller class size, maybe less stressed teachers, and in some cases only special ed teachers highly trained to work with SN, but keep in mind, they don't follow IEPs and sometimes even when they offer some services like OT in the school, they will recommend additional services outside school at your expense. Also, the typical private schools can only accommodate VERY mild JDs and the privates working with SN have many pros in terms of education, but you miss out on much inclusion which it sounds like you don't feel is helpful anyway.

Interesting issue re "inclusion." We have toured some of the schools for kids with LDs in the past and are still considering options, but the kids we met there were like any other kids in our public school (articulate, average IQs broadly speaking), except for the fact that they have learning disabilities like dyslexia and/or ADHD. Not sure what inclusion is being missed by going private.

Generally, even the schools for LDs cherry pick away from the more severe cases and tend to be more white and more affluent and have less gender diversity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP again. Thanks for the thoughtful posts - especially about the privates. It really is helpful because DH and I are seriously thinking about privates. We'd have to do some really creative financing but we have come to the painful realization that FCPS is okay with failing him. I think, given the cost of privates and the 'hassle factor' described, we'd be better off searching for a good tutor(s).

I think we will continue with mediation. It won't hurt, right?

Private school gets you smaller class size, maybe less stressed teachers, and in some cases only special ed teachers highly trained to work with SN, but keep in mind, they don't follow IEPs and sometimes even when they offer some services like OT in the school, they will recommend additional services outside school at your expense. Also, the typical private schools can only accommodate VERY mild JDs and the privates working with SN have many pros in terms of education, but you miss out on much inclusion which it sounds like you don't feel is helpful anyway.

Interesting issue re "inclusion." We have toured some of the schools for kids with LDs in the past and are still considering options, but the kids we met there were like any other kids in our public school (articulate, average IQs broadly speaking), except for the fact that they have learning disabilities like dyslexia and/or ADHD. Not sure what inclusion is being missed by going private.

Generally, even the schools for LDs cherry pick away from the more severe cases and tend to be more white and more affluent and have less gender diversity.

But that's diversity, not inclusion - the latter being the integration of disabled and non-disabled students.