Kids getting pushed out of private and public schools because of special needs? (autism, attorney)
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I actually worked in a situation that sprang up around public schools wishing to refer kids whose needs they couldn't appropriately meet to specialized private schools (on their own dime, per federal guidelines).
I actually worked in a situation that sprang up around public schools wishing to refer kids whose needs they couldn't appropriately meet to specialized private schools (on their own dime, per federal guidelines).
Sadly, we aren't running into that at all. Just pressure to enroll in special ed in public school...then a fight with public school to get any services. Its more then a nightmare.
I am sorry that you are having problems. Most of the private schools in my area do not even allow children with special needs to enroll (unless they are extremely minor needs such as mild speech and language delays or something else that did not effect their education). Unless, of course, they were a private school that specialized in teaching children with special needs.
I would suggest contacting an attorney that specializes in the rights of children with special needs or a disability advocate.
Has anyone run into having their children with special needs being pushed out of either (or both) public and private schools because of special needs?
It's hard to kick a special needs child out of public school.
With private schools, it's easy. They don't have to accept any child and they don't have to give a reason.
One person I know, enrolled her child in a Montessori school, after a week, they just told her "he's not a good fit" and kicked him out. She had no other school lined up for him to go to.
That's why it is so scary if the school voucher system (otherwise known as "school choice") is put into place. It will drain money away from public education and give money to private schools, who are free to discriminate. The irony of "school choice" legislation is that it will leave many parents with no choice.
It's hard to kick a special needs child out of public school.
With private schools, it's easy. They don't have to accept any child and they don't have to give a reason.
One person I know, enrolled her child in a Montessori school, after a week, they just told her "he's not a good fit" and kicked him out. She had no other school lined up for him to go to.
That's why it is so scary if the school voucher system (otherwise known as "school choice") is put into place. It will drain money away from public education and give money to private schools, who are free to discriminate. The irony of "school choice" legislation is that it will leave many parents with no choice.
I agree. We are having a terrible time with a private school suddenly pushing out our kid...at a very bad time. But they are free to. And they also didn't have to give us any notice...which they didn't. My kid has been at this school for almost 2 years.
It happened with my daughter when she was at a magnet public school when they realized she had learning disabilities. They just pushed on us until we left.
Almost every year, I get students in my class that come from private schools. PRivate schools are great if your child is high achieving and doesn't have any learning or behavior issues. Most parents don't think it will happen to them, and they are okay with the private school's exclusivity until they are kicked out.
For public schools it can take a very long time to get testing done. If you can afford it, I recommend getting your own testing done. It's expensive, but it should be honored by the district. Contact the districts special education department first and check.
Almost every year, I get students in my class that come from private schools. PRivate schools are great if your child is high achieving and doesn't have any learning or behavior issues. Most parents don't think it will happen to them, and they are okay with the private school's exclusivity until they are kicked out.
For public schools it can take a very long time to get testing done. If you can afford it, I recommend getting your own testing done. It's expensive, but it should be honored by the district. Contact the districts special education department first and check.
The school we were in was considered inclusive and actually had a special education teacher employed. I knew my kids had special education needs when we applied and was open about it. But the principal changed and so did the inclusiveness.
Actually I know for a fact HISD will NOT even review outside testing or diagnoses. I know a couple schools wont even talk to your own professional (I don't know the rest of them but the ones I know in Houston, will not talk to your professional at all). Here in Minnesota will look at your own testing, but they have to do their own.
I also taught in AliefISd and KatyISd and I have taught students who were tested out of district. It's possible that has changed, as I have been teaching over two decades. I've never seen it in HISD yet, but we do consult with outside professionals at my campus. Every campus and every district is different, that's why I recommend checking first.
Sometimes they even take gifted testing if it's done within six months. I think it depends on the source of testing, what is included, and how long ago it was done.
The school we were in was considered inclusive and actually had a special education teacher employed. I knew my kids had special education needs when we applied and was open about it. But the principal changed and so did the inclusiveness.
Actually I know for a fact HISD will NOT even review outside testing or diagnoses. I know a couple schools wont even talk to your own professional (I don't know the rest of them but the ones I know in Houston, will not talk to your professional at all). Here in Minnesota will look at your own testing, but they have to do their own.
IMHO, sometimes public school with not accept outside testing because they do not know the person or school that did that testing or the child came from a "fringe" school or a school with an unusual situation and they expected the public school to replicate it.
I'm NOT saying that you are doing this but some parents do it.
I'll share one example (but I could easily share many more) that happened in my own classroom (early childhood special education). My district was one of the highest ranked public schools in the area for special education services but we still had parents who expected and demanded things that were beyond responsible and normal.
I had a great, great classroom only six students (maximum nine) myself as the teacher, plus two fulltime aides, plus a speech therapy that worked in the classroom daily for a group lesson and also met with students individually once, twice or three times per week (deepening on their needs) plus an OT, PT & Hearing specialist that met with students, on their caseload) individually twice a week. Sounds like educational heaven? Right?
I had a student who enrolled and from the very first day the parent complained and complained and complained about our "substandard" education, lack of staff, (lack of staff? Three fulltime adults, plus four part time specialists for six children). Mom caused trouble from the first day that she enrolled her child. No one could understand why she was so angry. her child was having a lot of problems adjusting to class routines and to being round other children, which was odd because he had attended an EC-SN classroom for a full year (the year before when he was three). His IEP made him sound like a little Einstein but he was acting more like the demon seed in the classroom (biting, kicking, very low pre-academic work, if he did anything at all). I asked mom if there were changes at home and said everything was the same (except that they had moved from a different state). She blamed everything on the school and was constantly complaining about everything to the principal and the director of special education.
Well, to make a long story a little shorter, I called his previous school, which Mom had described as a "typical" classroom for preschoolers with special needs. Man, Oh, Man it was anything but a "typical' classroom. It was a special pilot program to see how fast children with diagnosed autism could progress by having only 1 to 1 tutoring and the child has the main role in deciding what they wanted to do when but basically only academic tasks. He also had speech, OT & PT several time a week, and in those cases and aide or assistant joined them so it was then two adults per one child. He had absolutely no contact with other children his own age in (as mom called it "a typical classroom").
Needles to say it was a difficult transition, for both child & Mom, into a "real" classroom. And, Mom said there were not any big changes. Heck, they moved 2,000 from southern California to live with a sick Grandparent and Dad stayed in California in the military. Big, Big Changes which Mom did not share.
Well there is a happy ending both Child & Mom adjusted after about a year. Later the son went on to because a huge, huge success story. He was actually totally, completely dismissed from all special education services by 5th grade. I will remember him for my whole life, and not just for the numerous huge scars on my arms from where he bit me and it broke the skin.
HLB, I am NOT saying that this is similar to your story but I just wanted to point out that some parents have very unrealistic expectations of what public schools should do. This mom expected 1 or 2 teacher/therapists/staff with her child all day, everyday and NO other students in the classroom. She truly thought THAT was the normal preschool special education model.
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