What types of kids go to Carl Sandburg ES?

[Anonymous]

We have a kid in PEP, and my spouse came across the Sandburg school and thinks it would be a good match for later on. I read the description and am not really sure. DC doesn't use or need any augmentative communication devices but does have motor planning issues.

A friend of a friend's kid goes there and is in a wheel chair and has some pretty severe physical disabilities. But I imagine who they serve probably varies. Can people give me an idea of the type of kids they take? (I also realize you have to qualify.) Thanks for any input.

[Anonymous]

It's a wonderful school. But if I remember correctly, they really only take students with very serious, kind of all encompassing needs. Sorry to be vague. I'm trying to remember from all my old iep meetings when I taught. But, I can definitely tell you that if you do windup getting accepted there, it is a wonderful place.

[Anonymous]

Wonderful kids, wonderful teachers. But I don't think they follow the regular academic curriculum, as in the kids that go there may not be headed toward a regular HS diploma.

If your child has motor planning issues, consider the orthopedically handicapped program at Forest Knolls or Judith Reznick. Regular curriculum, full inclusion. Kindergarten there as well.

[Anonymous]

Sandburg is a special-ed only school for kids who usually have multiple needs. Over the years, the population has become more and more kids with autism. So there may be kids with intellectual disability and challenging behaviors, or kids with autism who are verbal and impulsive, or kids with intellectual disability and speech, OT, and PT needs. Basically it should be for kids who get overwhelmed in a typical elementary school special ed classroom, or who need comprehensive, coordinated services with on site behavior support, etc.
Sandburg can be a warm and welcoming place for kids who have not done well other places. But many parents of higher functioning kids think it is "too restrictive" since there is no interaction with typical kids.
Call them up, make an appointment and go visit! They are usually welcoming of questions about the program.

[Anonymous]

None of the kids I know who go to CS have autism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sandburg is a special-ed only school for kids who usually have multiple needs. Over the years, the population has become more and more kids with autism. So there may be kids with intellectual disability and challenging behaviors, or kids with autism who are verbal and impulsive, or kids with intellectual disability and speech, OT, and PT needs. Basically it should be for kids who get overwhelmed in a typical elementary school special ed classroom, or who need comprehensive, coordinated services with on site behavior support, etc.
Sandburg can be a warm and welcoming place for kids who have not done well other places. But many parents of higher functioning kids think it is "too restrictive" since there is no interaction with typical kids.
Call them up, make an appointment and go visit! They are usually welcoming of questions about the program.

This is an accurate description from my experience. Have you spoken to the Parent Educator or your child's teacher about placement options for K? They should schedule tours for all of the programs that are being considered, so you can see firsthand which would be the best fit for your child.

[Anonymous]

Also, most children at Sandburg do not have physical disabilities. There is an AAC class for children that need augmentative communication and there is an ED class for children that have emotional disabilites. The other classes are a mix of students with multiple disabilities usually involving ID, autism, ADHD, Downs and other syndromes.