Private Schools...

[Ericsmomma]

Morning all;

Has anyone ever sent their child to a private school...like a Catholic/Christian school? I'm Catholic, and none of our schools around here offer anything for special needs. Even our Montessori School wasn't really equipped for a child who needs more help...funny...
I thought that's what Maria Montessori had in mind when she first started her teaching methods...to help
kids who learn differently.
You would think that a Catholic/Christian school would be the ideal place for a child with special needs...I'm sure its probably a "funding" issue. But its sad that its not an option (at least around my area).
Anyone else ever check this out for their child?

Dolly

[momofrussell]

You know, I have seen more and more kids with spec needs go to private schools. I think it partly has to do with the school districts they lay in, willing to help. Here in MO, in St Louis, we have a couple Lutheran Church private schools and they do take kids w/spec needs. They also (I think) cooperate with Spec School District which oversees our county Spec Ed. I also know back in CA when we lived there, kids with spec needs went to Catholic schools, ect.

I think it depends on the school AND what your child needs. I know private schools have their own "rules" that are not governed by the school districts, but I would think if an aide is offered, they would take our children. I also know that if you can prove it's the BEST place for your child, the school district would have to pay for it. But I bet that would be a battle! LOL

I agree on the Montesorri schools, that IS their creed...teaching individuals, individually. I LOVE the Montesorri system.. which it wasn't so expensive, my oldest would benefit GREATLY from it...

Good luck Dolly!!! And yes, it IS sad they aren't willing to accomodate a child w/needs... sounds like you need to get someone involved on THAT!!! Make some waves! LOL
A.

[christie]

Hmmmm DOLLY, do you mean a special ed self contained class in a Catholic/Christian school or do you mean fully including them in that school??

I don't see any reason you couldn't include your child in one of those schools and maybe get the thearpies needed after school. Chris goes to a private school and the therapies that are not provided there per his IEP my district pays for me to take him privately.

It can be done BUT not easy, you have to prove that the home school is not working, least here you do. But in my case that wasn't very hard to do.

CC

[ALLISA]

I don't have too much to add to this, but I do have a friend whose older children go to Catholic school & she is determined to have her youngest (with DS) follow in their footsteps. He is almost 4 now & at the towns intergrated preschool with my daughter.

She trained to become an advocate & took a particular interest in private school education. I THINK (but not sure) that towns MAY pay for an aide to attend the private school with the child. You would definitely have to FIGHT for that.... she feels so strong that she wants him there, that she may be his "aide" and be with him in the classroom.

It's funny because I think she said it is important for the other children to see that he is "capable" of attending that school... and for their sake she feels she needs him there...if you don't mind my asking.... what is your reason for wanting private ? Are you not satisfied with the public education ? Can you advocate to place him elsewhere & have the school pay for it ?

[meghans_mom]

Dolly - I've wondered this myself -- I love my school district - but don't like it for Meghan, but I feel it will be a great school for Matthew.
I'm not crazy about the school district next town over, which is where MM would go if I fought for it...it's a huge school, and while I think they have a fairly good spec.ed program - i dont like the situation overall.
We would like to stay in this house and school district and I'm looking for other (private) programs for MM when she gets to school age.
I doubt my district would argue about paying for her to go elsewhere, seeing as they never had a true special ed program in place until just a few yrs ago.
i'd like to hear more about this from anyone!
laurie

[Chris]

It is possible to send your child to a private school but you have to prove that the public school cannot meet your child's needs and the private school can. If you can prove that, the public school has to pay for your child's tuition. You can also get the district to provide or pay for an aide or parapro for your child.

My older daughter has always gone to a Christian school and I really wanted Sarah to be educated in a Christian environment, too. I approached the principal at the Christian school and he is not open to having Sarah in the school. It makes me sad but I am not willing to force the issue.

Last week, I attended a Wrightslaw conference. I think all parents of children in special ed need to know their rights. I highly recommend atteding a Wrightslaw conference. You can find out more at www.wrightslaw.com

Chris

[kendallsmom]

My son attends a montessori school and I couldn't be more pleased with it. It is a "organized" environment. Putting away each project before starting another, lots of fine motor, life skills etc. I was very lucky to get in as this is the teachers(owner) twenty something years of teaching and has never had a special ed student. My daughter went and she fell in love with my son and was more worried about herself not teaching him successfully then I was about him meeting the classroom expectations... The "learn at your own pace" and methodical type teaching is great for him. He knows what is expected of him and learns the routine quickly. She introduces new more difficult projects slowly. I highly recommend it. Of course most of it depends on the teacher/school.

My daughter attends a catholic elementary school and I was talking to a parent who said catholic schools are not set up to take special ed because of no funding and they are known to have an "accelerated" accademic program. She tried many to get her own child in to a school of her faith and was unsuccessful.

Karen Gaffney (adult women with down syndrome) is my local mentor for my son and she went to a montessori preschool and on to a catholic elementary but her parents had to hire a full time aide in elementary school. She graduated from St Marys Accadamy (local catholic high school) with her class! And went on to get her associates degree in teaching from a community college. I believe she has a web site that tells her story.

Good luck-

[SuziF]

Dolly,
We're putting Meri in the same Christian school this year that Sam attends.Unfortunately it only goes P-K then as sort of a co-op for homeschooled kids. Our local Catholic school closed in May but our Diocese does have a Catholic school just for Special needs kids.
The website is www.clelianheights.org

Suzi

[Claire]

Adam 6 goes to a Catholic school and is in a regular class with the help of an EA. We we're lucky to be in a small town where there is no special needs schools. There are only 3 schools. One French Catholic, one English catholic and a public English school. We did have to fight for everthing for him though with the Board of Education at first. They wanted us to send him to a school 1 hour away where he would be bussed. We fought and won our fight. I have nothing against private school for special needs but I figured why not give him the chance and see what he can do first. It turns out the Principal said we made the right decision for him. It was worth the battle. I should also add that Adam is the only DS child in our community of 5000, so the school was happy to learn along with us. He amazes the teachers and EA's all the time. They never thought he would succeed as he did. It really made them realize what our children can do.