What are examples of reasonable COSA requests?

[Anonymous]

^ sorry no it does not make sense except as an employer perk. Plenty of people use after care. That is not A hardship.

[Anonymous]

Only know of one case. Friend was allowed to enroll child in school within walking distance of child care provider. Child care provider did not have transportation.

[Anonymous]

I know a handful of families that have used COSAs to put their children in schools they are not zoned for. They have all been childcare-related reasons. Generally there needs to be space in the receiving school, so it is certainly not automatic.

Something else to consider, you have to reapply for the COSA for middle school. 2 of the families I know have been unsuccessful at getting COSAs for middle school to remain in the cluster I live in. They were both told it is extremely difficult to get a COSA for middle and high school. I do not live in a highly desirable cluster, so, I imagine that it is even harder if you are gunning for a W cluster.

[Anonymous]

At the ES level they should allow and even encourage COSA's for kids in overcrowded schools to attend under capacity schools. They don't need to guarantee a future MS or HS COSA if the MS or HS is overcrowded. Its a very poor use of resources to leave some ES schools with declining enrollments and losing staff because of low numbers while other schools have so many kids recess is a zoo and lunch is in the later afternoon almost before school ends.

[Anonymous]

We got a COSA because we lived literally next door to one middle school but child was zoned to another middle school several miles away. We told MCPS our child needed to be within walking distance because I work downtown and DH is disabled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We got a COSA because we lived literally next door to one middle school but child was zoned to another middle school several miles away. We told MCPS our child needed to be within walking distance because I work downtown and DH is disabled.

I meant to say that these facts were true. We didn't make them up.

[Anonymous]

I know a family that had a child with a significant disability. They had worked hard with the inclusion team at their child's school to build a robust program and the child was thriving. They then purchased a house a couple houses over the line into the next elementary school, and got a COSA to stay in their original school. I think they argued that it would take time for a new team to get to know their child and his specific needs, and that he would lose momentum during that time.

The COSA was granted but they had to waive the right to special education transportation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know a family that had a child with a significant disability. They had worked hard with the inclusion team at their child's school to build a robust program and the child was thriving. They then purchased a house a couple houses over the line into the next elementary school, and got a COSA to stay in their original school. I think they argued that it would take time for a new team to get to know their child and his specific needs, and that he would lose momentum during that time.

The COSA was granted but they had to waive the right to special education transportation.

I don't think they'll provide transportation for any COSA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know a family that had a child with a significant disability. They had worked hard with the inclusion team at their child's school to build a robust program and the child was thriving. They then purchased a house a couple houses over the line into the next elementary school, and got a COSA to stay in their original school. I think they argued that it would take time for a new team to get to know their child and his specific needs, and that he would lose momentum during that time.

The COSA was granted but they had to waive the right to special education transportation.

I don't think they'll provide transportation for any COSA.

No, you're right, but this was a kid who had special ed transportation, even though he lived within walking distance, because of his specific needs. If he had been placed at the school by an IEP team, rather than through COSA he would have kept the transportation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At the ES level they should allow and even encourage COSA's for kids in overcrowded schools to attend under capacity schools. They don't need to guarantee a future MS or HS COSA if the MS or HS is overcrowded. Its a very poor use of resources to leave some ES schools with declining enrollments and losing staff because of low numbers while other schools have so many kids recess is a zoo and lunch is in the later afternoon almost before school ends.

Transportation could be an issue for many families.

[Anonymous]

We have friends who got their ES changed because the school was closer to their house. They couched it as transportation and childcare - commuting route to and from work for drop-off and pick-up. The target school was not overcrowded and it was accepted.

Same school also accepted access to a particular aftercare for family continuity - ES student comfortable there from preschool days, younger child still there.

Not impossible.

[Anonymous]

I know a ton of families got COSAs in our neighborhood. Probably the only neighborhood where MCPS quietly accepts the majority of COSA requests because it's just easier than changing the boundaries. Or maybe there's some other explanation - MCPS is a mystery sometimes. It's the exception not the rule. I assume the applicants have to lie or embellish to get the COSA, but I don't know that for a fact.

[Anonymous]

We got one. My work and my kids' grandparents (our childcare) are close to one particular school, which is 45 minutes from our home. I simply stated that if my kids went to their home school, they would be in before and after care for several hours, which was a financial strain for us. If they went to the other school, their grandparents would care for them during that time. Also, if one child got sick at school, I would not be able to leave work within a reasonable time, but one of the grandparents could be there within 5 minutes.

I didn't lay it on thick or claim that the COSA was our only option, but explained why going to the other school was in the best interests of my children. I think it helped that the school in our neighborhood is more "desirable" while the school we wanted to change to was Title I. In any case, those were our reasons, and the COSA was approved.

[Anonymous]

I don't think it matters if the school you want is overcrowded. We were at a ridiculously overcrowded ES which was eventually split in two (meaning a new school was built that took half the students). While the school was still at double capacity they accepted COSAs for childcare issues. (And possibly other reasons).

[Anonymous]

I am the PP who knows the teacher. I get your argument but seriously do you know how much teachers at MCPS make? This woman has two elementary-age children and with beforecare/aftercare being $600+ a month per kid that could be most of her salary. I think we should do everything possible to support our teachers! I know some of them have their problems but it's really a tough job and the ones that are dedicated to the work are really wonderful people.

Anonymous wrote:^ sorry no it does not make sense except as an employer perk. Plenty of people use after care. That is not A hardship.