Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can't afford it. It's a bad idea. Find another option.

Anonymous wrote:Don't go broke paying for private school!

I"m not sure that this is solely about the money. I truly believe that in this school he will learn the right techniques to manage his emotional issues. At most, he would be there for 2 years. The school, plus daycare and summer camp is about $13K a year more than I pay now. I can take this years 529 contribution and put it towards tuition. That leaves me a gap of about $8k. Taking out a loan for $16K at most so that my son can mainstream into public K and have a good foundation doesn't seem irresponsible to me. Does it to you? How did you pay for your SN child to attend the school they needed?

What are my other options? I know in K I would have public options, but what about for preschool. His cognitive skills are fine. He is being evaluated by child find but I was already told that I should be looking at the current evaluation as the start of his file for an IEP if he needs it later and that he would probably not qualify for PEP.

It's $16,000 that you don't have. (And really it's $26000 that you don't have, because you are "borrowing" from other budget line items.)

If he is IEP eligible, he should be eligible for public preschool. You need to check with your school district to see if that is available.

I broke my budget to keep my kid in a private school that didn't help as much as we hoped and to pay for private therapy. We've gotten much better services and a broader range of services from our public school than we ever did in a private school. The main classroom teachers are also better trained and more experienced in working with special needs.

I would never spend money on a private school again without checking out what is available from the public school system.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can't afford it. It's a bad idea. Find another option.

Anonymous wrote:Don't go broke paying for private school!

I"m not sure that this is solely about the money. I truly believe that in this school he will learn the right techniques to manage his emotional issues. At most, he would be there for 2 years. The school, plus daycare and summer camp is about $13K a year more than I pay now. I can take this years 529 contribution and put it towards tuition. That leaves me a gap of about $8k. Taking out a loan for $16K at most so that my son can mainstream into public K and have a good foundation doesn't seem irresponsible to me. Does it to you? How did you pay for your SN child to attend the school they needed?

What are my other options? I know in K I would have public options, but what about for preschool. His cognitive skills are fine. He is being evaluated by child find but I was already told that I should be looking at the current evaluation as the start of his file for an IEP if he needs it later and that he would probably not qualify for PEP.

It's $16,000 that you don't have. (And really it's $26000 that you don't have, because you are "borrowing" from other budget line items.)

If he is IEP eligible, he should be eligible for public preschool. You need to check with your school district to see if that is available.

I broke my budget to keep my kid in a private school that didn't help as much as we hoped and to pay for private therapy. We've gotten much better services and a broader range of services from our public school than we ever did in a private school. The main classroom teachers are also better trained and more experienced in working with special needs.

I would never spend money on a private school again without checking out what is available from the public school system.

And you might be better off moving.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can't afford it. It's a bad idea. Find another option.

Anonymous wrote:Don't go broke paying for private school!

I"m not sure that this is solely about the money. I truly believe that in this school he will learn the right techniques to manage his emotional issues. At most, he would be there for 2 years. The school, plus daycare and summer camp is about $13K a year more than I pay now. I can take this years 529 contribution and put it towards tuition. That leaves me a gap of about $8k. Taking out a loan for $16K at most so that my son can mainstream into public K and have a good foundation doesn't seem irresponsible to me. Does it to you? How did you pay for your SN child to attend the school they needed?

What are my other options? I know in K I would have public options, but what about for preschool. His cognitive skills are fine. He is being evaluated by child find but I was already told that I should be looking at the current evaluation as the start of his file for an IEP if he needs it later and that he would probably not qualify for PEP.

It's $16,000 that you don't have. (And really it's $26000 that you don't have, because you are "borrowing" from other budget line items.)

If he is IEP eligible, he should be eligible for public preschool. You need to check with your school district to see if that is available.

I broke my budget to keep my kid in a private school that didn't help as much as we hoped and to pay for private therapy. We've gotten much better services and a broader range of services from our public school than we ever did in a private school. The main classroom teachers are also better trained and more experienced in working with special needs.

I would never spend money on a private school again without checking out what is available from the public school system.

Anonymous wrote:Uh-- public school, like most people -- and then reconsider private school for later when you have planned or saved more money. Why take money from a college fund or the other poor options the PP has given? I empathize with you but you sound desperate and desperate people often take desperate, and unwise, measures.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can't afford it. It's a bad idea. Find another option.

Anonymous wrote:Don't go broke paying for private school!

I"m not sure that this is solely about the money. I truly believe that in this school he will learn the right techniques to manage his emotional issues. At most, he would be there for 2 years. The school, plus daycare and summer camp is about $13K a year more than I pay now. I can take this years 529 contribution and put it towards tuition. That leaves me a gap of about $8k. Taking out a loan for $16K at most so that my son can mainstream into public K and have a good foundation doesn't seem irresponsible to me. Does it to you? How did you pay for your SN child to attend the school they needed?

What are my other options? I know in K I would have public options, but what about for preschool. His cognitive skills are fine. He is being evaluated by child find but I was already told that I should be looking at the current evaluation as the start of his file for an IEP if he needs it later and that he would probably not qualify for PEP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never heard of Pep and don't know about write-off but would like to know more. I have a SN child in an SN school and an autistic young adult in college. Please educate me about whatever write off allowances there may be. DH has spoken to our accountant in the past and he said nothing was deductible or could be written off. Thank you.

Find an accountant who knows special needs law. Our out of pocket costs for medicine, specialists, school etc that we have been historically been able to write some costs off. The Wright Law website is helpful there too.

Medical expenses over 7.5% of your adjusted gross income are deductible on your taxes. So what is deductible for one person may not be for another.

PEP is Montgomery County's Preschool Education Program.

Anonymous wrote:Uh-- public school, like most people -- and then reconsider private school for later when you have planned or saved more money. Why take money from a college fund or the other poor options the PP has given? I empathize with you but you sound desperate and desperate people often take desperate, and unwise, measures.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We borrowed $30,000 twice from our 401K. Both times paid back in 5 years. We're about to do it again to buy a new car. There is no hardship clause in our plan.

Look into yours.

If you have to do this to purchase a car, you really don't have the money. Likewise, if you have to borrow from a retirement fund or take equity out of your house to fund your child's primary education, you cannot afford private school education and should look at other options.

Anonymous wrote:We borrowed $30,000 twice from our 401K. Both times paid back in 5 years. We're about to do it again to buy a new car. There is no hardship clause in our plan.

Look into yours.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never heard of Pep and don't know about write-off but would like to know more. I have a SN child in an SN school and an autistic young adult in college. Please educate me about whatever write off allowances there may be. DH has spoken to our accountant in the past and he said nothing was deductible or could be written off. Thank you.

Find an accountant who knows special needs law. Our out of pocket costs for medicine, specialists, school etc that we have been historically been able to write some costs off. The Wright Law website is helpful there too.

Anonymous wrote:I've never heard of Pep and don't know about write-off but would like to know more. I have a SN child in an SN school and an autistic young adult in college. Please educate me about whatever write off allowances there may be. DH has spoken to our accountant in the past and he said nothing was deductible or could be written off. Thank you.