Osse blessing of DCPS private placement

[Anonymous]

I am a new poster on this thread, trying to figure out how to navigate the non-public school placement process. Our son's DC charter school has agreed he should have a private placement, so we won't have to fight them. We have been hesitant about putting him a special ed school b/c we value inclusion and he's generally been happy in school and with peers. But as he gets older and is several grade levels behind we're thinking a non-public school might be better--BUT, it's very hard to say without actually visiting those schools. We applied to KTS privately but were rejected b/c he is behind grade level.

We haven't applied to other schools yet, b/c many of them say you can't apply or visit until they have a referral from the school system. But, as a prior PP noted, we don't really want to agree to start the referral process without a better idea of which schools we'd like to send our son to, & whether they'd accept him and have space. So, how do people do this?

FWIW, my son is in 5th grade and has several diagnoses, including ASD with moderate intellectual disability, CP, and speech apraxia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a new poster on this thread, trying to figure out how to navigate the non-public school placement process. Our son's DC charter school has agreed he should have a private placement, so we won't have to fight them. We have been hesitant about putting him a special ed school b/c we value inclusion and he's generally been happy in school and with peers. But as he gets older and is several grade levels behind we're thinking a non-public school might be better--BUT, it's very hard to say without actually visiting those schools. We applied to KTS privately but were rejected b/c he is behind grade level.

We haven't applied to other schools yet, b/c many of them say you can't apply or visit until they have a referral from the school system. But, as a prior PP noted, we don't really want to agree to start the referral process without a better idea of which schools we'd like to send our son to, & whether they'd accept him and have space. So, how do people do this?

FWIW, my son is in 5th grade and has several diagnoses, including ASD with moderate intellectual disability, CP, and speech apraxia.

You may not be able to apply or visit in person but you certainly can pick up the phone and call. Talk to the director of admissions. They know the profile of the student they serve. They'll have a conversation with you to see if your child is a good fit. They'll be able to tell you if there's space for your child. They can't tell you if your child would be accepted though. They won't know that until the actual file is sent over and reviewed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a new poster on this thread, trying to figure out how to navigate the non-public school placement process. Our son's DC charter school has agreed he should have a private placement, so we won't have to fight them. We have been hesitant about putting him a special ed school b/c we value inclusion and he's generally been happy in school and with peers. But as he gets older and is several grade levels behind we're thinking a non-public school might be better--BUT, it's very hard to say without actually visiting those schools. We applied to KTS privately but were rejected b/c he is behind grade level.

We haven't applied to other schools yet, b/c many of them say you can't apply or visit until they have a referral from the school system. But, as a prior PP noted, we don't really want to agree to start the referral process without a better idea of which schools we'd like to send our son to, & whether they'd accept him and have space. So, how do people do this?

FWIW, my son is in 5th grade and has several diagnoses, including ASD with moderate intellectual disability, CP, and speech apraxia.

I'm surprised that KTS turned you down merely for being below grade level. Most kids there are!

[Anonymous]

Hire an advocate. They can help you figure out which schools will be a good fit and contact them on your behalf.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The fact that OSSE can deny private placement after DCPS approves it is ridiculous.
The fact that OSSE can not place children who can not be served within DCPS and these children need to wait is further denials of FAPE.

Where is the Attorney General making sure that DC is following federal law?

What is osse supposed to do if the student gets denied from the schools they applied to? They just keep sending the file out. There isn’t anything else they can do. They can’t force a school to take kids over their student programming limit. People think nonpublic placement is so easy and it’s a snap. It’s not

I am having this problem in ACPS (Alexandria City). They approved private placement in November. No schools have accepted DC because he is so behind grade level (as in, he is in 4th grade and does not know the alphabet all the way through or have any sight words other than his name), but also on HS diploma track bc he does not have a diagnosed intellectual disability. Schools (KTS, Ivymount, Oakwood) are telling me there is no one like him so he doesn't fit into any cohorts and would require a 1:1 intensive approach. Now talking to school about them covering some intensive tutoring at Lindamood Bell over the summer and possibly next year and re-applying if he can make some significant progress in reading/math. Or maybe at that point the public school could meet his needs. But right now he is not progressing so school has recommended private placement. But see above re: private schools not taking him. Who is supposed to be educating him if public school can't and no privates will take him???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The fact that OSSE can deny private placement after DCPS approves it is ridiculous.
The fact that OSSE can not place children who can not be served within DCPS and these children need to wait is further denials of FAPE.

Where is the Attorney General making sure that DC is following federal law?

What is osse supposed to do if the student gets denied from the schools they applied to? They just keep sending the file out. There isn’t anything else they can do. They can’t force a school to take kids over their student programming limit. People think nonpublic placement is so easy and it’s a snap. It’s not

I am having this problem in ACPS (Alexandria City). They approved private placement in November. No schools have accepted DC because he is so behind grade level (as in, he is in 4th grade and does not know the alphabet all the way through or have any sight words other than his name), but also on HS diploma track bc he does not have a diagnosed intellectual disability. Schools (KTS, Ivymount, Oakwood) are telling me there is no one like him so he doesn't fit into any cohorts and would require a 1:1 intensive approach. Now talking to school about them covering some intensive tutoring at Lindamood Bell over the summer and possibly next year and re-applying if he can make some significant progress in reading/math. Or maybe at that point the public school could meet his needs. But right now he is not progressing so school has recommended private placement. But see above re: private schools not taking him. Who is supposed to be educating him if public school can't and no privates will take him???

