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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I appreciate all the feedback and perspectives on the schools as well as some others to take a look at.

It looks like I don’t know that much about how IRPs are factored into all this (I honestly didn’t even know it factored in beyond the fact that they are legally required to honor it). With his current IFSP, he receives 3 services - SLP (2 30 min sessions a week), PT (1 30 min session a week), and ABA (5 1 hour sessions a week). The ABA therapy is basically serving as a supplement to SLP - with SLP, they are working on speech mechanics and feeding while ABA helps him with the social foundations for language - communicating needs, immitation, turn taking, etc. I want push in services like he has now for the majority of his services, so integrated classes are a top priority. Like I said earlier, he is cognitively at the same level as peers. He also doesn’t have receptive language delays and his gross motor issues aren’t super obvious or debilitating, so I don’t anticipate him needing separate classes or a highly specialized program. Just want to ensure the school has a good reputation for working with and supporting students with various special needs.

He turns 3 at the end of July, so I won’t know his full IEP recs or even what he qualifies for until the summer. I have a meeting with his coordinator soon, so I will ask how this all factors into the school process. If anyone has insight into how it factors in, personal experiences, or recommended reading on the interaction of the IEP and the lottery, it is very much appreciated.

Thanks again. [/quote]

So basically IEPs and the lottery runs on slightly parallel tracks.

For charters, you enter the lottery and show up on the first day of school with your IFSP/IEP from early stages. The charter school must honor it and then they have 30 days to re-evaluate and convene the IEP team to negotiate what your child's IEP will be at that school. You may wind up with more services, or less. The only charter that has any level of self-contained or slightly restricted environments are Bridges and St. Coletta's, and your child will absolutely not qualify for St. Coletta's (not severe-enough needs). Every charter scchool will put your child in the regular PK3 classroom, with push in/pull out services as dictated by the IEP.

For the IFSP to DCPS transition, early stages will convene your team and discuss what services and supports they think your child needs in Pk3. If the level of service hours and type of services are relatively low (&lt;5 hours a week) but still require an IEP they will place you at the closest DCPS Pk3 program to your home that has room (meaning they try to limit SN seats to 3 per Pk3 classroom). If, based on the number of hours, they think your child requires one of DCPS' more specialized programs, which could mean 5 hours in the regular classroom and 1 hour in a class with other students with SN to a more fully restrictive placement (doubtful). If your child receives ABA now, and you or they want that continued, you will likely be placed in one of the programs which are located at different schools around the city (e.g. not at every single school, and perhaps not at your IB DCPS). Keep in mind you are a full member of the team and have a say in where your child goes.

As a backup, in the event that you and your IFSP team decided in August that your child needs no further services at all and does not qualify for an IEP (probably unlikely) you would want to enter the lottery for a PK3 space like anyone else (charter or DCPS).

For reference, here is a booklet covering DCPS' programs and approaches for students with disabilities, ranging from fully inclusive to most restrictive. Also posted below is the most recent list of where the specialized programs are. Early Stages / DCPS will try to place you at the most appropriate school closest to your home.

https://dcps.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dcps/publication/attachments/Family%20Programs%20and%20Resources%20Guide18-19.pdf
https://dcps.dc.gov/publication/special-education-classroom-locations

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