OSSE Non public - moving to new school

[Anonymous]

The MCPS non public placement had me thinking. We are currently in a nonpublic funded by OSSE (charter school). Our charter ends at 5th grade. We hope to stay in the nonpublic through graduation (either diploma or certificate track till 22).

How hard is it to stay in the nonpublic once you move to another charter? Do they try and force you back or not care because they aren’t paying for it?

[Anonymous]

A lot of the charter schools are represented by the same attorney. I don't know, but that might make it easier to stay.

[Anonymous]

What are your child's needs?
Was it a difficult placement? I assume since your child is possibly certificate track to age 22 - that no charter would be able to support their needs (Other than St. Coletta) but you may need to go through the process.
What grade is your child in right now?

[Anonymous]

OP here. No it was not a difficult placement but I don’t believe the charter would have ever suggested it on their own. They were fine with my kid until I showed up with an attorney. Then they just automatically said yes even with their attorney there. Now osse said no but that doesn’t matter and I think they say no to everyone.

That’s part of the reason I’m asking. We didn’t have to fight for it so I’m just trying to figure out if because the kid will have been there 3/4 years by the time we have to move to another charter if the new school will just figure it’s not worth the fight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. No it was not a difficult placement but I don’t believe the charter would have ever suggested it on their own. They were fine with my kid until I showed up with an attorney. Then they just automatically said yes even with their attorney there. Now osse said no but that doesn’t matter and I think they say no to everyone.

That’s part of the reason I’m asking. We didn’t have to fight for it so I’m just trying to figure out if because the kid will have been there 3/4 years by the time we have to move to another charter if the new school will just figure it’s not worth the fight.

I think the economic & structural model of charters means that they will readily agree to the private placements in scenarios like yours. They have more flexibility and money for it, and such a small number that it likely makes more sense financially to pay for the placement than fight it. So I think you need to try for another charter that will do the same. You’ll need to do a bunch of digging to figure out which one is most likely.

[Anonymous]

Some where they used to have public data on which Charters had private placements. I think it is in the enrollment audit?

Take a look at the Charters that have private placements and start there.

[Anonymous]

I'd assume that some (most?) charters would not accept a student if they knew you didn't actually intend for your child to attend that school. Maybe reach out to DCPS special education and ask what other families have done in your situation. Is there a DCPS program that would fit your child? If not, maybe DCPS will agree to the placement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd assume that some (most?) charters would not accept a student if they knew you didn't actually intend for your child to attend that school. Maybe reach out to DCPS special education and ask what other families have done in your situation. Is there a DCPS program that would fit your child? If not, maybe DCPS will agree to the placement.

But if you get in to a charter through the lottery, they can't reject you. And your IEP transfers. So I'd look for schools with a lot of non-public placements and short/no waitlists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd assume that some (most?) charters would not accept a student if they knew you didn't actually intend for your child to attend that school. Maybe reach out to DCPS special education and ask what other families have done in your situation. Is there a DCPS program that would fit your child? If not, maybe DCPS will agree to the placement.

This is illegal. They must accept the student if they lottery in / enroll. The charter can than review the IEP and state that they can not implement it and at that time continue the private placement.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks so much. I know in the end it’s an IEP team decision and I’ll need our attorney present. But I’m grateful for the free advice I can get here!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for this topic, OP. I have the same issue to confront in a couple of years when our charter ends at 8th.

[Anonymous]

We will be in the same situation in a few years. I spoke with the team at our nonpublic, and they have reassured me that once placed, kids stay even as they age out of their charter school. Essentially, they return to DCPS as the LEA but OSSE continues the nonpublic placement. I hope this is true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We will be in the same situation in a few years. I spoke with the team at our nonpublic, and they have reassured me that once placed, kids stay even as they age out of their charter school. Essentially, they return to DCPS as the LEA but OSSE continues the nonpublic placement. I hope this is true.

I’m not sure that’s right. I think you would still need to get into a charter because DCPS won’t pay for it and will say they have a program that can meet your child’s needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We will be in the same situation in a few years. I spoke with the team at our nonpublic, and they have reassured me that once placed, kids stay even as they age out of their charter school. Essentially, they return to DCPS as the LEA but OSSE continues the nonpublic placement. I hope this is true.

I’m not sure that’s right. I think you would still need to get into a charter because DCPS won’t pay for it and will say they have a program that can meet your child’s needs.

I think there's a tiny bit of truth to it, especially if your kid of fairly entrenched at the the non-public. I think OSSE would have a very hard time arguing that a child who has spent eight years at KKI could or should return to DCPS. However, every interaction I've had with OSSE makes me think they're a. idiots; and b. wholly committed to the bottom line and couldn't give a whit about children or education. Stick with a charter.

[Anonymous]

OSSE funds non-public placements for DCPS as well as charter schools.

For enrollment data, go to https://osse.dc.gov/node/1579401, then click on 2021-22 School Year Enrollment Audit Report Data and you will get to a spreadsheet.

Look at the following tabs within the spreadsheet- District Audited Enr by Grade, LEA Audited Enr by Grade, School Audited Enr by Grade. Most of the information that you are interested in will be in School Audited Enr by Grade tab.