Regular public school can be hell for a child with sensory issues. It's incredibly loud and chaotic, from waiting in line to enter the classroom before school starts, recess and lunch to center time where all the kids in the room seem to be talking all at once.
For these children, an educational consultant once described it to me as going to school in a place where the fire alarms are ringing all the day.
OP, if your child's sensory issues are this severe I would make every effort possible to find a more comfortable place until he's old enough to handle the environment better. There was a boy at our school who had pretty severe sensory issues and every recess he would huddle in a corner with his hands over his ears, crying.

It was very difficult for the parents because I think he was doing well in many other ways, e.g. could handle the school work and had friends. The school would not provide any accommodations for recess and lunch unfortunately so he was stuck.

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like OP lives in DC. So unless s/he moves, then MCPS schools are out. And, places like Maddux and Auburn cost a king's ransom....even if they did give you some scholarship money. We're talking $40k/year. And besides, I don't know that OP's kid is really ready for a SN school. I would work with the staff through the IEP process and try to get accommodations set up.

OP explicitly says close in Maryland, which made me think they are renting and able to move.

It sounds like OP lives in DC. So unless s/he moves, then MCPS schools are out. And, places like Maddux and Auburn cost a king's ransom....even if they did give you some scholarship money. We're talking $40k/year. And besides, I don't know that OP's kid is really ready for a SN school. I would work with the staff through the IEP process and try to get accommodations set up.

Our Focus School in Maryland has K-2 capped at 18 kids. I was surprised to learn this is not true of all Title I and/or Focus schools, but it's absolutely possible to find small class sizes in close-in Maryland.

Anonymous wrote:If you're willing to make a move, there are a number of Title I schools in MCPS that have small class sizes. By small I mean 16-18 which I realize may not necessarily be small enough for a child who has sensory issues.

Have you thought about a pre-K or junior K program at a preschool instead of a K-12 private? Many preschools offer these programs and they are a lot less expensive than doing K at a K-12 private.

MCPS allows you to not do the K year and then go directly in to 1st the following year if you meet the birthday requirements. There may be similar mechanisms in other area districts for doing this. There isn't a lot of academic learning in K as you probably already know.

Maybe that is true in Maryland not certainly not true in DCPS.

Anonymous wrote:My 5 yr old is miserable at school. He is very verbal and not cognitively delayed but has gross motor/fine motor and sensory issues. He finally said today that there are too many kids and that it is too noisy for him.

We cannot really afford private but where would you recommend in DC for smaller classes?

Does he have an IEP? Can he be moved to a self-contained classroom or is he too advanced? Part of the problem is that kindergarten and first grade classrooms involve a lot of collaborative work, singing, chants, etc. so the noise levels can sometimes affect children with sensory issues. Start by working with the SPED team at the current school to see how accommodations can be made. Otherwise look for more traditional classroom settings that you might find in Catholic schools or other private school settings. You might qualify for a scholarship so don't totally discount private school.

I have a similar child who is being bused to a Focus School (kinda like Title I but slightly less impoverished). It's no joy for a kid with this profile. Class size is 18, it's tough on DC but better than 26-28.

And the special ed teacher rotates between four classes. Sucks. You can't just decide to enroll. You have to go through the IEP process. They are most likely going to stonewall you. I have yet to meet the IEP team who wont recommend accommodations over change of placement with your child's profile. Things would have to get much worse: acting out behaviors and serious and frequent sensory meltdowns.

If there really are no cognitive or behavioral issues... What about a small parochial school?

I think PPs have it correct. You could switch to a few different DC public/charters, move to Maryland for a Title I school. Neither of which will guarantee a small class size past K.

I know you said you can't afford private, but I would look in Maddux rather than moving house.

Unfortunately you can't guarantee small classes in public. Like if you choose a school that has a small K class, there's no guarantee that the 1st grade class will still be small.

I think the Bridges suggestion is a good one, because they really know how to deal with different learning styles.

Other than that, unfortunately, you'd have to save up for private

Bridges PCS in DC. I think they have K openings now. Call them today and check.

If you're willing to make a move, there are a number of Title I schools in MCPS that have small class sizes. By small I mean 16-18 which I realize may not necessarily be small enough for a child who has sensory issues.

Have you thought about a pre-K or junior K program at a preschool instead of a K-12 private? Many preschools offer these programs and they are a lot less expensive than doing K at a K-12 private.

MCPS allows you to not do the K year and then go directly in to 1st the following year if you meet the birthday requirements. There may be similar mechanisms in other area districts for doing this. There isn't a lot of academic learning in K as you probably already know.

Anonymous wrote:Lowell

We cannot really afford private

Lowell

Creative Minds PCS

My 5 yr old is miserable at school. He is very verbal and not cognitively delayed but has gross motor/fine motor and sensory issues. He finally said today that there are too many kids and that it is too noisy for him.

We cannot really afford private but where would you recommend in DC for smaller classes?