Reply to If you are wealthy would you send your kids to a W school over private?

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Reply to "If you are wealthy would you send your kids to a W school over private?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]There’s a difference between true special needs and kids who need more support than a large public can give for particular social, academic or behavioral issues. From what I have seen I agree that these kids eventually leave W public feeders for privates where they can get more individual attention.  [/quote]

There’s a variety of privates - some that are specifically for special needs students (examples are Ivymount, McLean School, and the Lab School). There are some private schools that have inclusive and welcoming environment for students that need accommodations. Then there are some privates that won’t provide accommodations.

As a parent, I toured several private schools with my child before we found one that was the right fit. He is happier there with the smaller class sizes than his large W school. His disability is ADHD but he is gifted in science and math.

The private met with us to review his IEP from MCPS and the neuropsychological data and we came up with a plan similar to a 504 plan for accommodations. We hired a special education tutor for executive functioning coaching. The tutor was allowed to meet with him in the school library during his study hall session.

Point is that privates all have their niches. [/quote]

Every private we know has support for kids who need 504-like accomodations. Sidwell, Landon, and many more have learning specialists who work with kids in this way. They don't call it special needs but it's really similar.[/quote]

Special education is just good teaching practices that most students would benefit from. These practices are just easier to implement to all students when class sizes are under 20 students. Some privates have a mission to help students achieve.  MCPS mission is to limit access to accommodations and services. [/quote]

This is not true!  Special education covers a wide range of accommodations and supports that allow students who NEED them to be able to access curriculum.  While there may be SOME practices that would benefit all students many would not.  The fact you believe that shows you don’t understand Special Education.

SOME privates will help w/mild special needs and accommodations, like ADHD that only requires more time, or dyslexia.  Beyond that most privates will not accommodate special needs.  The ones that do are schools specifically for special needs students.[/quote]

I think your ignorance regarding Special Education is showing just by your description of ADHD and dyslexia. Also, with your over generalization of what supports privates can offer.

Unlike MCPS, the focus of most privates is on the child not the label. Using your example of ADHD - ADHD students are more easily distracted in a classroom. It’s easier for a private school teacher to keep them on task as well as all students on task because of the smaller class sizes. There’s also less distractions because of the smaller class sizes.

Some students with ADHD (very important to point out not ALL)  are hyperactive. A teacher with a smaller class size can help a child who is hyperactive learn coping strategies to improve the behavior. Same with all students in the classroom.

Many students with ADHD have difficulty with time management and organizational skills. These can be taught with universal design (to all students) when there are small class sizes to allow a teacher to see each child’s notebook, work product, and day planner. A teacher also can give immediate feedback if a child is unprepared for class, falling behind, or misses a deadline. In private, there are quicker interventions like coming in for office hours or communicating with parents.

Also, how do you define ADHD as a mild disability? ADHD is on the spectrum with some students borderline with autism. ADHD is also often comorbid with other disabilities such as anxiety and depression.

Our experience was that MCPS didn’t take the time to understand our child or his disability. He had an IEP that didn’t address his needs because false stereotypes of those needs similarly to PP. A private placement was better for him than the W school he was first enrolled in.[/quote]

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