I don't know too many parents who are thrilled with SpEd in APS but some schools are much better than others. Is your daughter getting any OG at her school in APS? Is the school fighting you? Does she have an IEP?

If you are getting resistance at the school level, reach up to the Director of Special Education.

As for a bad attitude/unwillingness at the school level, that is hard to overcome. You can ask for an administrative transfer to another APS school.

There are plenty of kids without reading issues that don’t have confidence. What makes you think a private school will resolve it?
Is she making progress with her reading? You don’t say anything about that. How old is she?

Anonymous wrote:Do we have any other options?

We are paying for private tutoring (OG format), she has an IEP but her confidence continues to plummet. I've researched these wonderful schools but I seriously don't know how we would manage. Any thoughts or private schools that specialize in dyslexia that are less expensive?

How often does she see the private tutor?

We ended up having DC go 3 times a week in the beginning and then dropping to 2 days a few years later. We also did "homework" daily at home.

The best thing that helped DC's ego was to listen to audio books that were at the levels of what his friends were reading and above. It also helped his vocabulary and understanding of language progress.

I agree with PP who suggested a therapist. You probably won't get enough help out of APS, and SN privates are all expensive, so tutoring is the best you can do. Meanwhile, talk to your DD about her how her brain works differently, so she needs to be taught in a different way, it's not about being stupid. She should feel proud for her efforts. Also tell her that adults with dyslexia can be good readers and writers even if they have to work harder to get there. A therapist can reinforce these ideas.

I feel your pain. Based on seeing two older cousins struggle with dyslexia and reading and seeing how things did not go well for either of these cousins once they got turned off school/felt they were stupid, I have a more proactive orientation. (Btw: they were both in APS, and very “good” N Arlington ones).

Reading is a fundamental to learning. This gap becomes a chasm in 3rd grade when curriculum shifts to reading to learn. If your child’s self confidence gets destroyed while you fight with APS to get IEP sorted out, all the money you are protecting (such as for a 529) will not be worth the interventions of self medicating (drug use), acting out (discipline issues), and poor self image. We bit the bullet, paid McLean tuition, rented out our Arlington house, rented a smaller townhouse closer, and focused on love of learning and reading skills. We will probably mainstream back but want to research some different school districts.

It really is a problem in APS and elsewhere. Have you joined the ArlingtonReading listserv? There is a lot of robust conversation, but also a lot of frustrated parents. It does seem that some schools have more reading specialists than others. As a result, some schools have groups of parents that are organizing to work collaboratively for improvements in staffing levels, available interventions, and generally to support each other and their kids.

Can you swing private school with financial aid, if provided? It would allow the one on one instruction and small class size that is critical.

How specifically is APS not cutting it? Not following the IEP? You don’t feel like there are enough accommodations? Most private schools in this area really are expensive, so if you can try to pinpoint where she is having issues then work with the school from there. If it’s confidence, I would find a good therapist.

Do we have any other options?

We are paying for private tutoring (OG format), she has an IEP but her confidence continues to plummet. I've researched these wonderful schools but I seriously don't know how we would manage. Any thoughts or private schools that specialize in dyslexia that are less expensive?