Best public school district for special needs services?

[Anonymous]

My DD with mild ASD is struggling at her current elementary school in FFX County. DH and I advocate hard for her, but the school is just not meeting her needs to our satisfaction. To go into details would be to write a novel. We cannot afford private school, but wish to enroll DD in a different school by next year (she'll be going to the 4th grade). Any suggestions?

[Anonymous]

Our advocate said that OVERALL, Montgomery County is better compared to PG County, DC and Fairfax County. But it's highly dependent on the school itself which you don't know until your kids are there. Obviously, there are people who have terrible experience with MCPS and great experience with DCPS and FCPS. Don't rule out SN schools. Ask for financial aid.

[Anonymous]

What grade? What things are on her IEP/504?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our advocate said that OVERALL, Montgomery County is better compared to PG County, DC and Fairfax County. But it's highly dependent on the school itself which you don't know until your kids are there. Obviously, there are people who have terrible experience with MCPS and great experience with DCPS and FCPS. Don't rule out SN schools. Ask for financial aid.

Sorry just saw 4th grade.

[Anonymous]

What supports does she need?

MCPS probably has the most options, but each school is its own world. Do you think your child needs a specialized program? Does she get over 15 hours of service? We might be able to point you to specific schools that have programs in them so it is easier to receive the supports and switch into the program if necessary.

[Anonymous]

MCPS.

But. You need to do your research into that vast system, and pick out the school or the program that you think will best meet your child's needs.

We moved inbounds for the Bethesda Elementary school in part because it has a great reputation regarding special needs.

Then my child got into the GT/LD program (gifted talented / learning disabled), which is out of our cluster, but still local. My son is bused there. It has been a life-saver for him, because he has access to advanced classes, but with support.

In your case, I would first think hard about your child's needs, and whether they would be better addressed in the general education classroom, in which case you need a school with an experienced special needs team and a supportive administration; or a special program (there are Asperger's and autism programs in certain schools). Perhaps your child could also do well in a magnet school or the GT/LD program.

[Anonymous]

Our experience has been very poor with MCPS. It really depends on your child and the school. Even at the same school one family can have a great experience and another not. Instead of spending that money to move, I'd pay for a year or two of private.

[Anonymous]

Definitely not FCPS as you have already found out.

[Anonymous]

We moved from Montgomery county ( Wootton hs) Fairfax county ( mclean hs) for my children’ special need. We are very happy. I “think” that we got help for our kids because mclean hs area. I don’t think we can get the same if we live in Annandale for example.

[Anonymous]

I've heard good things about Howard County from a family in Ellicott City, but it's far and the district is currently all in a tizzy about redistricting so I don't know if that will distract from providing good special needs services.

[Anonymous]

If your kid can do well in a general ed setting with supports and a helpful attitude from the school, I would definitely look into Falls Church City. Lots of happy Sped parents there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD with mild ASD is struggling at her current elementary school in FFX County. DH and I advocate hard for her, but the school is just not meeting her needs to our satisfaction. To go into details would be to write a novel. We cannot afford private school, but wish to enroll DD in a different school by next year (she'll be going to the 4th grade). Any suggestions?

We are considering moving to the DC metro area with our autistic/adhd/anxiety DD enter 6th grade in September 2021. In which district did you end up abs how can I best research sped programs in Fairfax and Montgomery county schools? She needs a collab program (part small contained class with options to push into gen Ed with an aide), speech therapy and counseling (her current program uses DBT). TIA!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your kid can do well in a general ed setting with supports and a helpful attitude from the school, I would definitely look into Falls Church City. Lots of happy Sped parents there.

DP. For middle and HS?

[Anonymous]

Stay away from Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS.

But. You need to do your research into that vast system, and pick out the school or the program that you think will best meet your child's needs.

We moved inbounds for the Bethesda Elementary school in part because it has a great reputation regarding special needs.

Then my child got into the GT/LD program (gifted talented / learning disabled), which is out of our cluster, but still local. My son is bused there. It has been a life-saver for him, because he has access to advanced classes, but with support.

In your case, I would first think hard about your child's needs, and whether they would be better addressed in the general education classroom, in which case you need a school with an experienced special needs team and a supportive administration; or a special program (there are Asperger's and autism programs in certain schools). Perhaps your child could also do well in a magnet school or the GT/LD program.

This is so wrong. Look at the facts. ‘Dr’ Jack Smith has cut special education budgets in MCPS for five straight years. The school flat out ignores blocks of kids with certain disabilities (dyslexia). He destroyed the ‘magnet’ model of GT/LD by reverting to a ‘home school’ model. The only program parents like is the original ‘magnet’ cluster (North Bethesda Middle/Walter Johnson). He has one GT/LD coordinator for over 200 schools. The elementary schools that are supposed to be small and assist kids with learning issues (dufief) have untrained resource teachers doing the pull outs. He gives a week intro class of Orton-Gillingham and now the system ‘does’ OG (yeah right). Most disturbing, the county spends in the tens of millions to fight parents of children on IEPs. This is a despicable school system worthy of contempt due to its structural corruption. (90% for pensions, salaries, overly generous healthcare benefits). Either the above poster works for MCPS (which she should note) or she had kids go through the system in a much earlier time. Likely, children suffered then because MCPS has at its core an utter contempt for these children after Shaffer v. Weast.