DC charter schools that take special needs kids?

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know of any mixed special needs/mainstream charter schools in DC?

[Anonymous]

it probably does depend on the kind of special needs. But Bridges and Two Rivers are two charter schools that I can think of.

[Anonymous]

I'm thinking Aspergers or PDD-NOS diagnoses.

[Anonymous]

then those schools would be perfect but the age is another factor. They are typically known to be good with young children, I don't quite know what would be a good placement of an older child.

[Anonymous]

SAIL (School for the Arts in Learning) is another.

[Anonymous]

Bidges Public Charter School: http://www.bridgespcs.org/index.php?page=about

[Anonymous]

ALL Public Charter Schools - like ALL DCPS schools - MUST accept and serve SN children BY LAW.

Having said that, obviously some of them do it better than others. OP, how old is your child? If you're in the Pre-K/K range, you can't do better than Bridges. Period. If you're looking for a placement older than that, then it really depends upon your DC's age and severity of needs.

[Anonymous]

OP here -- looking for kindergarten and up, And mild SN needs. Focus issues, social issues, cognitively very bright.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here -- looking for kindergarten and up, And mild SN needs. Focus issues, social issues, cognitively very bright.

HAve you looked at the Lab School?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here -- looking for kindergarten and up, And mild SN needs. Focus issues, social issues, cognitively very bright.

HAve you looked at the Lab School?

Is Lab a charter school? Sorry to be ignorant, but I looked on their website and there is no info about this (and also no info about admissions or tuition).

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

the lab school is private - tuition is not posted but an old article in the Washington Post had it at $25K (article from 2005)

[Anonymous]

tuition for lab school is over 30K not including private therapy services, which are extra (usually tuition plus therapies adds up to 40K)

[Anonymous]

Lab School is a *great* school, but it doesn't really address OP's needs. Without hiring a lawyer to force DCPS to pay her DC's tuition, this doesn't help her out. And from her description, it seems unlikely that DCPS will pay for her mild SN child. By asking about charter schools it sounds like she's saying she doesn't have the personal financial resources for Lab School.

So, for a K+ child with mild special needs, do we have suggestions beyond Two Rivers and SAIL? I would think any DCPS west of the park would be good. DCPS may not pay for private, but they may accommodate that. Plus, there's also EL Haynes & Cap City. Both of those would be good for a bright child with mild SN needs.

[Anonymous]

I believe Hyde Elementary in Georgetown has a specialized special ed program. Can anyone elaborate? Has anyone else heard this? OP, try contacting Hyde and ask to speak to someone there about their special ed program. You may not be able to force DCPS to pay for Lab School, but maybe you could justify an OOB placement at Hyde.

(Yes, I realize the OOB lottery is over, however OP's child isn't the average OOB applicant. There should be a different process if there's some kind of special program available.)