Home School Model - Is this good for ASD kids?

[Anonymous]

So, I have to decide whether to enroll my child in our homeschool which just switched to the Home School Model. I'm very worried. After visiting, the school doesn't seem really committed to making it work.

The school has added one additional resource teacher, but that seems insufficient. I have been told that additional staffing decisions are based on actual enrollment of SN kids. But I'm worried. In speaking to the principal, I don't get the sense that she views SN kids as a budgetary priority. My sense is that this principal would rather put the budget elsewhere and let my child suffer until we take self-contained placement out of her school.

I want my child mainstreamed vs a more self-contained placement. Are gen ed teachers prepared for this? What has your HSM experience been like? What questions do I need to ask to ferret out how helpful this principal is going to be if we have issues once there?

We are currently in a SN private for mild needs if this helps provide context.

[Anonymous]

which district?

[Anonymous]

Wow! I could have written this post myself.

[Anonymous]

I would give it a try. Our mixed class has a regular teacher, special ed teacher, 2 paraprofessionals and one floating para. They also have a student teacher. Plenty of staff. If you can afford it and are concerned, why not stay at the private?

[Anonymous]

This is OP. We have been in SN private for a while now. The issues are cost and commute and not having friends for our child in our neighborhood. We have to drive 45 minutes for playdates. It's been a long slog for the whole family.

My child is probably ready to be with neurotypical peers. It may be hard at first. And I feel like we are going to need a lot of support to make it work. But I'm not getting a good vibe from the school.

My homeschool only has 2 special ed teachers. They each are assigned multiple classrooms. How can they possibly provide kids with the supports they need at these staffing levels? I know they say a gen ed teacher can do it... but really? My child has 22 hours on an IEP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. We have been in SN private for a while now. The issues are cost and commute and not having friends for our child in our neighborhood. We have to drive 45 minutes for playdates. It's been a long slog for the whole family.

My child is probably ready to be with neurotypical peers. It may be hard at first. And I feel like we are going to need a lot of support to make it work. But I'm not getting a good vibe from the school.

My homeschool only has 2 special ed teachers. They each are assigned multiple classrooms. How can they possibly provide kids with the supports they need at these staffing levels? I know they say a gen ed teacher can do it... but really? My child has 22 hours on an IEP.

How many of those 22 hours are for related services (ST, OT, PT, psych) vs classroom or gen ed support.

[Anonymous]

OP here: 30 min/week for speech and 30 min/week for OT. The rest is for gen ed support.

[Anonymous]

It really depends on the child. For my DS, home school model did not work well. The class size remained too big and there was too much stimulation. For us, the teachers and special ed teachers were all very well meaning just did not have the time to devote to my child the way he needed (his IEP has 21 hours- almost all for behavioral help). The principal was supportive, but only had so many resources for the school to share. We had 3 sped teachers- so basically one sped teacher for 2 grades. There was a lot of para support, but our child just needed a little more- he needed small class sizes- something that home school model could not provide.

We switched to a self contained Asperger's program this year and it has been like night and day. He is happier, we are happier, school is happier.

Truth be told though, each child is very different. It was certainly not about the lack of support or not strong teachers, it was really about what my DS needed. If you think that your child is ready for big classes and needs NT peers, I would definitely give it a try.

[Anonymous]

What is the Home School Model? I clicked on the link b/c it sounds like it would be based, literally, out of the home, at least part of the time. But by home school, do you mean neighborhood school?

[Anonymous]

In mcps, it just means that children attend their neighborhood school and get services at that school (the opposite would be getting bussed to a school to receive services).

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know if the whole district is shifting models. Our school used to host a LAD program, that was expanded last year, and we just learned the entire program is going away.

[Anonymous]

OP here -- LAD is going away. From what I've heard, kids in the program can stay for now.

But, most LAD programs had been gutted anyway. This is basically a way for MCPS to save the busing money (IMO) and keep kids in the homeschool. My concern is whether they are actually putting resources in place to support our kids. Like PP from 09:52, my child needs mostly behavioral supports. I just don't know if homeschool can handle his needs.

We toured the Asperger's Program. If we are offered placement at in the Asperger's Program, I'm not sure it is what I want for my child. I would prefer the school accommodate DC in the homeschool -- but I want to make sure the resources and the will are there!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would give it a try. Our mixed class has a regular teacher, special ed teacher, 2 paraprofessionals and one floating para. They also have a student teacher. Plenty of staff. If you can afford it and are concerned, why not stay at the private?

Which school is this? Sounds like a nice supportive enviornment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would give it a try. Our mixed class has a regular teacher, special ed teacher, 2 paraprofessionals and one floating para. They also have a student teacher. Plenty of staff. If you can afford it and are concerned, why not stay at the private?

Which school is this? Sounds like a nice supportive enviornment.

Many families are pleased with it, we are not. If we had a better option, we'd move quickly. My child despite all the adults doesn't get much help or attention from the impression I get.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would give it a try. Our mixed class has a regular teacher, special ed teacher, 2 paraprofessionals and one floating para. They also have a student teacher. Plenty of staff. If you can afford it and are concerned, why not stay at the private?

Which school is this? Sounds like a nice supportive enviornment.

Many families are pleased with it, we are not. If we had a better option, we'd move quickly. My child despite all the adults doesn't get much help or attention from the impression I get.

Oh okay gotcha. Can you share the school or no?