DCPS removing all Special Ed for kids in Private Schols
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
|
Recently left an IEP meeting for my DD who is entering 1st grade at a catholic school in DC. Her need for support services her reaffirmed, and she is - to my relief - scheduled to receive increased therapy hours this coming school year. My DH and I have been shuttling her to and from a DCPS school where the therapy is provided weekly. We are thinking, all is good -right?
But no. As it turns out OSSE is planning to revoke ALL therapies for kids in private schools. Apparently, the archdiocese entered a complaint with OSSE stating that therapies should be provided inside their schools, instead of making parents do the DCPS shuttle. This is how services are provided in MoCo. So, OSSE thinks about it, and decided that no - they are just going to quit providing direct services all together. Instead they will send therapist to the private school to offer 20 hours of coaching to teachers. Nothing for students. Regardless of the fact that we are paying the taxes that support these services. This was news to me. Want to make sure that others are aware. If this is not news to you, and you know how to share comments / complaints with OSSE please advise. |
Anonymous
| Is this different than paying taxes for schools and choosing private? Unfortunately, I don't get a discount for going private either. |
Anonymous
| Honestly, I think this is fine. |
Anonymous
| So if you want public school services, you need to attend public schools? I don't see the problem. I would have a huge problem if the therapists' limited time was being used to come to private school kids. Public school kids come to the therapists. Private school kids should have to as well. |
Anonymous
|
+1.
You cannot have DCPS services for your non-DCPS student. It doesn't work like that and frankly, I am rather shocked it has been like this to now. |
Anonymous
| I just can't see any reason why DCPS should pay for private school kids' services. None at all. |
Anonymous
Why should DC government be allowed to discriminate like this? |
Anonymous
Federal law requires school systems to provide services to kids with disabilities in private schools, and has guidelines on how much money they need to spend on it, but gives a lot of leeway to SEA's and LEA's on how they use that money. Since this is money provided specifically for serving kids in private schools, it's not coming out of therapist time that would otherwise be spent on kids in DCPS. It sounds as though OSSE is switching to another model of service. I'm not sure the new model is any better or worse. The MCPS model has pros and cons too. |
Anonymous
Federal law would be one reason. |
Anonymous
Yes, but that typically kicks in when the public schools themselves can't meet the kid's needs, so the district pays to send the kid to private. Here the private can't meet the kid's needs and, apparently, the parents aren't willing to send the kid to public. Not sure what happens when neither the public nor the private can meet the kid's needs. The split the difference approach (in various formats) is one option and there can be situations in which that's what both parties (parents/district) want. Or the district says we'll pay but you have to go to a different/specialized private that offers all the services you need. I guess OP could move to MoCo and get the MoCo deal (free onsite services at private). |
Anonymous
+ 100 OP here. My child is deemed by DCPS to meet criterion for services. I pay DC taxes. Federal law says I have the right to receive those services. I would like to see a study determining how much it would cost DCPS if kids in private schools decided to move to DCPS en mass to get these services. |
Anonymous
|
Why would the Archdiocese complain about having to take your child for free services?! Horribly short sighted on their side.
Couple of thoughts/questions. Is this for older kids? I cannot imagine them revoking services for private preschoolers since it is so difficult to get a PK slot in some schools. DCPS has a world of problems. Of course, they will shit on tax payers who select private over DCPS. The special ed teachers are overbooked! They have to cut services and they will cut the private school kids. My child received early stages intervention with DCPS while at a private preschool. While I loved her speech therapist, I really got a glimpse into DCPS, which makes me very thankful we went the private school route. Mind you this was at a super popular NWDC elementary school. Early Stages also only gave her one session a week, I had to pay out of pocket for her other 3 sessions a week. Honestly, I would look into moving to MoCo if your child needs long term support needs. DCPS is just terrible. |
Anonymous
Like it or not, we pay taxes and therefore deserve services. I do think parents must take their children for said free services. |
Anonymous
No, there are 2 different laws. 1) Law that states that if a school district can't provide Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) to a student with a disability, the school system must pay for tuition, related services, and transportation at a private school. 2) Law that states that the school system must provide services to "parentally placed" kids, which means kids whose parents choose a private or religious school for whatever reason and either pay the tuition, or have some other source pay the tuition (e.g. scholarship, grandma etc . . . ) |
Anonymous
|
OP, post this on special needs.
- mom of a kid w an IEP at a DC charter |