Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the warning! I have to tell you I feel like the support for our kiddos riding the edge is minimal everywhere! I was so hoping for better services! Thanks again!

It's such a terrible injustice because there is much finding that is supposed to support the middle-lower kids but they end up getting very little help.

Navy Elementary. My HFA son started K this year and he's mainstreamed for non-academic time with his classroom and in special ed for academic learning. The time split is about 50/50 between the 2 classes. During lunch and enrichments, he has an aide with him at all times. He also participates in adaptive PE instead of the combined K class with 50-60 students. The school has been amazing with his IEP. My older son also has a 504 and some accommodations for ADHD and the school has been very supportive. It's far out in Fairfax, near Fair Oaks, but it's my only elementary school experience. The school also has an enhanced austism classroom for higher need students so there are a multitude of special education professionals in the school at any time.

Thanks for the iep book recommendation and all suggestions. Me and a friend have had this discussion of you don't know what your child missing on services because they never give you options. He lives in Vermont where I guess services are easily accessible. My son can speak and respond to questions. He has trouble with expressive speech, processing time, maintaining on topic and keeping a conversation. But he tries so hard sometimes!

Anonymous wrote:Yes of course. Moderate is he still needs prompts to stay on task and regular help. He needs a resource room for breaks and a one on one for some subjects. He's capable of entering gen Ed but not full time. I agree it's the teachers and staff that make the school, that's why it's so important for me to get feedback. It will make the transition for him easier if there is a capable staff.i will commute to d.c but I'm willing to travel a 45_1hr each way if it means he can receive great teachers and services in the area. We are going to be living in an apartment until we find a subdivision we like.hope this helps.

What is his speech like?

Anonymous wrote:Very good tips for the IEP thank you I will try to meet the magic number of 15+ hours. Right now it says dedicated resource room. Which basically means nothing. He is supposed to be in Gen Ed but they cant manage to get him over there because of low staffing and they don't care about grade level here either..ITS A NIGHTMERE! I'm not sure how my IEP should read though, they don't want him in Gen Ed or an inclusive room but somewhere in between. Suggestions? Should it read a learning center atmosphere with 70% Gen Ed? plus 15 hours of services? Thank you again for that comment about the burning tree, these comments are priceless!

I recommend borrowing a book from your local library about how to write an IEP. I personally thought "The Complete IEP Guide: How to Advocate for Your Special Ed Child 8th Edition" by Lawrence M. Siegel was very helpful. It can be found on Amazon here, but I borrowed it from my local library: https://www.amazon.com/Complete-IEP-Guide-Advocate-Special/dp/1413320341/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1476453241&sr=8-3&keywords=iep

I think best scenario is if the pull out services are 15+ rather than push-in. MCPS tends to discount push-in hours because they do this sneaky thing of saying the gen ed teacher will provide those services, as if this is possible with 25-28 other kids in the room.

Very good tips for the IEP thank you I will try to meet the magic number of 15+ hours. Right now it says dedicated resource room. Which basically means nothing. He is supposed to be in Gen Ed but they cant manage to get him over there because of low staffing and they don't care about grade level here either..ITS A NIGHTMERE! I'm not sure how my IEP should read though, they don't want him in Gen Ed or an inclusive room but somewhere in between. Suggestions? Should it read a learning center atmosphere with 70% Gen Ed? plus 15 hours of services? Thank you again for that comment about the burning tree, these comments are priceless!

My child is in 4th grade at Burning Tree ES. He has been in the learning center since kindergarten. He is not at grade level yet. Not sure if it's the best setting. The teachers and administration don't seem to have the best interest in the LC kids. My child, like others in the learning center, does participate in the gen ed classroom 12 hours a week. When it comes to reading, writing and math, they seem satisfied with kids being below grade level and not trying harder. My child has learning disabilities that affect all aspects of learning. I'm not sure if MCPS can help as they decide early what track they think the child should be on (diploma or certificate) and if it's a certificate track, they don't try very hard.

My son fits your description and is at Chesterbrook in FCPS - McLean. It is a true gem.

Anonymous wrote:I would do fcps over Mcps.

This. FCPS is known to provide more services.

OP, Please listen to the advice from PP about updating your current IEP where you are. If you can, make sure you hit more than 15 hours in services. That's the magic number where MCPS starts thinking about programs. If you can get to 15+ hours I think you have a very good shot. Between 10-15 it would be an uphill battle. Under 10, forget about it.

I would do fcps over Mcps.

If your child was mainstreamed with supports last year, and that is what your current IEP supports, most likely that is what you'll get from MCPS. They will want to "see how he does."

My best suggestion is to nail down the services you think your son needs with your current IEP and then try to transfer that to wherever you move. It is unlikely a new school system is going to up services and place your child into a Learning Center without current evidence showing that's what he needs. Also, Learning Centers are for kids performing below grade average.

Figure out your housing budget.

MoCo buses special needs kids door to door to the school that they need. You don't have to live in the neighborhood that feeds to the school.

I cannot thank you all enough. All this advice is simply priceless! I will research these schools and yes, I believe I am looking for an in between program more like the learning center model. We did all day Gen Ed last year and it wasn't enough support. Not sure we can afford any private schools and yes the price of housing is gigantic hike from our little small town! Thank you all so much!