School mentioning self contained class room?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is in a self contained class and he's at or above grade level academically. They get a lot of personalized instruction, teacher attention and support. Don't be afraid of these classrooms. They also work to mainstream the kids.

I will say, I'm in MD.

Disagree. The self contained class I witnessed this year was stressful. There was no individualized instruction. All nine kids were taught the same way. The teacher had no patience and couldn’t stand the kids needing more time to learn new information. The kids were reminded often how incompetent they were.

My son is in self contained. He got one to one services the entire year. He never attended any classes at all. The special education team has been amazing. I could never have imagined he would get this level of services and that he would progress so much during Covid. We are in MCPS.

As to being reminded how incompetent they are, they know. They see how other kids perform. I found it was the opposite. Self esteem really improved when my son was in a classroom where he could finally be successful and achieve his educational goals.

OP, its hard to hear that your child needs self contained. But, trust me on this. You are lucky that you are not going through years and years of failure to get to this point. There is nothing like watching your kid go through those years where they cannot get what they need and all of the work that you put into trying. But, you have to realize that is they are starting this discussion so early, they really probably won't meet your child's needs in her current classroom, even with services. It might be really unfair to put your child through this.

By offering self contained, so much has opened up for you and your daughter. You need to visit the programs. You need to ask about other programs besides the ones they give you to visit and you need to visit them. Then, it's a bit of a pressure cooker to pick one because you're not going to be able to move very easily. Obviously, it's a team decision, but you are a big part of that team and your opinion will could heavily into the decision.

In the time we've been in self contained, my son was given the opportunity to attend some classes in inclusion classrooms. It didn't work for him. But, it was tried - and tried again even after it wasn't successful. I've also known kids to return permanently to their home school.

One last thing, OP. My son is graduating from high school in June with a full HS diploma and on time. Today he is working with his school staff to complete community college applications. And, the only reason we are at this point is because of the self contained programs he attended.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is in a self contained class and he's at or above grade level academically. They get a lot of personalized instruction, teacher attention and support. Don't be afraid of these classrooms. They also work to mainstream the kids.

I will say, I'm in MD.

Disagree. The self contained class I witnessed this year was stressful. There was no individualized instruction. All nine kids were taught the same way. The teacher had no patience and couldn’t stand the kids needing more time to learn new information. The kids were reminded often how incompetent they were.

My son is in self contained. He got one to one services the entire year. He never attended any classes at all. The special education team has been amazing. I could never have imagined he would get this level of services and that he would progress so much during Covid. We are in MCPS.

As to being reminded how incompetent they are, they know. They see how other kids perform. I found it was the opposite. Self esteem really improved when my son was in a classroom where he could finally be successful and achieve his educational goals.

OP, its hard to hear that your child needs self contained. But, trust me on this. You are lucky that you are not going through years and years of failure to get to this point. There is nothing like watching your kid go through those years where they cannot get what they need and all of the work that you put into trying. But, you have to realize that is they are starting this discussion so early, they really probably won't meet your child's needs in her current classroom, even with services. It might be really unfair to put your child through this.

By offering self contained, so much has opened up for you and your daughter. You need to visit the programs. You need to ask about other programs besides the ones they give you to visit and you need to visit them. Then, it's a bit of a pressure cooker to pick one because you're not going to be able to move very easily. Obviously, it's a team decision, but you are a big part of that team and your opinion will could heavily into the decision.

In the time we've been in self contained, my son was given the opportunity to attend some classes in inclusion classrooms. It didn't work for him. But, it was tried - and tried again even after it wasn't successful. I've also known kids to return permanently to their home school.

One last thing, OP. My son is graduating from high school in June with a full HS diploma and on time. Today he is working with his school staff to complete community college applications. And, the only reason we are at this point is because of the self contained programs he attended.

I assume you are in MCPS. None of this holds true in DCPS

[Anonymous]

You want to ask this question, OP: What is the percentage of kids who move from self-contained classes to gen ed?

As you can see from this thread, it varies widely. Some districts use the opportunity to help kids catch up, others use it as a inferior babysitting track and once your kid is on it, they can never catch up.

I fought tooth and nail to keep my kid in gen ed with support, because self-contained classes were a one-way ticket to nowhere in my district.

[Anonymous]

OP, I agree with some previous PPs that you should push back and get more information.

Is may be more convenient for them, but is it really the right thing for your DD? The self-contained classes I have seen for autism are really for kids who can't communicate verbally very well and if your child can seeing as how she was mainstreamed before I would urge you to be cautious. How would this impact her socialization?

