Best Private for Dyslexia

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Diener, Auburn, McLean, and MAP at Ivymount.

Sorry, you said Dyslexia and for some reason I scanned through to ADHD. Scratch Ivymount, but definitely look at the first 3 plus Lab School.

Some on this board have claimed that Diener has instituted a new focus on OG instruction. Based on our personal experience, I still would stay away if your focus is dyslexia. Their administration, which has not changed, never showed a real commitment to or understand of evidence based phonics instruction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lab has been taking kids who have many more problems than dyslexia. Word on the street is that they have had turmoil within the administration of the lower school and there might be a mass exodus of teachers soon because of the head of the lower school.

Where are you hearing this? We are seriously considering the Lab School for our dyslexic child who would be starting at the lower school in the fall. For a family that lives in DC and has a child who is not old enough for Siena, what other real options are there?

PP here. I've got connections with some teachers there. You can ask the administration. The head of the lower school left, umm, I think a year and a half ago, and the new head of school is apparently not great at listening to the teachers. Now, with a grain of salt, this is me talking to a couple of teachers. Maybe they are two unhappiest ones, but I would seriously question them about how many kids have dyslexia vs. another language-based learning disorder, how they deal with those kids who may not access the curriculum as well as the dyslexic kids, and how they measure progression in kids. They also take kids who have sued DC and MCPS and have IEPs so they have to teach towards those IEP goals, which limits their curriculum. Personally, I would go with Siena and it is a bummer that they only start in 4th grade. i don't have connections there except when I questioned them, they seemed serious about only taking dyslexic kids and they do not take IEPs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lab has been taking kids who have many more problems than dyslexia. Word on the street is that they have had turmoil within the administration of the lower school and there might be a mass exodus of teachers soon because of the head of the lower school.

Where are you hearing this? We are seriously considering the Lab School for our dyslexic child who would be starting at the lower school in the fall. For a family that lives in DC and has a child who is not old enough for Siena, what other real options are there?

PP here. I've got connections with some teachers there. You can ask the administration. The head of the lower school left, umm, I think a year and a half ago, and the new head of school is apparently not great at listening to the teachers. Now, with a grain of salt, this is me talking to a couple of teachers. Maybe they are two unhappiest ones, but I would seriously question them about how many kids have dyslexia vs. another language-based learning disorder, how they deal with those kids who may not access the curriculum as well as the dyslexic kids, and how they measure progression in kids. They also take kids who have sued DC and MCPS and have IEPs so they have to teach towards those IEP goals, which limits their curriculum. Personally, I would go with Siena and it is a bummer that they only start in 4th grade. i don't have connections there except when I questioned them, they seemed serious about only taking dyslexic kids and they do not take IEPs.

Thanks - this is helpful.
The messaging to parents from both administrations [we toured both Siena and Lab] was that they only take kids who have language based learning issues. Clearly, this is broader than dyslexia - but pretty targeted.