Reply to SSMA lacks support for Special Needs kids

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I'm writing this as a PSA to other parents of SN kids, because I wish I had known this information when we enrolled in SSMA. Shining Stars Montessori violates federal IDEA law in its handling of the special education process. A family left the school mid-year because SS was unable and unwilling to provide the mandated supports for their child. Our family will be following suit. If our child did not have special needs, we would probably love the school, but their special ed apparatus is dysfunctional and SN kids (and their classmates, who have to deal with unsupported SN kids, including our own) suffer because of it.

Relatedly, has anyone had great experiences with their school's special education process??[/quote]

SWWFS seems to have a really strong special needs program, both pull out and inclusion. Though, it sounds like you will need an advocate that can help both you and the school find the right accommodations.

I'm curious, though, if it is fair to expect charter school that is clearly based in a certain pedagogy to make specific accommodations that may conflict with the stated mission? For better or worse, Montessori is designed for kids with typical needs and their teachers are not trained to handle kids with special needs.

Not to say that you don't deserve or not entitled to accommodation, but maybe it's not the school's fault? 
[/quote]

I would ask the opposite. Is it ethical for an organization to accept public funding, when they can't fulfill the purpose of those funds, which is to provide an education for the entire spectrum of children living in DC?  If it's not possible to run a Montessori school and meet the needs of a diverse student body, then it's unethical to found an organization whose mission is to do just that.

Now, I'm not saying that it is actually impossible to provide quality education to children with a wide range of disabilities within the context of Montessori pedagogy.  In fact, I do believe it's possible, but if you believe that it's not possible then the only choice is to close SSMA and LAMB and other Montessori public charter schools.[/quote]

I agree. ANd my child with a Level 2 IEP went to LAMB from PK3 to 5th (starting in 2004). It can be done. That said, first couple years were bumpy as LAMB developed a special ed program. We never needed an advocate but we had to help build the plane as we were flying, so to speak.

I am glad we stuck it out. It was good for my kid and the school is better for it.[/quote]

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