Does having an IEP or 504 hurt a child's chance for private school admissions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would assume with "average" (to cite you) cognitive functions, you would probably have a hard time getting into most regular privates in the DC area because most are looking for kids with pretty high testing scores, no? Our son is gifted but severe adhd and we struck out with the two privates we applied to in PK. I think schools may be open to accepting a kid with SN to the extent they otherwise fit the profile of what they're looking for (like, speech and gross motor issues but otherwise a solid student) but would likely not be interested in a kid who at core doesn't have the test scores they need. That is, unless the school has a particular mandate to fill some SN slots.

OP here. Our middle DC tested average, had good grades (only one A) and was accepted at a top private that is in the same category as the "big 3". Our DC who has been diagnosed with HFA just went through the school's assessment (for placing kids in groups in the classroom) and DC is reading slightly above grade average, very good comprehension and DC's writing and spelling is solidly on grade level. Math is where DC has the difficulty and was a little behind the class at the end of last year. This is where a we (schoo lincluded) believe 1-1 intervention could help DC comprehend the fundamentals of numbers and learn how to apply the basic knowledge.

But more than that, it's the social anxiety, fear, apprehension, emotional awkwardness that has really hampered DC and this, along with math, is where the focus has been in the discussion with school.

[Anonymous]

Our private school has been able to accommodate my son because we were there years prior to diagnosis. We were almost counseled out during the diagnosis process and I don't think he would have been admitted today even though he is doing very well there, is medicated, is advanced academically and is keeping up socially.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Maybe someday these schools will get dinged for ADA violations ... one can always hope!

Yeah, so this won't happen because the children have a right to a Free And Appropriate PUBLIC Education. Private schools do not have to offer a Free, Appropriate Private Education. Because they're private.

IDEA and ADA are two wholly separate laws. Private schools are "public accommodations" under the ADA and may have additional liabilities if they receive any federal funds. While you are correct that they do not have to provide the same level of support as under IDEA (i.e., special educaiton and related services like OT) they do have to refrain from disability discrimination and provide reasonable accommodations. So they could not have a blanket rule excluding kids with disabilities, without further evaluation of the specific needs; and they could not just discriminate against kids based on their disability (e.g., never ever accept kids with ASDs who otherwise meet academic standards and can do the work.)

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/large-network-private-schools-pays-215000-settle-lawsuit-alleging-discrimination-against

[Anonymous]

The non-discrimination issue has come up a few times in other parts of the country. I remember one related to a private preschool but I think legal experts were saying it would also apply to K-12 privates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would assume with "average" (to cite you) cognitive functions, you would probably have a hard time getting into most regular privates in the DC area because most are looking for kids with pretty high testing scores, no? Our son is gifted but severe adhd and we struck out with the two privates we applied to in PK. I think schools may be open to accepting a kid with SN to the extent they otherwise fit the profile of what they're looking for (like, speech and gross motor issues but otherwise a solid student) but would likely not be interested in a kid who at core doesn't have the test scores they need. That is, unless the school has a particular mandate to fill some SN slots.

OP here. Our middle DC tested average, had good grades (only one A) and was accepted at a top private that is in the same category as the "big 3". Our DC who has been diagnosed with HFA just went through the school's assessment (for placing kids in groups in the classroom) and DC is reading slightly above grade average, very good comprehension and DC's writing and spelling is solidly on grade level. Math is where DC has the difficulty and was a little behind the class at the end of last year. This is where a we (schoo lincluded) believe 1-1 intervention could help DC comprehend the fundamentals of numbers and learn how to apply the basic knowledge.

But more than that, it's the social anxiety, fear, apprehension, emotional awkwardness that has really hampered DC and this, along with math, is where the focus has been in the discussion with school.

That isn't going to go away and at middle school age will ramp up so that is not the time to try and switch your child to a private school which by their nature of having smaller classes will be a more closed social environment. Add in the pressure that almost all kids will be above average in academics and you are just asking for trouble.

And yes, pp are correct, very little to no support in terms of serious academic struggles. They don't have the resources nor do most want to have the resources.

[Anonymous]

OP - it's really hard to predict but my advice would be to widen your search and add some SN schools to the mix.

My hunch is your older kid may have brought some intangibles to the table -- athlete, strong social emotional skills, unique interests like drama or music -- which helped given that you say he wasn't an academic superstar in elementary school.

However a student with social anxiety and emotional awkwardness + average to above average academics is a much trickier profile to get into a mainstream private.

In addition to the privates mentioned above why don't you go to the Exceptional Schools Fair in November and http://www.exceptionalschoolsfair.com/ explore schools that could potentially help your child in some of the areas he needs to further develop.

Good luck. It's not easy.

[Anonymous]

NP here. So maybe it's not so much "having an IEP" but having needs that require specialized instruction, beyond simply accommodations?

I don't know...I figure my kid would be worse off without the IEP and even less likely to get into private school. No?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here. So maybe it's not so much "having an IEP" but having needs that require specialized instruction, beyond simply accommodations?

