Anonymous wrote:Honestly, in my 5 years on this journey (sounds trite) the biggest bill of goods I've been sold is typical peer exposure. It is the least important thing for my kid and in some circumstances, detrimental. That being said, at that age I fought the school system for other things with an advocate. You would then move to a lawyer.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My guess is that there (probably legitimate) defense is that because there are NO programs available to other students, the special needs program is, in fact, the least restrictive environment that can meet your child's need. There is no other alternative.
I'm confused about what you want. Do you want the distrcit to just pay for the preschool placement at a regular preschool? How will that help meet the needs of your child as laid out in the IEP? How will services be rendered for your child in that scenario?
Private placements are used when the school district can't meet the child's needs within the available programs/classrooms. A private, not-special-needs preschool doesn't have any special resources that the district doesn't, and in fact will give your child fewer resources than in the district programs.

I know there are lots of districts around here that have programs with "peer" students and special needs students. But if that isn't the program available, I'm having a hard time seeing how the district paying for a private preschool gets you where you want to be or what your child needs.

How is that a legitimate defense? There are programs available to other children. The fact that children without disabilities are paying tuition for them is not relevant. OP's child is entitled to free education in an inclusive setting.

Research is really clear that inclusive placements are best. LRE is the law. If people just accept the current situation, and don't advocate for federal law to be followed, then the situation is never going to change.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My guess is that there (probably legitimate) defense is that because there are NO programs available to other students, the special needs program is, in fact, the least restrictive environment that can meet your child's need. There is no other alternative.
I'm confused about what you want. Do you want the distrcit to just pay for the preschool placement at a regular preschool? How will that help meet the needs of your child as laid out in the IEP? How will services be rendered for your child in that scenario?
Private placements are used when the school district can't meet the child's needs within the available programs/classrooms. A private, not-special-needs preschool doesn't have any special resources that the district doesn't, and in fact will give your child fewer resources than in the district programs.

I know there are lots of districts around here that have programs with "peer" students and special needs students. But if that isn't the program available, I'm having a hard time seeing how the district paying for a private preschool gets you where you want to be or what your child needs.

How is that a legitimate defense? There are programs available to other children. The fact that children without disabilities are paying tuition for them is not relevant. OP's child is entitled to free education in an inclusive setting.

Research is really clear that inclusive placements are best. LRE is the law. If people just accept the current situation, and don't advocate for federal law to be followed, then the situation is never going to change.

I'm not clear if there are free programs available to NT children in the OPs district. In MCPS, preschool services are offered to PK3 NT kids whose parents pay tuition and there are a limited number of community spaces. PK4 preschool services are offered to NT children whose families meet certain income levels. MCPS does not provide universal preschool.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My guess is that there (probably legitimate) defense is that because there are NO programs available to other students, the special needs program is, in fact, the least restrictive environment that can meet your child's need. There is no other alternative.
I'm confused about what you want. Do you want the distrcit to just pay for the preschool placement at a regular preschool? How will that help meet the needs of your child as laid out in the IEP? How will services be rendered for your child in that scenario?
Private placements are used when the school district can't meet the child's needs within the available programs/classrooms. A private, not-special-needs preschool doesn't have any special resources that the district doesn't, and in fact will give your child fewer resources than in the district programs.

I know there are lots of districts around here that have programs with "peer" students and special needs students. But if that isn't the program available, I'm having a hard time seeing how the district paying for a private preschool gets you where you want to be or what your child needs.

How is that a legitimate defense? There are programs available to other children. The fact that children without disabilities are paying tuition for them is not relevant. OP's child is entitled to free education in an inclusive setting.

Research is really clear that inclusive placements are best. LRE is the law. If people just accept the current situation, and don't advocate for federal law to be followed, then the situation is never going to change.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My guess is that there (probably legitimate) defense is that because there are NO programs available to other students, the special needs program is, in fact, the least restrictive environment that can meet your child's need. There is no other alternative.
I'm confused about what you want. Do you want the distrcit to just pay for the preschool placement at a regular preschool? How will that help meet the needs of your child as laid out in the IEP? How will services be rendered for your child in that scenario?
Private placements are used when the school district can't meet the child's needs within the available programs/classrooms. A private, not-special-needs preschool doesn't have any special resources that the district doesn't, and in fact will give your child fewer resources than in the district programs.

I know there are lots of districts around here that have programs with "peer" students and special needs students. But if that isn't the program available, I'm having a hard time seeing how the district paying for a private preschool gets you where you want to be or what your child needs.

How is that a legitimate defense? There are programs available to other children. The fact that children without disabilities are paying tuition for them is not relevant. OP's child is entitled to free education in an inclusive setting.

Research is really clear that inclusive placements are best. LRE is the law. If people just accept the current situation, and don't advocate for federal law to be followed, then the situation is never going to change.

Anonymous wrote:My guess is that there (probably legitimate) defense is that because there are NO programs available to other students, the special needs program is, in fact, the least restrictive environment that can meet your child's need. There is no other alternative.
I'm confused about what you want. Do you want the distrcit to just pay for the preschool placement at a regular preschool? How will that help meet the needs of your child as laid out in the IEP? How will services be rendered for your child in that scenario?
Private placements are used when the school district can't meet the child's needs within the available programs/classrooms. A private, not-special-needs preschool doesn't have any special resources that the district doesn't, and in fact will give your child fewer resources than in the district programs.

I know there are lots of districts around here that have programs with "peer" students and special needs students. But if that isn't the program available, I'm having a hard time seeing how the district paying for a private preschool gets you where you want to be or what your child needs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is an interesting situation. I never thought about this before but you are right that FAPE and LRE seems to apply for preschool. In our area, MCPS and FCPS, most of the preschool SN programs are separate and parents are so happy they are getting the free services in that I don't think most of them think about having their child with typically developing peers in those classrooms.

In any case these programs are usually only a few hours a day/week so most parents I know pay for regular preschool or enrichment classes on their own. Good luck, OP, but I wonder if your child will age out of preschool by the time you get this resolved.

I know that in FCPS, there have been "community members" that are typically developing kids in their preschool classes. My son was one of the 2 kids. I'm pretty sure this doesn't apply to the PAC program. But for a special ed preschool program where a child with HFA would likely attend, this set-up would meet OP's needs.

Anonymous wrote:This is an interesting situation. I never thought about this before but you are right that FAPE and LRE seems to apply for preschool. In our area, MCPS and FCPS, most of the preschool SN programs are separate and parents are so happy they are getting the free services in that I don't think most of them think about having their child with typically developing peers in those classrooms.

In any case these programs are usually only a few hours a day/week so most parents I know pay for regular preschool or enrichment classes on their own. Good luck, OP, but I wonder if your child will age out of preschool by the time you get this resolved.

Anonymous wrote:This is an interesting situation. I never thought about this before but you are right that FAPE and LRE seems to apply for preschool. In our area, MCPS and FCPS, most of the preschool SN programs are separate and parents are so happy they are getting the free services in that I don't think most of them think about having their child with typically developing peers in those classrooms.

MCPS offers collab programs in PEP with mixed kids. This is probably what OP is referring to.

In any case these programs are usually only a few hours a day/week so most parents I know pay for regular preschool or enrichment classes on their own. Good luck, OP, but I wonder if your child will age out of preschool by the time you get this resolved.