Lawyer recommendation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I suspect the school is counseling out now in order to provide you enough time to submit applications for the next admission cycle. If they waited until closer to the end of the school year, you'd be upset that they didn't give you adequate notice and were unable to explore different schools and submit applications in a timely manner. It certainly doesn't feel like it from your end, but they're actually trying to do right by your child by broaching this now and giving you time to find a better placement for next school year.

This, exactly.

And if they have their ducks in a row to start counseling out now, the issues began last school year.

[Anonymous]

I got the sense that they are counseling out immediately and OP wants the child to stay through the school year. In this economic climate schools are not counseling out unless there is a serious reason to do so...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP the problem is there are no lawyers that do this

A lawyer that specializes in contract law maybe but I highly doubt they would take the case

Contracts you signed when entering the school clauses pretty much make it so suing is just an option

I am sorry

I would remove your kid asap do public

If your child was injured physically maybe

False. Gruber and Eig, but they are expensive and I say, as an experienced ADHD/ASD/Anxiety/gifted/etc. mom who has fought for 504s and IEPs and am a lawyer - you don't want to pay the money to them to "get back" at the private. Better - hire a SN consultant and start interviewing the great privates we have in this area or go public with an IEP, if you can get one. For average to gifted kids with ADHD, I recommend Commonwealth Academy in Alexandria. The McLean School in Potomac may also be a good fit.

[Anonymous]

You need to move on. Why are you keeping your child there for another year?

I would talk to the school and ask for your a partial tuition reimbursement and move your kid.

Why do you want your kid there if you feel it is not a good fit?

My child has ADHD and honestly it is a wild ride. I have had to completely learn about it- how to teach/ discipline a child with it. We have paid for outside help which is very costsly. We dont attend private, we attend a public I feel isn't doing a great job and I constantly have to email the school about my child's rights and to follow the IEP. The educators need educating, it is exhausting. My child doesn't act out at school they move around (they get a standing desk, fidgets, breaks, etc) and sometimes talk too loud or talk out, but there are children who have trouble with emotional dsyregulation.

It can be really hard, especially since so many teachers (we had some issues with special teachers and aides) are not trained in it at all.

We looked in privates, but they all told us we would be on the hook for tuition for the year and they can kick our kid out whenever. We felt it was a better use of our resources to get outside support.

I would move your kid. Ask for recommendation from friends and family. Look into specialists in OT, executive functioning, etc. Many public schools have good resources, might be a good idea to get information on your public school and see if that might be a better fit.

Good luck to you. Sending good energy.

[Anonymous]

Don't waste your money - they are going to let the kid stay for the school year. They are giving you time to apply for a better fit. Keeping your kid at a school where they aren't a fit is cruel. Hire an executive functioning coach or get your kid into OT to help with impulsivity or into a social skills group, whatever they need to be the best version of themselves. Don't waste money on a lawyer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our elementary school child is at a private school in DC. The school is trying to push us out- our child has been diagnosed with ADHD this school year. We are doing everything we can as quickly as we can to stabilize our child but medication takes time to work. We understand we signed away a lot of our rights going private but does anyone have a recommendation of a lawyer who can help us? At the very least, we want to document all of the ways the school has failed to partner with us.

Name the school. Some schools works with students. WIS is a good school. It is good to get attorney , maybe they have another students who they are working with.

[Anonymous]

Pretty sure OP has long since left the chat, y’all.

[Anonymous]

OP, save your money - you are going to need it for treatments, therapies and tutors for your kid. And as much as I hate to say it, public school is your best bet.

Signed, lawyer mom of an ADHD kid.

[Anonymous]

OP here - we engaged one of the lawyers suggested on this year. Appreciate the support from those who chose to give it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is really painful and hard- can I ask that those who can offer a lawyer recommendation do so? I understand that the school doesn’t have to do anything- however they have made promises they have failed to keep and have made decisions that have harmed my child. I really don’t want to get into a debate- just asking for a recommendation. Appreciate it!

Lady. Read the room. Are you always this difficult and litigious? No wonder your child’s school is trying to push you out. It’s not a good fit. They aren’t equipped nor do they have to deal with your SN child. Their contracts on air tight on this issue. Move on and find a better fit. Signed Independent School parent and lawyer.

[Anonymous]

This 1,000%.

[Anonymous]

OP, basically everyone is getting diagnosed with ADHD. The school can make their own decisions.
People like you are the reason there is a teacher shortage.

Btw, how much do you think the teachers at your child’s private school get paid?

Focus your energy on helping your kid, not attacking others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Private schools can kick you out for any reason or no reason at all. They aren't required to partner with you. Save your money and find your child a better fit school. I'm sorry -- it's painful. I've been there too and in retrospect needing to find a different school was the best thing that happened to us.

While I'm not necessarily advising a lawsuit here (I would need a lot more information), the above is false. A private school cannot remove a child because they are a member of a protected class. Private schools do have some obligations towards students with disabilities under Section 504.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Private schools can kick you out for any reason or no reason at all. They aren't required to partner with you. Save your money and find your child a better fit school. I'm sorry -- it's painful. I've been there too and in retrospect needing to find a different school was the best thing that happened to us.

While I'm not necessarily advising a lawsuit here (I would need a lot more information), the above is false. A private school cannot remove a child because they are a member of a protected class. Private schools do have some obligations towards students with disabilities under Section 504.

This is only true if they’ve accepted federal funding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Private schools can kick you out for any reason or no reason at all. They aren't required to partner with you. Save your money and find your child a better fit school. I'm sorry -- it's painful. I've been there too and in retrospect needing to find a different school was the best thing that happened to us.

While I'm not necessarily advising a lawsuit here (I would need a lot more information), the above is false. A private school cannot remove a child because they are a member of a protected class. Private schools do have some obligations towards students with disabilities under Section 504.

This is only true if they’ve accepted federal funding.

And many, perhaps even most, do. Any federal grant funding, including from the DC government, would bind them.