Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Madison is also excellent for High School - Current Madison CSS parent....

But there are no AP or Honors classes for kids in this program. There are not even AP or Honors classes for kids in regular team taught classes. It is atrocious how FCPS lumps all kids with special needs together.

My kid has dyslexia and ADHD, but he has a normal IQ and is very capable of challenging work as long as he has supports in place. He cannot take any Honors or AP classes while being in a team taught or small group class.

Instead, he is in classes with kids that are ESL or emotionally disturbed, or with severe learning disabilities or he can take large AP or Honors classes with one teacher and no supports.

Anonymous wrote:A large part of the issue is staffing. A school that puts more than two grades in one class needs to be challenged on this.

Anonymous wrote:Madison is also excellent for High School - Current Madison CSS parent....

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which are the best CSS sites in FCPS for middle and high school? And by best, I mean experienced staff and support for AAP/ honors/ AP level coursework alongside supports.

this is a real problem in FCPS and one that SEPTA is trying to help. In general honors and AP are not offered at CSS sites - currently.

Plus, there is a FCPS 2E parent Facebook group that may help you figure out which site fits best for your child. You need to answer all the questions to be approved.

Anonymous wrote:Which are the best CSS sites in FCPS for middle and high school? And by best, I mean experienced staff and support for AAP/ honors/ AP level coursework alongside supports.

Anonymous wrote:CSS programs are for kids that really need a small group for most, if not all, of the day. The classes are small and have a teacher and an instructional assistant all the time. When the students go to large group classes, like PE, the IA goes with them. They have small group art and music classes with a music or art therapists, and often have times to work with those people one on one. There is a social worker and school psychologist just for the CSS program, although one or more of them may be half-time at the CSS. This allows for weekly counseling groups with their class, and individual counseling as needed. There is also a support room staffed by a full-time counselor, who is available for both upset children, and for kids who just need to talk or take a brief break. This person knows all the kids well.
Many students spend part of their day in the general education large classes, either with some special ed support, or without. Many of the kids are AAP eligible, and many of the kids also have LD, ADHD, and/or autism.
The curriculum is the same as general ed, and the teachers are part of the general education grade-level teams.
The student usually are referred because they are not making academic progress in their base schools, because they are missing too much instruction due to their behavior. They are usually half identified as ED, and half as students with autism. These two don't really belong together, as they can have very different needs, but that's how the county does it.
Some kids stay for a year or two, and some stay all the way through high school graduation. Some kids mainstream to general education right away, and some only after about six months, or never.
Many, many kids and parents say that their child is finally successful, feels understood, and has friends. Everyone in the program knows their name and cheers their successes. At the same time, there certainly are stronger programs than others across the county, and measures have been started to make them more uniform and more successful overall.

Anonymous wrote:CSS programs are for kids that really need a small group for most, if not all, of the day. The classes are small and have a teacher and an instructional assistant all the time. When the students go to large group classes, like PE, the IA goes with them. They have small group art and music classes with a music or art therapists, and often have times to work with those people one on one. There is a social worker and school psychologist just for the CSS program, although one or more of them may be half-time at the CSS. This allows for weekly counseling groups with their class, and individual counseling as needed. There is also a support room staffed by a full-time counselor, who is available for both upset children, and for kids who just need to talk or take a brief break. This person knows all the kids well.
Many students spend part of their day in the general education large classes, either with some special ed support, or without. Many of the kids are AAP eligible, and many of the kids also have LD, ADHD, and/or autism.
The curriculum is the same as general ed, and the teachers are part of the general education grade-level teams.
The student usually are referred because they are not making academic progress in their base schools, because they are missing too much instruction due to their behavior. They are usually half identified as ED, and half as students with autism. These two don't really belong together, as they can have very different needs, but that's how the county does it.
Some kids stay for a year or two, and some stay all the way through high school graduation. Some kids mainstream to general education right away, and some only after about six months, or never.
Many, many kids and parents say that their child is finally successful, feels understood, and has friends. Everyone in the program knows their name and cheers their successes. At the same time, there certainly are stronger programs than others across the county, and measures have been started to make them more uniform and more successful overall.