NW schools with best IEP services/Inclusive Ed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lafayette has been awful. Avoid the school.

Agree. Lafayette is the worst. Deal is just as bad so there is no light at the end of the tunnel. MoCo schools have a much better reputation but not with all services so your friend should ask specific questions.

Why are they better? From their forum they seem to have the same issues...

[Anonymous]

I wish there was someway to have the department of Ed look at the systematic under delivery of services and non-compliance with federal regulations

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish there was someway to have the department of Ed look at the systematic under delivery of services and non-compliance with federal regulations

Well sped isn't really cared about. It is the lowest on the priority list, ELL and at risk are even before them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think you have a very good sense of what the word spectrum means.

You didn’t refute a single thing I said though. It’s disgusting that you have an autistic child, they’ll likely hate you one day for putting down other Autistics.

And you haven’t answered the question: Do you honestly think children who are low functioning and children who are high functioning can be served well in the same classroom? And do try to put aside the race of each child and your personal feelings toward their parents and answer as the professional you claim to be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I really hate to say this because I have tried so hard to make DCPS work for my student with an IEP but my advice for your friend is to look at MCPS and FCPS. In DCPS, you are dependent on your individual school and the vagaries of staffing which can change year to year. ES can be ok but MS is terrible (which may not be so much an issue if your friend’s child works through some challenges before MS).

+ 10000. Terrible experience at a “top regarded” NW ES. Years into this struggle - and being part of advocacy efforts and parent groups - no joke, go to MCPS or Fairfax. Anyone who says those are bad - they are the best on the sliding scale.

[Anonymous]

Hyde Addison Elementary in Georgetown is not bad with its IEP services.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A friend is moving back to the area with rising 2nd grader who needs speech, OT, and has an IEP. She is looking for a an inclusive program. Anything worthwhile in DCPS?

Something for your friend to consider is that DCPS will do its own evaluation. DCPS seems to have a mission to deny kids IEPs so it is not guaranteed that her child will even continue to qualify. MCPS and FCPS are probably not perfect but have the reputation of being better and giving kids what they need. DCPS seems to count on those who can afford it giving kids services outside of the school system. I wish this were not the reality and but I wish someone had warned me. Some schools may be better than others but that's the general impression many of us have. What I've seen in DCPS's so-called inclusion programs are disturbing at best. Some Charters may be better but the lottery for next year has already closed so that would be difficult, at least for 2021-2022.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A friend is moving back to the area with rising 2nd grader who needs speech, OT, and has an IEP. She is looking for a an inclusive program. Anything worthwhile in DCPS?

Something for your friend to consider is that DCPS will do its own evaluation. DCPS seems to have a mission to deny kids IEPs so it is not guaranteed that her child will even continue to qualify. MCPS and FCPS are probably not perfect but have the reputation of being better and giving kids what they need. DCPS seems to count on those who can afford it giving kids services outside of the school system. I wish this were not the reality and but I wish someone had warned me. Some schools may be better than others but that's the general impression many of us have. What I've seen in DCPS's so-called inclusion programs are disturbing at best. Some Charters may be better but the lottery for next year has already closed so that would be difficult, at least for 2021-2022.

Literally WHAT inclusion programs? DCPS has self contained and then resource, they may call it inclusion but it’s not a program. It’s literally children with generally 20 hours or less of push in and/or pull out time from a special education teacher and/or related service providers.

Inclusion is a joke in DCPS, you either have to have a excellent teacher and school team or be the ‘bulldog parent.’

[Anonymous]

The Speech teacher at Hearst is phenomenal and has been there for over 10 years. The OT position seems to be more of a revolving door at the school.

[Anonymous]

Hearst is absolutely horrible! The CES teachers keep leaving and the one that remains in k-2 has done significant emotional damage to our child. They refuse to collaborate or add accommodations, throw all blame onto parents, and fail to provide any inclusion! Do not be fooled by their “autism program” it is just a CES classroom that doesn’t even allow the children to leave the classroom for art!
Biggest mistake of my life!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A friend is moving back to the area with rising 2nd grader who needs speech, OT, and has an IEP. She is looking for a an inclusive program. Anything worthwhile in DCPS?

No.

Lafayette was terrible and I've spoken to unhappy parents at Hearst and Janney. Maybe Eaton or Murch are better, but dcps seems set up to deny services.

Murch was terrible for my son who is special needs. We moved to MD and are much happier. I believe NW school actively push out kids who need extra help.

[Anonymous]

I’ve been happy with the services provided by Janney ED team (preK ASD child).

[Anonymous]

DCPS is absolutely terrible with IEPs. Have an education lawyer on retainer.

[Anonymous]

Might be better to live somewhere cheaper and pay for speech and ot outside of school. Let whatever is provided through the IEP be the gravy, not the meat.

[Anonymous]

Capital City PCS is fantastic for this