I don’t love the term “high functioning” but the fact that your child is “high functioning” means you’re not going to get access to small class sizes and lots of specialized instruction. The public schools (at least around here) don’t take a high functioning kid and make their school life easier or better. They take a kid who is failing in some way and try to give them supports to bring them to grade level. That’s not the law. The law doesn’t say you have to be below grade level, but that’s what happens.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:By good I mean smaller class sizes, co-taught classes, EF coaching and social emotional supports for a child who's on grade level academically. Unhappy where we're at and looking to move in the next 3-4 years or so.

IME, kids who are on grade level academically don't get access to smaller class sizes, period. (despite the fact that they'd do better, etc. believe me, we looked)

So they have to be behind by a year or two to qualify for a smaller class size? But if Bridge is on level, then it becomes a circle - can't get it if you don't fail, but can't get into it because you're too behind? How does this work in practice?

At the elem level, my son was failing because he couldn't stay in class. Can't give the child a passing grade if they don't do the work. But his WISC was 146. He was placed in the connections program. He then moved to Bridge and he's made straight As.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:By good I mean smaller class sizes, co-taught classes, EF coaching and social emotional supports for a child who's on grade level academically. Unhappy where we're at and looking to move in the next 3-4 years or so.

IME, kids who are on grade level academically don't get access to smaller class sizes, period. (despite the fact that they'd do better, etc. believe me, we looked)

So they have to be behind by a year or two to qualify for a smaller class size? But if Bridge is on level, then it becomes a circle - can't get it if you don't fail, but can't get into it because you're too behind? How does this work in practice?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think what you’re looking for exists.

Especially not in this area!

No luck for us in mcps…

same in APS

^^Bridge class are on grade level—Honors for all!

It becomes an issue in HS when Bridge remains on grade level (Honors) but there is no support for AP level classes. A kid that wants AP has to take it in a class of 25-30. If a para is available there might be one in the class but it’s not guaranteed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is not working about your current placement?

For my child, the MCPS Bridge program has worked pretty well. It is not perfect, but it has small classes and classes are (supposedly) on grade level.

I do feel that overall MCPS has more options than most, but the only program that has both small classes and on-grade level is Bridge. Connections, SESES, and GT/LD are all for students who can be mainstreamed with just some extra support.

Otherwise, you are probably looking at private.

Thank you for sharing this!
I just read the description "Bridge services support students in Grades 6–12 who demonstrate significant social emotional learning, and/or behavioral challenges that make it difficult for them to succeed in a comprehensive school environment"

Is it true about significant behaviors in the cohort? Also, what is the elementary level pre-cursor for this program, or is there none?

There is no Bridge program for elem. Kids entering Bridge for MS come from SESES or Connections. My kid is at Hoover Bridge. Bridge behavioral challenges are internalizing behaviors rather than externalizing. So a kid may shut down, retreat to a corner, or step out of the classroom. Their behaviors are not loud and explosive for the most part.

Thank you for the explanation! What is the class size like and is it co-taught by gen ed and sped teacher?

MS Bridge offers 7 periods of self contained classes. They are in their own wing of the building that id quieter than the overall school. Classes were around 6-8 kids—I think it’s capped at 12.
There is a sped teacher and a para in each class. When I hear the term co-taught, I think of a gen ed teacher +
Spec ed teacher in the class.

Anonymous wrote:By good I mean smaller class sizes, co-taught classes, EF coaching and social emotional supports for a child who's on grade level academically. Unhappy where we're at and looking to move in the next 3-4 years or so.

IME, kids who are on grade level academically don't get access to smaller class sizes, period. (despite the fact that they'd do better, etc. believe me, we looked)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is not working about your current placement?

For my child, the MCPS Bridge program has worked pretty well. It is not perfect, but it has small classes and classes are (supposedly) on grade level.

I do feel that overall MCPS has more options than most, but the only program that has both small classes and on-grade level is Bridge. Connections, SESES, and GT/LD are all for students who can be mainstreamed with just some extra support.

Otherwise, you are probably looking at private.

Thank you for sharing this!
I just read the description "Bridge services support students in Grades 6–12 who demonstrate significant social emotional learning, and/or behavioral challenges that make it difficult for them to succeed in a comprehensive school environment"

Is it true about significant behaviors in the cohort? Also, what is the elementary level pre-cursor for this program, or is there none?

There is no Bridge program for elem. Kids entering Bridge for MS come from SESES or Connections. My kid is at Hoover Bridge. Bridge behavioral challenges are internalizing behaviors rather than externalizing. So a kid may shut down, retreat to a corner, or step out of the classroom. Their behaviors are not loud and explosive for the most part.

Thank you for the explanation! What is the class size like and is it co-taught by gen ed and sped teacher?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is not working about your current placement?

For my child, the MCPS Bridge program has worked pretty well. It is not perfect, but it has small classes and classes are (supposedly) on grade level.

I do feel that overall MCPS has more options than most, but the only program that has both small classes and on-grade level is Bridge. Connections, SESES, and GT/LD are all for students who can be mainstreamed with just some extra support.

Otherwise, you are probably looking at private.

Thank you for sharing this!
I just read the description "Bridge services support students in Grades 6–12 who demonstrate significant social emotional learning, and/or behavioral challenges that make it difficult for them to succeed in a comprehensive school environment"

Is it true about significant behaviors in the cohort? Also, what is the elementary level pre-cursor for this program, or is there none?

There is no Bridge program for elem. Kids entering Bridge for MS come from SESES or Connections. My kid is at Hoover Bridge. Bridge behavioral challenges are internalizing behaviors rather than externalizing. So a kid may shut down, retreat to a corner, or step out of the classroom. Their behaviors are not loud and explosive for the most part.

Anonymous wrote:What is not working about your current placement?

For my child, the MCPS Bridge program has worked pretty well. It is not perfect, but it has small classes and classes are (supposedly) on grade level.

I do feel that overall MCPS has more options than most, but the only program that has both small classes and on-grade level is Bridge. Connections, SESES, and GT/LD are all for students who can be mainstreamed with just some extra support.

Otherwise, you are probably looking at private.

Thank you for sharing this!
I just read the description "Bridge services support students in Grades 6–12 who demonstrate significant social emotional learning, and/or behavioral challenges that make it difficult for them to succeed in a comprehensive school environment"

Is it true about significant behaviors in the cohort? Also, what is the elementary level pre-cursor for this program, or is there none?

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think what you’re looking for exists.

Especially not in this area!

No luck for us in mcps…

I don’t think what you’re looking for exists.

What is not working about your current placement?

For my child, the MCPS Bridge program has worked pretty well. It is not perfect, but it has small classes and classes are (supposedly) on grade level.

I do feel that overall MCPS has more options than most, but the only program that has both small classes and on-grade level is Bridge. Connections, SESES, and GT/LD are all for students who can be mainstreamed with just some extra support.

Otherwise, you are probably looking at private.

Not dcps. Maybe the connections or bridges programs in Moco. Small, grade-level classes are hard to find in public school.

By good I mean smaller class sizes, co-taught classes, EF coaching and social emotional supports for a child who's on grade level academically. Unhappy where we're at and looking to move in the next 3-4 years or so.