Public School (SPED) in Arlington Lexington Belmont and Winchester (Cambridge: preschool, living in)

[Massresident]

My 3 y/o is on IEP and we are living in Arlington. How the other surrounding towns (Lexington, Belmont, Winchester) compare to Arlington’s special education system (on preschool and school level)?

[Bridge781]

I’m not entirely sure on who has the best IEP program. Just curious, how do you know that a 3 year old needs IEP? That seems young.

[robr2]

Originally Posted by Bridge781

I’m not entirely sure on who has the best IEP program. Just curious, how do you know that a 3 year old needs IEP? That seems young.

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), kids can be evaluated at age 3.

To the OP, Arlington is part of the LABBB Collaborative that offers Spec Ed programs starting in pre-school all the way to high school and transition to adult life. They bring together the resources of 5 towns to ensure that children and young adults who need spec ed resources get it.

LABBB Collaborative

[Massresident]

Thank you, so you say the programs are comparable and have the same funding?

[gf2020]

Originally Posted by robr2

They bring together the resources of 5 towns to ensure that children and young adults who need spec ed resources get it.

That's not completely accurate.

Although LABBB is primarily hosted at schools in Lexington, Arlington, Bedford, Belmont and Burlington, the program serves students from 60 communities in Eastern MA. The school department for the participating student provides the funding and transportation.

[Massresident]

I see - how do the programs compare to Arlington? If one community is more funded (for example, Lexington), how does it impact on a child and the quality of services?

[gf2020]

Originally Posted by Massresident

I see - how do the programs compare to Arlington? If one community is more funded (for example, Lexington), how does it impact on a child and the quality of services?

That's not how it works. There are no differences in services. Because you are in Arlington, you are already part of the collaborative. Different programs for different age groups are run at different facilities among the 5 towns. The LABBB pre-school programs are run out of Burlington, for example: LABBB Collaborative Depending on your child's specific needs, they may be addressed within your local elementary school or they would be transported to Burlington. It will really depend on what is the basis for the IEP.

I suggest you research on the LABBB web site: LABBB Collaborative or contact their Executive Director Patric Barbieri , email: pbarbieri@labbb.net or phone: 339-222-5615.

[MikePRU]

Originally Posted by Bridge781

I’m not entirely sure on who has the best IEP program. Just curious, how do you know that a 3 year old needs IEP? That seems young.

My son received his ASD diagnosis around the age of 2. So, we knew then that he would need an IEP.

Originally Posted by Massresident

My 3 y/o is on IEP and we are living in Arlington. How the other surrounding towns (Lexington, Belmont, Winchester) compare to Arlington’s special education system (on preschool and school level)?

I don't have a lot of knowledge about the Arlington SPED programs. What I can pass along is that at the ABA clinic my son attends (or did before COVID) there was a family I chatted with often from Arlington. He had some less than nice things to say about their SPED program. I don't recall specifically what they were though.

What I can tell you as the parent of a SPED child is that a SPED program will fit each child differently depending on what the strengths of the program are and what the needs of the child are.

Not sure what your child's needs are but chances are there's a local Facebook group dedicated to kids with similar needs. I would join up there and ask some questions.

[frinkwhaab]

I'm really interested in this thread as well. We live in Cambridge, and are looking to move to Arlington or Winchester. We have a 6-year old on an IEP with suspected ADHD and high functioning autism (I have both of those diagnoses myself). Our son doesn't currently need a lot of support and is doing well in a normal classroom, but we do anticipate he may need to go on and off IEP through his education. We found he did very poorly in a classroom where the rules were rigid and teachers had inflexible expectations about how kids should behave and learn. He's done well in a public kindergarten where the teachers tailor their teaching style to the kids, and have worked with his quirks rather than trying to suppress them. I feel like his current teacher must have already had a dozen kids like him before. A teacher's positive attitude, experience, and energy level are all critical. I think some diversity is important as well.

So in addition to having well-funded and well-supported IEP services, I'm very interested to hear of towns and schools where parents have found these types of teachers, year after year. And also where parents have been let down. And especially if you have a child who is quirky or ADHD or autistic.

We are thinking Arlington or Winchester, and avoiding Lexington. Are we on the right track? We really need to learn more about specific elementary schools in these towns as well that might be especially good, or ones to avoid.

[Massresident]

Originally Posted by frinkwhaab

I'm really interested in this thread as well. We live in Cambridge, and are looking to move to Arlington or Winchester. We have a 6-year old on an IEP with suspected ADHD and high functioning autism (I have both of those diagnoses myself). Our son doesn't currently need a lot of support and is doing well in a normal classroom, but we do anticipate he may need to go on and off IEP through his education. We found he did very poorly in a classroom where the rules were rigid and teachers had inflexible expectations about how kids should behave and learn. He's done well in a public kindergarten where the teachers tailor their teaching style to the kids, and have worked with his quirks rather than trying to suppress them. I feel like his current teacher must have already had a dozen kids like him before. A teacher's positive attitude, experience, and energy level are all critical. I think some diversity is important as well.

So in addition to having well-funded and well-supported IEP services, I'm very interested to hear of towns and schools where parents have found these types of teachers, year after year. And also where parents have been let down. And especially if you have a child who is quirky or ADHD or autistic.

We are thinking Arlington or Winchester, and avoiding Lexington. Are we on the right track? We really need to learn more about specific elementary schools in these towns as well that might be especially good, or ones to avoid.

Why are you avoiding Lexington?