DCPS removing all Special Ed for kids in Private Schols

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, post this on special needs.

- mom of a kid w an IEP at a DC charter

Agreed. Most parents are wholly ignorant and rude about special needs kids if they don't have one.

[Anonymous]

Wait, so what is the law? Does the law say they have to provide services for Private school students carte blanche? Or is it only when they can't meet those needs in public schools?

[Anonymous]

It may be fiscally advantageous to DCPS to provide a few services to private school kids then to educate those kids themselves. It may just be that this is a win-win for everyone to have it set up like this. It would be good to see the numbers on this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just can't see any reason why DCPS should pay for private school kids' services. None at all.

Federal law would be one reason.

Yes, but that typically kicks in when the public schools themselves can't meet the kid's needs, so the district pays to send the kid to private. Here the private can't meet the kid's needs and, apparently, the parents aren't willing to send the kid to public. Not sure what happens when neither the public nor the private can meet the kid's needs. The split the difference approach (in various formats) is one option and there can be situations in which that's what both parties (parents/district) want. Or the district says we'll pay but you have to go to a different/specialized private that offers all the services you need.

I guess OP could move to MoCo and get the MoCo deal (free onsite services at private).

No, there are 2 different laws.

1) Law that states that if a school district can't provide Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) to a student with a disability, the school system must pay for tuition, related services, and transportation at a private school.

2) Law that states that the school system must provide services to "parentally placed" kids, which means kids whose parents choose a private or religious school for whatever reason and either pay the tuition, or have some other source pay the tuition (e.g. scholarship, grandma etc . . . )

You're right that I didn't know about the second law. Then DC won't get away with it, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just can't see any reason why DCPS should pay for private school kids' services. None at all.

Federal law would be one reason.

Yes, but that typically kicks in when the public schools themselves can't meet the kid's needs, so the district pays to send the kid to private. Here the private can't meet the kid's needs and, apparently, the parents aren't willing to send the kid to public. Not sure what happens when neither the public nor the private can meet the kid's needs. The split the difference approach (in various formats) is one option and there can be situations in which that's what both parties (parents/district) want. Or the district says we'll pay but you have to go to a different/specialized private that offers all the services you need.

I guess OP could move to MoCo and get the MoCo deal (free onsite services at private).

No, there are 2 different laws.

1) Law that states that if a school district can't provide Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) to a student with a disability, the school system must pay for tuition, related services, and transportation at a private school.

2) Law that states that the school system must provide services to "parentally placed" kids, which means kids whose parents choose a private or religious school for whatever reason and either pay the tuition, or have some other source pay the tuition (e.g. scholarship, grandma etc . . . )

You're right that I didn't know about the second law. Then DC won't get away with it, right?

Another PP here. Thanks, this is helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait, so what is the law? Does the law say they have to provide services for Private school students carte blanche? Or is it only when they can't meet those needs in public schools?

The law says that a certain amount of $ needs to be set aside to be used to provide services to students with disabilities whose parents have chosen private schools. It is not carts Blanche, instead the school system generally provides a short list of services which is far less comprehensive than what they provide to kids enrolled in public schools.

This has nothing to do with situations where a school district fails to serve students with disabilities who are then placed in private schools at the district's expense. That is an entirely different part of the law and pot of money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait, so what is the law? Does the law say they have to provide services for Private school students carte blanche? Or is it only when they can't meet those needs in public schools?

The law says that a certain amount of $ needs to be set aside to be used to provide services to students with disabilities whose parents have chosen private schools. It is not carts Blanche, instead the school system generally provides a short list of services which is far less comprehensive than what they provide to kids enrolled in public schools.

This has nothing to do with situations where a school district fails to serve students with disabilities who are then placed in private schools at the district's expense. That is an entirely different part of the law and pot of money.

Gotcha, I see. That seems fair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just can't see any reason why DCPS should pay for private school kids' services. None at all.

Federal law would be one reason.

Yes, but that typically kicks in when the public schools themselves can't meet the kid's needs, so the district pays to send the kid to private. Here the private can't meet the kid's needs and, apparently, the parents aren't willing to send the kid to public. Not sure what happens when neither the public nor the private can meet the kid's needs. The split the difference approach (in various formats) is one option and there can be situations in which that's what both parties (parents/district) want. Or the district says we'll pay but you have to go to a different/specialized private that offers all the services you need.

I guess OP could move to MoCo and get the MoCo deal (free onsite services at private).

No, there are 2 different laws.

1) Law that states that if a school district can't provide Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) to a student with a disability, the school system must pay for tuition, related services, and transportation at a private school.

2) Law that states that the school system must provide services to "parentally placed" kids, which means kids whose parents choose a private or religious school for whatever reason and either pay the tuition, or have some other source pay the tuition (e.g. scholarship, grandma etc . . . )

You're right that I didn't know about the second law. Then DC won't get away with it, right?

Not necessarily, because the law gives educational authorities a great deal of leeway in how they spend the money. It sounds as though OSSE is shifting from funding therapy at public schools to funding professional development to staff at private schools. That is probably legal. If they were to stop services altogether, that would be illegal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:+1.

You cannot have DCPS services for your non-DCPS student. It doesn't work like that and frankly, I am rather shocked it has been like this to now.

Religious schools have been entitled to get federal ESEA funds for a long time. I would be very surprised if it wasn't the same for IDEA funds. This seems very strange.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, post this on special needs.

- mom of a kid w an IEP at a DC charter

Will do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, post this on special needs.

- mom of a kid w an IEP at a DC charter

Agreed. Most parents are wholly ignorant and rude about special needs kids if they don't have one.

Yep, there's a global conspiracy against SN kids.

Or, you're pretty obnoxious and should learn how to respect other people's views.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just can't see any reason why DCPS should pay for private school kids' services. None at all.

Well, for starters because the private school parents are paying for them.

Isn't it enough that DC schools get a free ride from all of the private school parents, now they are not providing services (which the parents are also paying for)?


A voucher system would fix all of this - quickly - and public jurisdictions would feel the pressure to be competitive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just can't see any reason why DCPS should pay for private school kids' services. None at all.

Federal law would be one reason.

And the fact that private school parents are taxpayers too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, post this on special needs.

- mom of a kid w an IEP at a DC charter

Agreed. Most parents are wholly ignorant and rude about special needs kids if they don't have one.

Yep, there's a global conspiracy against SN kids.

Or, you're pretty obnoxious and should learn how to respect other people's views.

Wow, that's rich!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, post this on special needs.

- mom of a kid w an IEP at a DC charter

Agreed. Most parents are wholly ignorant and rude about special needs kids if they don't have one.

Yep, there's a global conspiracy against SN kids.

Or, you're pretty obnoxious and should learn how to respect other people's views.

Wow, that's rich!

Is it?

It's the oldest cliche in the book. Respect goes both ways. And my kid is as important as your kid.