SSMA lacks support for Special Needs kids

[Anonymous]

I'm writing this as a PSA to other parents of SN kids, because I wish I had known this information when we enrolled in SSMA. Shining Stars Montessori violates federal IDEA law in its handling of the special education process. A family left the school mid-year because SS was unable and unwilling to provide the mandated supports for their child. Our family will be following suit. If our child did not have special needs, we would probably love the school, but their special ed apparatus is dysfunctional and SN kids (and their classmates, who have to deal with unsupported SN kids, including our own) suffer because of it.

Relatedly, has anyone had great experiences with their school's special education process??

[Anonymous]

Can you detail? I have an IEP/504 kid at another Montessori school, and the new (well, allegedly new) Shining Stars location would be wonderful for our family.

[Anonymous]

Too bad you can't get into CMI.

[Anonymous]

Sorry to hear that. We found that for our child's special needs, the Montessori environment was absolutely wrong. I'd be interested to see how push-in services would compliment the independence model of Montessori - they do seem somewhat in conflict.

If I had a nickel for every professional who's said "Oh, you know where you should check out...this school called Creative Minds...," I'd have enough to buy off someone in the central office to overcome the impossible lottery odds of getting in.

[Anonymous]

Our experience was pretty positive. Accommodations were made and they seem to be working. I was in touch with another parent going through the same thing... But she stopped talking about it, at least to me. I didn't know her personally... Maybe you are her.

Ssma was miles more responsive than the highly regarded dcps we attended before it. But I will say, just by virtue of their size right now--there's stuff they don't have. When we were first going through the assessment, I was concerned about the lack of school nurse, school counselor, psych, etc. But the dcps that had all of that didn't do anything for us--despite repeated requests. I know (now) I had a legal right to more services; but at the time, we didn't know anything and it was rough.

[Anonymous]

what accommodations are they unwilling or unable to support?

[Anonymous]

Honestly OP it can be hit or miss with a SN kid and IEPs. You can have a great year and then a staff member leaves and things fall apart. The best thing may be to hire an advocate to get what your child needs and is legally entitled to while you explore other options for next year.

But know it is also possible that you will be facing this same issue wherever you go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our experience was pretty positive. Accommodations were made and they seem to be working. I was in touch with another parent going through the same thing... But she stopped talking about it, at least to me. I didn't know her personally... Maybe you are her.

Ssma was miles more responsive than the highly regarded dcps we attended before it. But I will say, just by virtue of their size right now--there's stuff they don't have. When we were first going through the assessment, I was concerned about the lack of school nurse, school counselor, psych, etc. But the dcps that had all of that didn't do anything for us--despite repeated requests. I know (now) I had a legal right to more services; but at the time, we didn't know anything and it was rough.

Size of school doesn't necessarily mean a school doesn't have a psychologist or other specialists available (psychologist, SLP, OT) although they may not be full-time employees.

[Anonymous]

Maybe this should be a broader question across Chartes and not just SSA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe this should be a broader question across Chartes and not just SSA.

There are also plenty of concerns about special education in DCPS.

[Anonymous]

Our dcps had a meeting with all of their extensive staff and me, shrugged, said the academics were fine and gave me a piece of paper to sign.

[Anonymous]

I posted at 6:53.

Our child received both pull out and push in services at LAMB (he's now in high school) and it worked well for him.

But honestly this is so much bigger than charters vs DCPS. Spend time on the SN boards and you will see that many of these same problems, frustrations and complaints happen in FCPS, ACPS and MCPS. I've read less about APS - but not sure that means it's any better there.

Learn your rights (wrightslaw.com), hire an advocate and stay vigilant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our dcps had a meeting with all of their extensive staff and me, shrugged, said the academics were fine and gave me a piece of paper to sign.

This is probably better served in the SN board now - but you absolutely need to hire an advocate. Our DCPS tried this approach with us - until we had an advocate there. Then they brought in their person from teh central office who actually understood IDEA and Wright's Law. The two of them put the right plans in place, and things are going much better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry to hear that. We found that for our child's special needs, the Montessori environment was absolutely wrong. I'd be interested to see how push-in services would compliment the independence model of Montessori - they do seem somewhat in conflict.

If I had a nickel for every professional who's said "Oh, you know where you should check out...this school called Creative Minds...," I'd have enough to buy off someone in the central office to overcome the impossible lottery odds of getting in.

We also found Montessori to be an awful fit for our son, but don't let Montessori parents hear you say that or they'll shit themselves thinking you're insulting their precious "methodology." And I hear you on CMI! Yes, I would LOVE to get into CMI. I'd pay tuition for CMI. But no such luck (although we are very happy at another charter similar to CMI). Also, don't ever tell a CMI parent that the school's original mission was tailored towards SN children. They will get very insecure over the idea that their snowflake is enjoying an environment designed with SN in mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry to hear that. We found that for our child's special needs, the Montessori environment was absolutely wrong. I'd be interested to see how push-in services would compliment the independence model of Montessori - they do seem somewhat in conflict.

If I had a nickel for every professional who's said "Oh, you know where you should check out...this school called Creative Minds...," I'd have enough to buy off someone in the central office to overcome the impossible lottery odds of getting in.

We also found Montessori to be an awful fit for our son, but don't let Montessori parents hear you say that or they'll shit themselves thinking you're insulting their precious "methodology." And I hear you on CMI! Yes, I would LOVE to get into CMI. I'd pay tuition for CMI. But no such luck (although we are very happy at another charter similar to CMI). Also, don't ever tell a CMI parent that the school's original mission was tailored towards SN children. They will get very insecure over the idea that their snowflake is enjoying an environment designed with SN in mind.

Can we please stop using that fucking snowflake term? It's so rude and obnoxious.