Help with placement in special needs school

[Anonymous]

If you are trying to obtain a SN school placement at school system expense, an educational advocate would be helpful. I don't know of any in VA. I am only familiar with consultants and schools in MD and DC.

I second the advice that you tour the schools yourself and talk with the admissions directors. Also consider having your child do a shadow day.

[Anonymous]

I know this isn't what you asked but I thought my experience might be helpful. I have a DS with a severe language/communication disorder. He's in 4th grade but has the communication skills of a kindergartener. He is of average/above average intelligence and has had an IEP since pre-K (special ed non-cat preschool). We've used a highly regarded consultant since pre-K. For the last several years we battled the school system to get more supports in the classroom. We had such differing views on what was appropriate for our DS that DH and I began to consider private schools. I came to DCUM to get some advice (can't find the thread otherwise I'd link to it). The feedback I got from parents whose kids were at SN schools that they may not be the solution I was looking for. Just like with public schools, it depends on the staff, the year and how good a fit it is for my DS.

So, instead of pursuing private schools, DH, our consultant and I redoubled our efforts to get an appropriate IEP for DS. We refused to sign the proposed IEP and initiated a state complaint. That seemed to get things moving in a more acceptable direction. DS ended up with the support he needs in the general ed classroom and is doing so very much better (emotionally and academically). We're also supplementing with tutoring. It was expensive for us but not as expensive as going private. Good luck to you. I know how gut wrenching this is.

[Anonymous]

We have done private (3), parochial (2) and, and finally public (FCPS) with an IEP. Each child is different. One child flourished in an enormous FCPS high school with the IEP. The second in a NT private. The third now is excelling at Commonwealth Academy. You do need to visit, OP, and trust your gut. The only mistake we made along the way was believing mainstream privates and parochials that they could handle SNs. They don't want to.

[Anonymous]

Do Commonwealth Academy and Newton take private placements paid by the public school system?

[Anonymous]

Lab and Diener are also good, depending on the disability. Unfortunately I don't have the name of an SN advisor. If I had, I would have used them myself.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]Do Commonwealth Academy and Newton take private placements paid by the public school system?


I can't answer that about Newton. I do know that Commonwealth Academy has only two in the whole school because I asked. I have no experience with trying to get public to pay for private but my understanding is that the process is brutal and that in most cases you have to start litigation to get a settlement. I have heard parents say it is just not worth the cost of hiring a lawyer and initiating the process. I do know of one instance where a very disabled child was able to get FCPS to pay for a special school but it was a very severe case. If you want the name of that particular school (it's not one that appears on the SN pages) I can go find it.

[Anonymous]

The reason private placements are rare is because the burden is on the parent to prove that the County cannot - in any fashion, school or even via homeschooling with tutors - meet the needs of the child. Also, the County has a lot of say about where the child can go if they are paying for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lab and Diener are also good, depending on the disability. Unfortunately I don't have the name of an SN advisor. If I had, I would have used them myself.

I agree, but Diener only goes through 6th and OP's kid is in 5th grade. Kind of a hassle for one year.

[Anonymous]

Good point. I don't know what OP's child's disability is and I don't consider it a SN school, but I've heard great things about the New School, which would be in their locale.

[Anonymous]

How about the Auburn School? It goes through 8th grade and is in No. VA. http://www.theauburnschool.org/overview.cfm?subpage=212127

[Anonymous]

OP, have you ruled out public? Depending on the child's age and the school you are looking at, 504s and IEPs (IEP much preferred) can work in FCPS. We had to fight for ours but in the case of one child it was absolutely worth it.

[Anonymous]

Flint Hill School in Oakton also might be worth looking at. We had a consultant recommend it for a child with ADHD. We toured and wound up somewhere else, but that goes all the way through high school.

[Anonymous]

Thank you everyone for your extremely helpful comments. You advice/assistance is very much appreciated.

[Anonymous]

You're welcome. If you have any further questions, please post back. DCUM didn't exist or I hadn't found it when I went through the process so it was all word of mouth. Most of us are more than happy to help if we can because we've been there and back. it's not an easy process finding the right school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The reason private placements are rare is because the burden is on the parent to prove that the County cannot - in any fashion, school or even via homeschooling with tutors - meet the needs of the child. Also, the County has a lot of say about where the child can go if they are paying for it.

The District has changed to putting the onus on the school system to prove that they can provide the appropriate education. Certainly not a reason to move to our fair city, but nice for those of us living here already. Now it will be good to see it put into action.