What’s holding him back from learning? Is he behind in all subjects or just reading? Is it behaviors? If they can’t find a private placement for him, they have to educate him in the public system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The fact that OSSE can deny private placement after DCPS approves it is ridiculous.
The fact that OSSE can not place children who can not be served within DCPS and these children need to wait is further denials of FAPE.

Where is the Attorney General making sure that DC is following federal law?

What is osse supposed to do if the student gets denied from the schools they applied to? They just keep sending the file out. There isn’t anything else they can do. They can’t force a school to take kids over their student programming limit. People think nonpublic placement is so easy and it’s a snap. It’s not

I am having this problem in ACPS (Alexandria City). They approved private placement in November. No schools have accepted DC because he is so behind grade level (as in, he is in 4th grade and does not know the alphabet all the way through or have any sight words other than his name), but also on HS diploma track bc he does not have a diagnosed intellectual disability. Schools (KTS, Ivymount, Oakwood) are telling me there is no one like him so he doesn't fit into any cohorts and would require a 1:1 intensive approach. Now talking to school about them covering some intensive tutoring at Lindamood Bell over the summer and possibly next year and re-applying if he can make some significant progress in reading/math. Or maybe at that point the public school could meet his needs. But right now he is not progressing so school has recommended private placement. But see above re: private schools not taking him. Who is supposed to be educating him if public school can't and no privates will take him???

What’s holding him back from learning? Is he behind in all subjects or just reading? Is it behaviors? If they can’t find a private placement for him, they have to educate him in the public system.

He has severe ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, dysarthria, is hard of hearing, and a couple of other more tangential things (i.e. sensory-seeking). Believe me, they have been trying for almost 4 years now in two different schools. They have exhausted their capabilities (and said this to me). He has matured in many ways and can use a variety of assistive technology, but he has progressed virtually not at all in reading and minimally in math. He is currently receiving all of his special education minutes in the special education setting (i.e. he is only in gen ed classroom for art, PE, social studies, science, etc.).

[Anonymous]

DP. What are the private placement options for a grade level/2E kid with behavioral problems? Not violent but more like autistic meltdowns.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DP. What are the private placement options for a grade level/2E kid with behavioral problems? Not violent but more like autistic meltdowns.

what grade?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DP. What are the private placement options for a grade level/2E kid with behavioral problems? Not violent but more like autistic meltdowns.

Depending where you are located; Ivymount, KKI or Phillips

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DP. What are the private placement options for a grade level/2E kid with behavioral problems? Not violent but more like autistic meltdowns.

what grade?

middle school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DP. What are the private placement options for a grade level/2E kid with behavioral problems? Not violent but more like autistic meltdowns.

what grade?

middle school

My MS ended up at RICA. It’s been fantastic. Because the classes are so small they’ve been able to differentiate the curriculum to meet the 2e needs. For math they just put him in the appropriate class since HS is in the same building. The other school that was considered was Laurel Hall in Frederick.

KKI, Philips, Foundation, and Ivymount all said they could not support his academics. I don’t know if that is because of the cohort that were there when we applied or if that’s always the case.

[Anonymous]

^^Frost also said they could not support him academically

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DP. What are the private placement options for a grade level/2E kid with behavioral problems? Not violent but more like autistic meltdowns.

what grade?

middle school

My MS ended up at RICA. It’s been fantastic. Because the classes are so small they’ve been able to differentiate the curriculum to meet the 2e needs. For math they just put him in the appropriate class since HS is in the same building. The other school that was considered was Laurel Hall in Frederick.

KKI, Philips, Foundation, and Ivymount all said they could not support his academics. I don’t know if that is because of the cohort that were there when we applied or if that’s always the case.

Thanks. This is why I think I’d just move to MCPS if gen ed in DCPS doesn’t work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a new poster on this thread, trying to figure out how to navigate the non-public school placement process. Our son's DC charter school has agreed he should have a private placement, so we won't have to fight them. We have been hesitant about putting him a special ed school b/c we value inclusion and he's generally been happy in school and with peers. But as he gets older and is several grade levels behind we're thinking a non-public school might be better--BUT, it's very hard to say without actually visiting those schools. We applied to KTS privately but were rejected b/c he is behind grade level.

We haven't applied to other schools yet, b/c many of them say you can't apply or visit until they have a referral from the school system. But, as a prior PP noted, we don't really want to agree to start the referral process without a better idea of which schools we'd like to send our son to, & whether they'd accept him and have space. So, how do people do this?

FWIW, my son is in 5th grade and has several diagnoses, including ASD with moderate intellectual disability, CP, and speech apraxia.

Kennedy Krieger. They're one of the few schools in the area that can take kids who require academic, social, AND medical support.
Before our final hearing on placement, I reached out to all the admissions directors for the schools we wanted and provided a one page "executive summary" of my son's needs and behaviors. I asked if he sounded like a fit based on the information provided and if they said yes, I told them to watch their email and I'd make sure they got an application package from OSSE. I went to every open house, virtual or otherwise, that I could. Doing that legwork to make yourself familiar to the admissions directors will help a lot. We were told by OSSE that the school we wanted was full and wouldn't consider my son. They even tried to discourage us from applying, saying that none of the "good fit" schools were available. And plenty of people on this board said we didn't have a shot, but they made room for us. We got into all the schools we wanted, including the "full" ones. If your kid and family are a good fit and they want you there badly enough, they will at least try to make room for you. Don't let OSSE or your district's equivalent tell you what's available. They want you to stay at your public so they don't have to pay.