Lab School. DCPS denying funding for everyone?

[Anonymous]

Any recent experiences of DCPS categorically refusing to fund Lab School?

Did DCPS offer other private placements like KTS or Ivymount that were completely inappropriate?

FWIW, this is a child with no behavioral, emotional, or social issues. Lab accepted enthusiastically and pedi and consultants agree child is good fit for Lab.

High-priced lawyer can't explain clearly what's happening.

Any rumors? Thoughts?

TIA

[Anonymous]

Is the tuition comparable at KTS or Ivymount?

Maybe they only like to place a certain number of children at any one institution? Not how it is supposed to work, I know.

[Anonymous]

Why can't a kid with no behavioral, social or emotional issues be served in DCPS?

[Anonymous]

Dyslexia usually

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the tuition comparable at KTS or Ivymount?

Maybe they only like to place a certain number of children at any one institution? Not how it is supposed to work, I know.

Tuition is set by OSSE, so that can't be it.

Odd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why can't a kid with no behavioral, social or emotional issues be served in DCPS?

This would be my question as well. Guessing parents found violations?

[Anonymous]

Lab has very few funded students these days. Most are older kids who qualified in earlier years. From what I understand DCPS wants to serve these kids within DCPS rather than do private placements. Have you asked the school for advice or experience with kids with similar profiles? I know they say it's the parents responsibility to get the funding, but maybe they've got some perspective that could be helpful.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Lab said they are expressly forbidden to share other families' experiences or it could be considered collusion by parents to cheat the District. It's an abundance of caution.

The private schools contacted us directly, not DCPS. They are out of state. One is $20K more than Lab and another is over an hour away.

As a taxpayer, I'm really uncomfortable with this. Wasn't DCPS supposed to stop shipping kids out of state? What's wrong with a school right in DC and wouldn't need busing?

DCPS schools offered did not have age-appropriate classrooms or staff trained in research-based academic programs agreed to in IEP. We tried 3 different public schools in DC. We're pro-public education and really wanted child to attend neighborhood school.

Lab does have programs and peer group by age, cognitive development, and social-emotional profile. It's the closest option to our house and wouldn't need transportation. Why should the city pay a lot more to send a student who doesn't have major behavioral and emotional issues out of state?

Is there someone at DCPS or OSSE who just hates Lab?

Mayor Bowser attended the Lab gala last year and gave commencement at high school graduation this year. One would assume they'd want more DC kids in a DC-based school even if it's private.

What gives?

[Anonymous]

Due process?

I assume they'd say they owe your child an appropriate education (DCPS/KTS/Ivymount) vs the most optimal education (Lab).

The thing about sending kids out of state was really just a catch all for private placements generally. And many were placed in residential placements much more than an hour away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Lab said they are expressly forbidden to share other families' experiences or it could be considered collusion by parents to cheat the District. It's an abundance of caution.

The private schools contacted us directly, not DCPS. They are out of state. One is $20K more than Lab and another is over an hour away.

As a taxpayer, I'm really uncomfortable with this. Wasn't DCPS supposed to stop shipping kids out of state? What's wrong with a school right in DC and wouldn't need busing?

DCPS schools offered did not have age-appropriate classrooms or staff trained in research-based academic programs agreed to in IEP. We tried 3 different public schools in DC. We're pro-public education and really wanted child to attend neighborhood school.

Lab does have programs and peer group by age, cognitive development, and social-emotional profile. It's the closest option to our house and wouldn't need transportation. Why should the city pay a lot more to send a student who doesn't have major behavioral and emotional issues out of state?

Is there someone at DCPS or OSSE who just hates Lab?

Mayor Bowser attended the Lab gala last year and gave commencement at high school graduation this year. One would assume they'd want more DC kids in a DC-based school even if it's private.

What gives?

Why would the schools contact you directly? I would think DCPS would be in the loop.

[Anonymous]

A friend just went through fighting for Lab tuition to be paid for by DCPS, and it took 18 months. In the end, her child (who has an IEP now) is at Lab on DCPS' dime, but has to be re evaluated each year, whcih is costly, and was enrolled there for about a year before receiving confirmation said year would be paid for. I do know that as of this past school year, 22% of Lab students are paid for by DCPS.

[Anonymous]

So, DCPS will pay for Ivymount or KTS but not Lab. Have they definitively said they'd pay for those schools? Ivymount's tuition is higher than Lab's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, DCPS will pay for Ivymount or KTS but not Lab. Have they definitively said they'd pay for those schools? Ivymount's tuition is higher than Lab's.

The first sentence should be a question.

[Anonymous]

I don't know why they pay the first two and not Lab. Very different school environments but still self contained sped.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know why they pay the first two and not Lab. Very different school environments but still self contained sped.

Maybe because the population Lab serves is one they think they can serve in DCPS?

The thing to keep in mind with the 22% stay a pp posted is that I believe that skews to the older kids.