do private schools handle kids with learning disabilities?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it worth paying $40k just to be admitted but not meet the learning needs of your child?

I think the point is that these schools could meet the learning needs of the children if they wanted to do so but instead choose to keep them out. Personally I think as neurodiversity research picks up, these schools and their policies will be looked at in the same way that other discrimination policies are. They are on the wrong side of history.

That's wrong. Private schools are inclined to like children and *want* to educate kids; that why they exist. But if what they offer is small class-sizes and lots of attention from teachers, then how does that work if the teacher has to spend a significant amount of extra time with a handful of students? How does that work for the other kids?

The private schools don't have the money to have the same level of special needs staffing. I know that sounds crazy since $40,000 is a ton of money. But running a school costs a lot, with teacher salaries being the biggest part.

I recognize it's frustrating, but the schools are not trying to be mean, that just truly cannot serve a wide range of LDs well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I recognize it's frustrating, but the schools are not trying to be mean, that just truly cannot serve a wide range of LDs well.

This is somewhat true. But not entirely. Think about it. Some schools already offer very small classes and are paying 30, 40k per year for the community, focus, and intimacy that these classes provide. This creates an environment where it would be possible accommodate LD and even provide support. What you need are the willingness to provide some accommodations and to invest in a small team of staff who understand the issues involved and can provide support. This is not cheap, but neither is it impossible to imagine.

Magically, everyone keeps finding money for new state-of-the-art buildings and sports fields.

The truth is it's a lot easier to teach classes that take students who conform to a single learning profile and easier to sell the success of the school when you are poaching only high-performers from everywhere else.

And that's fine. But let's not kid ourselves -- this is a question of priorities and mission. It is not a question of impossibility / possibility.

[Anonymous]

+1000!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I recognize it's frustrating, but the schools are not trying to be mean, that just truly cannot serve a wide range of LDs well.

This is somewhat true. But not entirely. Think about it. Some schools already offer very small classes and are paying 30, 40k per year for the community, focus, and intimacy that these classes provide. This creates an environment where it would be possible accommodate LD and even provide support. What you need are the willingness to provide some accommodations and to invest in a small team of staff who understand the issues involved and can provide support. This is not cheap, but neither is it impossible to imagine.

Magically, everyone keeps finding money for new state-of-the-art buildings and sports fields.

The truth is it's a lot easier to teach classes that take students who conform to a single learning profile and easier to sell the success of the school when you are poaching only high-performers from everywhere else.

And that's fine. But let's not kid ourselves -- this is a question of priorities and mission. It is not a question of impossibility / possibility.

Because Private Schools are in business and their job is to attract as many prospective buyers as they can willing to spend the money on tuition. A new building and sports fields is more attractive to the potential buyer than having a whole staff of people to handle learning disabilities they you may not need. If only 5-10% of the students at the school woudlbenefit, it doesn't make sense to invest more on a expensive staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I recognize it's frustrating, but the schools are not trying to be mean, that just truly cannot serve a wide range of LDs well.

This is somewhat true. But not entirely. Think about it. Some schools already offer very small classes and are paying 30, 40k per year for the community, focus, and intimacy that these classes provide. This creates an environment where it would be possible accommodate LD and even provide support. What you need are the willingness to provide some accommodations and to invest in a small team of staff who understand the issues involved and can provide support. This is not cheap, but neither is it impossible to imagine.

Magically, everyone keeps finding money for new state-of-the-art buildings and sports fields.

The truth is it's a lot easier to teach classes that take students who conform to a single learning profile and easier to sell the success of the school when you are poaching only high-performers from everywhere else.

And that's fine. But let's not kid ourselves -- this is a question of priorities and mission. It is not a question of impossibility / possibility.

I'm PP who wrote that the schools are on the wrong side of history. This is exactly right. It's a question of priorities for the school, not one of impossibilities.

