Lab School. DCPS denying funding for everyone?

[Anonymous]

More kids with behavioral issues at kts and Ivymount-those kids are the easiest to get funding for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

DCPS schools offered did not have age-appropriate classrooms or staff trained in research-based academic programs agreed to in IEP. We tried 3 different public schools in DC. We're pro-public education and really wanted child to attend neighborhood school.

Lab does have programs and peer group by age, cognitive development, and social-emotional profile. It's the closest option to our house and wouldn't need transportation. Why should the city pay a lot more to send a student who doesn't have major behavioral and emotional issues out of state?

OP, what does DCPS say those these charges - no age-appropriate classrooms? no trained staff? Did they admit this, thus the offer to fund Ivymount?

Have you contacted the Ombudsman's Office or filed a complaint with OSSE?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any recent experiences of DCPS categorically refusing to fund Lab School?

Did DCPS offer other private placements like KTS or Ivymount that were completely inappropriate?

FWIW, this is a child with no behavioral, emotional, or social issues. Lab accepted enthusiastically and pedi and consultants agree child is good fit for Lab.

High-priced lawyer can't explain clearly what's happening.

Any rumors? Thoughts?

TIA

If you were accepted, you may need to pay out of pocket and keep fighting the school district. I'd go with gruber vs eig as a lawyer

[Anonymous]

Why Gruber v. Eig?

[Anonymous]

Much better

[Anonymous]

Am I the only one who thinks that DCPS is playing games here? From having visited the schools but not having a child at any of the schools I found the profile of a child at Lab very different from those at KTS and Ivymount. Is it possible they think you can afford to go private and pay for it yourself and that if they continue to give you trouble you'll pretty much give up? I know more than a few parents who have gone this route of not continuing to fight a difficult fight because it was hurting their child and they wanted to focus on their child versus the money even if it was a stretch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Am I the only one who thinks that DCPS is playing games here? From having visited the schools but not having a child at any of the schools I found the profile of a child at Lab very different from those at KTS and Ivymount. Is it possible they think you can afford to go private and pay for it yourself and that if they continue to give you trouble you'll pretty much give up? I know more than a few parents who have gone this route of not continuing to fight a difficult fight because it was hurting their child and they wanted to focus on their child versus the money even if it was a stretch.

OP again. This is what we're trying to figure out. Is there just some zealot at DCPS central with a grudge against Lab who's willing to waste taxpayer money (Ivymount $$$$!) and SPED educators' time in redundant meetings? Or is it a more systemic issue of incompetence and inexperience of DCPS compliance staff?

I don't expect a definitive answer. Just hoping for some anecdotal feedback. If it's just one or two crazy folks at central, I'm prepared to play along.

However, my concern for everyone's child in DC. If uninformed, inexperienced true-believers DCPS SPED programs-of-the-day are in charge of placements, how will any student get a FAPE?

I'll try to contact Ombudsman's office to at least voice concerns over arbitrary DCPS decisions and lack of action in our case. I have no idea how class action suits are filed or if there is any recourse under recent SPED laws.

Thank you all for letting me vent here in a safe place.

[Anonymous]

Not necessarily, OP. Sometimes it takes more than a year to get funding. It's not guaranteed.

[Anonymous]

Maybe DCPS gets a discount at Ivymount.

[Anonymous]

Be careful OP - this list is monitored by school system attorneys. It may not be as 'safe' as you think.

[Anonymous]

Special ed teacher here--what are/were the programs or type of programs you were seeking for your child?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Be careful OP - this list is monitored by school system attorneys. It may not be as 'safe' as you think.

Doesn't matter one iota.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Be careful OP - this list is monitored by school system attorneys. It may not be as 'safe' as you think.

Doesn't matter one iota.

I mean, clearly the school system knows they want Lab School - can't imagine it's a secret. Don't know what super secret intel DCPS lawyers could glean from here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Special ed teacher here--what are/were the programs or type of programs you were seeking for your child?

to actually learn to read--Lab School parent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Lab said they are expressly forbidden to share other families' experiences or it could be considered collusion by parents to cheat the District. It's an abundance of caution.

The private schools contacted us directly, not DCPS. They are out of state. One is $20K more than Lab and another is over an hour away.

As a taxpayer, I'm really uncomfortable with this. Wasn't DCPS supposed to stop shipping kids out of state? What's wrong with a school right in DC and wouldn't need busing?

DCPS schools offered did not have age-appropriate classrooms or staff trained in research-based academic programs agreed to in IEP. We tried 3 different public schools in DC. We're pro-public education and really wanted child to attend neighborhood school.

Lab does have programs and peer group by age, cognitive development, and social-emotional profile. It's the closest option to our house and wouldn't need transportation. Why should the city pay a lot more to send a student who doesn't have major behavioral and emotional issues out of state?

Is there someone at DCPS or OSSE who just hates Lab?

Mayor Bowser attended the Lab gala last year and gave commencement at high school graduation this year. One would assume they'd want more DC kids in a DC-based school even if it's private.

What gives?

My guess is that there is an approved list of schools for private placement, and Lab is not on it, because DC should be able to provide appropriate instruction for children who are in Lab's niche. Do you have written agreement with DCPS that your child should be privately placed? You will probably have to sue and prove denial of FAPE if DCPS has yet to admit that. As part of the suit, Lab needs to be named as the appropriate placement (not best).