If they are thinking about a learning classroom with kids with different types of disabilities that might be better for your DD.

Could they get her an aide for gen ed instead? I would seriously consider holding her back a year if you think that could help. Your child is still very young and no one can possibly know what she'll be like in even a year or two in the future.

If you do accept the self contained class I would make sure they have her mainstreamed for certain subjects like math and science that are her strengths. They may not want to do it but you can insist and they can do it. I have seen it done and it was the best of both worlds for the child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I teach self-contained. Your kid will get much more targeted intervention at her level. I would absolutely jump on it. You are not signing her up for life. Kids move back into gen ed all the time.

I teach in a school and have never seen a kid move from self contained to gen Ed. Not once in 17 years. They may get included in social studies, but they continue to be based in the self contained room

I’ve only been a self contained teacher for 5 years and I’ve moved 4 kids to gen ed. It’s based on the individual students, if a child is ready for gen ed they are ready. I’ve found the ball doesn’t move if the teacher doesn’t advocate for that child or the parent.

So technically you’re right, many kids don’t move because many teachers don’t bother, admin is ‘nervous,’ or parents are a little scared and aren’t given info.
So I agree with the previous PP it’s not for life with the right teachers or if the parent has knowledge. Your child will never just be moved out, they’ll get inclusion hours added to their IEP and have data to show they are doing well and be slowly phased out.

[Anonymous]

I think so much of this depends on the school district and the particular classes. Try to visit the program if you can. See what students are learning and what can be expected.

My niece moved to self-contained (she asked for it)! She has an autism diagnosis. She has always been on grade level but really started to struggle with the large classes and "craziness" of them. She has always been asked if she wanted to go back to regular and given a chance to try mainstream classes a few times a day. She never moved fully back because she preferred the contained classes. She's on level and regular diploma track in a large district with enough students to support special classes like hers.

[Anonymous]

I am not a fan of FCPS self contained. Beware sc does not mean "small class", it means self contained.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not a fan of FCPS self contained. Beware sc does not mean "small class", it means self contained.

Two of my kids that are now in HS have had IEPs since PreK/K. Through MS, they have been in/out of self-contained since K (of course, special ed preschool IS self contained). They've also been in GenEd and Honors classes. The self-contained classrooms and teachers have been superior. I have had a lot of issues with FCPS but the quality of teacher and the self-contained classroom are not among them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What grade? It sounds appropriate to me. I wouldn’t be afraid of it. Inclusion is overrated for kids who are behind and need a lot of support. A spade is a spade. You have to put your ego etc. aside.

Wow. It isn't about ego. It is about a kid getting further behind because of covid and services not being all that great over zoom.
It about trying to make sure the school isn't taking the easiest path vrs the best bath for a child. It's about knowing what to ask to make sure whatever classroom or services are the best to move a child forward.

You say scared and terrified etc., but your child is not learning. What does your child need. Is it possible to get the kind of support she needs in a gen Ed classroom. This isn’t ego as you’re thinking about if, just your own preconceived ideas and ideals. Those need to be set aside. It isn’t working for her.

Last time I was told about there self contained they said it was oh for IEP goals not attempting grade level work. We have other services to work on IEP goals. So, I don't understand being in a classroom that doesn't try to move kids forward with academic work when possible.

They are correct and I think you misunderstand because you're so new on the special ed road. The IEP goals should reflect what the student can reasonable achieve in one year. Of course, everyone wants students to meet grade level expectations but the specialized instruction provided in the self-contained classroom is geared towards ensuring students meet their goals, not grade level expectations. The difference is subtle but important. It's also one of the reasons why students from different grades (at least in early elementary) may be in the same self-contained classroom.

If your DC's goals are set that they are aiming to achieve grade level expectations, then that's the type of instruction your child will receive in the self-contained classroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I teach self-contained. Your kid will get much more targeted intervention at her level. I would absolutely jump on it. You are not signing her up for life. Kids move back into gen ed all the time.

I teach in a school and have never seen a kid move from self contained to gen Ed. Not once in 17 years. They may get included in social studies, but they continue to be based in the self contained room

I work in a school with a self-contained program aimed at kids with multiple needs working at least 2 years below grade level and we usually have at least 1 kid per year sent back to their home school because they have outgrown the program and are near grade level. We also have multiple kids each year who are in the self-contained class as their "homeroom" but are included almost all day except for maybe just ELA, or just math. It is absolutely not a one-way ticket.

PP with kids in HS here. I, personally, know a number of kids (including my own) who moved out of self-contained over the years. I don't know where you're teaching that not a single kid moved into Gen Ed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I teach self-contained. Your kid will get much more targeted intervention at her level. I would absolutely jump on it. You are not signing her up for life. Kids move back into gen ed all the time.