I don't know...I figure my kid would be worse off without the IEP and even less likely to get into private school. No?

By definition if you have an IEP you are supposed to need specialized instruction in something. So it's very unusual to have one that only specifies accommodations.

So if you have a 504 for ADHD and you need special seating in the classroom and a copy of teacher's notes, or adapted homework it probaby won't be an issue at most private schools.

Or you have a 504 because your child takes medication during the day or uses a wheelchair. That's the kind of stuff that the ADA protects any school from being discriminatory about.

But if you have an IEP for a writing disability, or a speech or language disorder or even need social skills supports due to an ADHD / autism spectrum disorder -- that's going to put you realm of an IEP in a public school and makes your child a tougher candidate for mainstream privates.

But yes there are exceptions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why would you even want to put a child with these issues in a private school? Most private schools do not have teachers with special-ed training, or even teaching licenses.

+1.

It's obviously not a good fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here. So maybe it's not so much "having an IEP" but having needs that require specialized instruction, beyond simply accommodations?

I don't know...I figure my kid would be worse off without the IEP and even less likely to get into private school. No?

By definition if you have an IEP you are supposed to need specialized instruction in something. So it's very unusual to have one that only specifies accommodations.

So if you have a 504 for ADHD and you need special seating in the classroom and a copy of teacher's notes, or adapted homework it probaby won't be an issue at most private schools.

Or you have a 504 because your child takes medication during the day or uses a wheelchair. That's the kind of stuff that the ADA protects any school from being discriminatory about.

But if you have an IEP for a writing disability, or a speech or language disorder or even need social skills supports due to an ADHD / autism spectrum disorder -- that's going to put you realm of an IEP in a public school and makes your child a tougher candidate for mainstream privates.

But yes there are exceptions.

Quoting me there. Yes, it wasn't the most clear message. My point is that OP asked whether having an IEP or 504 for PER SE would hurt child's chances of admission to a private school.

My thought was that it wasn't the DOCUMENT per se, but rather the NEEDS. And they have to provide accommodations per ADA (504 plan), but they don't have to provide specialized instructions like a public IEP (which implies needs for specialized instruction, since they're private.

So again, it seems to me that, all being well, it's not issue of having the IEP itself, but rather the needs that that represents. Occasionally, there may be ways for it to work (like you cite).

It sounds like we are on the same page.

[Anonymous]

14:29 again.

OP had asked, "do you know if having an IEP or 504 would prevent a child from being seen as competitive candidate or would a private school reject a child simply b/c they have an IEP or 504 (even if that wasn't the official reason)? Thanks!"

OP's child was just diagnosed with an ASD. If OP were to say, turn down the IEP, would child have better chances of getting into a private? Presumably the kid would be worse off, so I don't think the child would have a better chance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:14:29 again.

OP had asked, "do you know if having an IEP or 504 would prevent a child from being seen as competitive candidate or would a private school reject a child simply b/c they have an IEP or 504 (even if that wasn't the official reason)? Thanks!"

OP's child was just diagnosed with an ASD. If OP were to say, turn down the IEP, would child have better chances of getting into a private? Presumably the kid would be worse off, so I don't think the child would have a better chance.

Yes we agree. The challenges are probably evident at this age and will be observable during a student interview and come through in teacher recommendation letters. So even if you forgo an IEP the child has ASD. Not disclosing that during the admissions process is a bad idea and sets you up for being counseled out, IMHO.

If you are open with them and they believe the student is a strong candidate otherwise, then they are going to be under somewhat more pressure to make it work.

[Anonymous]

This discussion really emphasizes for me why I would not want my SN or NT children to attend one of these schools. They basically blatantly discriminate and you are left with a student body that is very homogeneous at least in terms of disability. It is not good for kids to never be exposed to people with SN or to think they are a special class that should be kept somewhere else.

[Anonymous]

The other issue that sometimes comes up is the mainstream private school parent communities can often be very negative toward kids with special needs, even mild ones.

I'm the PP whose kid wasn't accepted. Part of the reason our friends son was counseled out fro one of these schools after 8th is that other kids/parents complained that the child's accommodations was getting unfair advantages (lecture notes from teacher, 1/3 math problems).

So much ignorance out there. It exists in public too but at least there most people know better than to try and argue that our kids don't belong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are right there with you and plan to send DS to private school starting in 6th grade. DS has ASD/ADHD and has an IEP mostly for social communication issues. Gets great grades fully mainstreamed at a dual language school and is very talented in chess and math. (The current world champion in chess, Magnus Carlson, is suspected of having Asperger's too).

His psychiatrist and neuropsych think DS will do fine at a top tier private school and the schools also recruit for chess (and he has legacy status at one) so we'll see how it works out. We plan on submitting a current neuropsych eval along with everything else. If private school does not work out there are also public magnets.

What are your DS's social communications issues and what are the supports and specialized instruction that he receives in public, but will not have in private? Wondering how the withdrawal of this support/ instruction will affect the child's performance (and social situation - since it will be middle school, after all!).