Also, I think they're going to eventually fall behind or be forced to adapt because of it. The world is changing quickly and I think we are going to a spot where traditional measures of educational excellence are going to be recognized as only useful for one kind of learner. In the old days, traditional learning students were the people who went on to excel professionally, but the world is changing quickly and the skills that some kids have who also have LDs are increasingly valued. The private schools can continue to cater to only the single type of learner, but they're missing out on a lot of brilliant kids in the process.

I have a friend who was an undiagnosed dyslexic as a child. He was put in remedial classes in public school as a child and got terrible grades throughout his entire educational experience. He eventually went to community college, got recognized as dyslexic by the staff there and got help. After that, he went straight from an AA degree to multiple engineering degrees. He is now quite successful. Today, my friend would have had support in a public school system but wouldn't have even been looked at by the private schools.

The public schools -- although not by choice, admittedly -- have started to acknowledge neurodiversity. It's funny, when I was a kid, the brilliant quirky kids were all recommended to private schools. I remember people talking about the kid who had what in hindsight was probably undiagnosed ADHD or undiagnosed dyslexia -- "better get that kid to a private school!" But now I hear the opposite. "Better put him in the public schools, they'll be able to support him." It's a sea change in my experience.

[Anonymous]

Yup, that's the thing - we have a child with both ID and autism and there really are no great options for him.
People talk about how 'there's a program for that' but really there aren't. Most of the 'special schools' we see are for ' gifted but disabled' children.
Even the good public school programs. Nice for them.
And yet our son is wonderful and sweet and deserves to be educated in a nurturing environment that's best for him and supportive of his learning style.
No such luck.

If we win the lottery I'm opening up a special school...

Have you looked at Ivymount's MLN program?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:[O]ne thing I've begun to really wrap my head around is how to look for environments where neurodiversity is a core value.

I don't think any place like that exists. Well, public school is required to take all comers, which is a societal value, but that doesn't always translate to being welcomed at the individual school/peer level.

The Lab School. They embrace the neurodiversity you are talking about. Their phrase "Difference is Extraordinary" really has meaning and lives up to it.

Only if you define neurodiversity as not including anyone on the autism spectrum, at least according to their admissions people. I know the reality at the school is different, but when we inquired we were told in no uncertain terms to look elsewhere. It's a marketing slogan, not a policy.

Add intellectual disability to that list.

It's not just that they don't accept kids with ID, but their culture includes a lot of statements like "My child deserves respect (or to learn, or whatever) because they are smart". or even "It was terrible that he was treated that way when he's got a high IQ", as if kids who do have ID don't deserve respect, or the opportunity to learn, or to be treated well.

Yup, that's the thing - we have a child with both ID and autism and there really are no great options for him.
People talk about how 'there's a program for that' but really there aren't. Most of the 'special schools' we see are for ' gifted but disabled' children.
Even the good public school programs. Nice for them.
And yet our son is wonderful and sweet and deserves to be educated in a nurturing environment that's best for him and supportive of his learning style.
No such luck.

If we win the lottery I'm opening up a special school...

I definitely sometimes spend time wondering about what a truly neurodiverse school would look like!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:McLean school, in Bethesda. It specializes in exactly these kinds of learning differences.

I second this.

My observation is that if your child is in a private school already and LDs come up, the private schools will work with you. However, many of the schools on OPs list will not necessarily accept a child who is already diagnosed or displaying flags for any LDs. In other words, the schools on the OP's list want to keep LD a very small part of the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McLean School has a good summer program that focuses on enhancing skills in core subjects. It is expensive but may be worth it.

Don't waste your money. We found the McLean camp to be worthless.

Ok, good to know. The school is worthless too.

This has not been our experience. (Talkiing about the school, not the summer camp, about which I have no experience.)

McLean has been a wonderful environment for my dyslexic son. First, his confidence has surged. Second, they have very small class sizes and a lot of multimodal learning, which is a wonderful thing for him. Finally, kids talk about how kids learn differently, there is a real culture of kindness, and he has really thrived after talking for years about "how stupid" he was and "how stupid" school was.

