Mundo Verde vrs Bridges?

[Anonymous]

Hi, we are very close in the waiting list for Mundo Verde and Bridges and we are really struggling into making a decision between both. My son will go to Kinder, we are leaving abroad and his main language now is Spanish. He has a diagnose of ASD. He´s been recommended to join a general school with the implementation of his IEP. We like the inclusive way of Mundo Verde and the language as a smooth transition (they will do mainly spanish this year) but it seems Bridges is more technically specialized in learning disabilities. However in the Quality Report MV is tier 1 and Bridges tier 2. Do you have any inside information you could share with us? Thanks!!

[Anonymous]

If I was in your shoes, I would go with Bridges..they are a true general education with true
inclusion school with real support.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I was in your shoes, I would go with Bridges..they are a true general education with true
inclusion school with real support.

Me too. I love MV, but I wouldn't have enough confidence in them in this instance.

[Anonymous]

Bridges has really struggled to have enough resources to implement IEPs appropriately. Make sure to ask lots of questions about what support you'd get from them, and where (push in, pull out, inclusion classroom, self contained classroom).

I don't know anything about Mundo Verde.

[Anonymous]

I would go with Bridges. Your kid really won't be bullied there. I don't think I could necessarily say the same for Mundo Verde.

[Anonymous]

OP, you might cross-post to the SN board. GL with your choice.

[Anonymous]

is your main concern at this point social or academics? if social, go with the smallest school possible. if academics, go with a bigger school and with more resources

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:is your main concern at this point social or academics? if social, go with the smallest school possible. if academics, go with a bigger school and with more resources

As another parent of an autistic child, I disagree with this. A small school is not necessarily better socially because it can be harder for someone to find a compatible friend; in a small school, it can be easier for everyone except your kid to be friends with each other.

Academically, I haven't seen much of a difference between small and large school; what matters is whether the teachers have experience with the kinds of academic problems that your child has.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would go with Bridges. Your kid really won't be bullied there. I don't think I could necessarily say the same for Mundo Verde.

Bridges doesn't have any bullying? That's amazing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would go with Bridges. Your kid really won't be bullied there. I don't think I could necessarily say the same for Mundo Verde.

Bridges doesn't have any bullying? That's amazing.

NP. Bridges may have some bullying. But it is a school with 32% students with special needs, and half of those students have Level 3 or Level 4 plans. Tolerance and inclusion of different learners is the central organizing principle of the school. MV has just 8% students with special needs.

I'd go with Bridges too OP -- it may or may not work out (all charters are a bit of a gamble) but the chances that the teachers will be trained to work with your child, and know how to fully work to include him, are better.

[Anonymous]

MV struggles in implementation even if they talk a good game.

[Anonymous]

I would go with Bridges. Mom of ASD kid here. Wish we had gone to Bridges instead of regular, relatively high-performing (now high-performing) DCPS.

[Anonymous]

Stay away from MV - even for non SN kids.

[Anonymous]

Our sped lawyer actually advised us to avoid Bridges.

[Anonymous]

Parent of an SN child here: I would definitely recommend Bridges. I have toured a lot of schools - private and public, and they have much more holistic and complete approach to SN education than anything else public.