I teach in a school and have never seen a kid move from self contained to gen Ed. Not once in 17 years. They may get included in social studies, but they continue to be based in the self contained room

I work in a school with a self-contained program aimed at kids with multiple needs working at least 2 years below grade level and we usually have at least 1 kid per year sent back to their home school because they have outgrown the program and are near grade level. We also have multiple kids each year who are in the self-contained class as their "homeroom" but are included almost all day except for maybe just ELA, or just math. It is absolutely not a one-way ticket.

PP with kids in HS here. I, personally, know a number of kids (including my own) who moved out of self-contained over the years. I don't know where you're teaching that not a single kid moved into Gen Ed.

I am not the PP but I will share that DCPS is very different than MCPS. I think it is important to reflect on the structures of the school systems as this drives a lot. For example - MCPS has a LD/GT program. DC does not. This is small but big as it drives a lot of parental angst and is an indicator for how DC structures the Special Education program across the city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I teach self-contained. Your kid will get much more targeted intervention at her level. I would absolutely jump on it. You are not signing her up for life. Kids move back into gen ed all the time.

I teach in a school and have never seen a kid move from self contained to gen Ed. Not once in 17 years. They may get included in social studies, but they continue to be based in the self contained room

I work in a school with a self-contained program aimed at kids with multiple needs working at least 2 years below grade level and we usually have at least 1 kid per year sent back to their home school because they have outgrown the program and are near grade level. We also have multiple kids each year who are in the self-contained class as their "homeroom" but are included almost all day except for maybe just ELA, or just math. It is absolutely not a one-way ticket.

PP with kids in HS here. I, personally, know a number of kids (including my own) who moved out of self-contained over the years. I don't know where you're teaching that not a single kid moved into Gen Ed.

I teach in DCPS. The difference in self contained programs in MCPS and DCPS is staggering. So are the outcomes. There is no comparison.

[Anonymous]

We’re in MCPS in a self contained class. My son receives ELA and Compact Math. It’s true that there are multiple grade levels in his class. He gets a huge boost of self esteem when he can help a classmate understand their material.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I teach self-contained. Your kid will get much more targeted intervention at her level. I would absolutely jump on it. You are not signing her up for life. Kids move back into gen ed all the time.

I teach in a school and have never seen a kid move from self contained to gen Ed. Not once in 17 years. They may get included in social studies, but they continue to be based in the self contained room

I work in a school with a self-contained program aimed at kids with multiple needs working at least 2 years below grade level and we usually have at least 1 kid per year sent back to their home school because they have outgrown the program and are near grade level. We also have multiple kids each year who are in the self-contained class as their "homeroom" but are included almost all day except for maybe just ELA, or just math. It is absolutely not a one-way ticket.

PP with kids in HS here. I, personally, know a number of kids (including my own) who moved out of self-contained over the years. I don't know where you're teaching that not a single kid moved into Gen Ed.

I teach in DCPS. The difference in self contained programs in MCPS and DCPS is staggering. So are the outcomes. There is no comparison.

PP with kids in HS here. We're in FCPS. While I recognize there are differences in the different systems, the federal requirements/laws are the same. Parents also have the right to refuse to sign an IEP if they don't agree with placement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I teach self-contained. Your kid will get much more targeted intervention at her level. I would absolutely jump on it. You are not signing her up for life. Kids move back into gen ed all the time.

I teach in a school and have never seen a kid move from self contained to gen Ed. Not once in 17 years. They may get included in social studies, but they continue to be based in the self contained room

I work in a school with a self-contained program aimed at kids with multiple needs working at least 2 years below grade level and we usually have at least 1 kid per year sent back to their home school because they have outgrown the program and are near grade level. We also have multiple kids each year who are in the self-contained class as their "homeroom" but are included almost all day except for maybe just ELA, or just math. It is absolutely not a one-way ticket.

PP with kids in HS here. I, personally, know a number of kids (including my own) who moved out of self-contained over the years. I don't know where you're teaching that not a single kid moved into Gen Ed.

I teach in DCPS. The difference in self contained programs in MCPS and DCPS is staggering. So are the outcomes. There is no comparison.

PP with kids in HS here. We're in FCPS. While I recognize there are differences in the different systems, the federal requirements/laws are the same. Parents also have the right to refuse to sign an IEP if they don't agree with placement.

That is state-dependent. In Maryland you only sign consent to the initial IEP. If you disagree with the team after that, you have to file for mediation or due process or the default is the changes go into effect.