It is expensive and I think some parents talk negatively about the school because of sticker shock. I see that they offer very small classes, a wide range of interventions, and those things are very expensive.

[Anonymous]

Depending on where you live, OP should seriously consider www.commonwealthacademy.org. Especially if seeking an experience that's well-rounded like other independent schools (sportss, cheerleading, dances, etc), college prep expectations, and individualized support for all of the students. That is the mission and model. It does not cost more than the other schools mentioned. Just talk to Admissions Director Josh Gwilliam. Game changer for my DS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Depending on where you live, OP should seriously consider www.commonwealthacademy.org. Especially if seeking an experience that's well-rounded like other independent schools (sportss, cheerleading, dances, etc), college prep expectations, and individualized support for all of the students. That is the mission and model. It does not cost more than the other schools mentioned. Just talk to Admissions Director Josh Gwilliam. Game changer for my DS.

/s/ Commonwealth Booster Club

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is wonderful. She's also dyslexic. Would a private school like Maret or Sidwell or Green Acres be able to accommodate her?
She's a rising sixth grader.

My DD is also dyslexic. She also has some other issues. I have yet to meet another kid with dyslexia that didn't have additional issues btw.

In terms of school, I would not even consider Maret or Sidwell. I am certain that my DD could do the work and do well but the amount of effort she would have to put in would be staggering and I could easily see that eating away at her self-esteem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I recognize it's frustrating, but the schools are not trying to be mean, that just truly cannot serve a wide range of LDs well.

This is somewhat true. But not entirely. Think about it. Some schools already offer very small classes and are paying 30, 40k per year for the community, focus, and intimacy that these classes provide. This creates an environment where it would be possible accommodate LD and even provide support. What you need are the willingness to provide some accommodations and to invest in a small team of staff who understand the issues involved and can provide support. This is not cheap, but neither is it impossible to imagine.

Magically, everyone keeps finding money for new state-of-the-art buildings and sports fields.

The truth is it's a lot easier to teach classes that take students who conform to a single learning profile and easier to sell the success of the school when you are poaching only high-performers from everywhere else.

And that's fine. But let's not kid ourselves -- this is a question of priorities and mission. It is not a question of impossibility / possibility.

"Poach" is a strong word, but essentially true regarding most independent schools. Parents are paying for a predictable outcome for children that meet certain profiles. Commonwealth achieves that which is described for 2e/LD students with lots of support.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depending on where you live, OP should seriously consider www.commonwealthacademy.org. Especially if seeking an experience that's well-rounded like other independent schools (sportss, cheerleading, dances, etc), college prep expectations, and individualized support for all of the students. That is the mission and model. It does not cost more than the other schools mentioned. Just talk to Admissions Director Josh Gwilliam. Game changer for my DS.

/s/ Commonwealth Booster Club

I'm not aware of any "booster club", I'm just another parent who had been in the same shoes. I have no motive or reason to lie or exaggerate at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I recognize it's frustrating, but the schools are not trying to be mean, that just truly cannot serve a wide range of LDs well.

This is somewhat true. But not entirely. Think about it. Some schools already offer very small classes and are paying 30, 40k per year for the community, focus, and intimacy that these classes provide. This creates an environment where it would be possible accommodate LD and even provide support. What you need are the willingness to provide some accommodations and to invest in a small team of staff who understand the issues involved and can provide support. This is not cheap, but neither is it impossible to imagine.

Magically, everyone keeps finding money for new state-of-the-art buildings and sports fields.

The truth is it's a lot easier to teach classes that take students who conform to a single learning profile and easier to sell the success of the school when you are poaching only high-performers from everywhere else.

And that's fine. But let's not kid ourselves -- this is a question of priorities and mission. It is not a question of impossibility / possibility.

"Poach" is a strong word, but essentially true regarding most independent schools. Parents are paying for a predictable outcome for children that meet certain profiles. Commonwealth achieves that which is described for 2e/LD students with lots of support.

What they're really "poaching" are kids who fit a single learner profile. In the end the schools will be weaker because of it.