Private School Tuition

[Liberty Belle]

My son is Twice Exceptional and has been having a difficult time in school. I found an excellent local private school that looks like it would be a great fit for him (and was recommended by a psychologist I came in contact with through work), but unfortunately we have no extra money in our budget for tuition.

I've emailed the school (Sphinx Academy in Lexington, KY, btw if anyone is interested) to see if they offer scholarships, but I thought I'd ask here if anyone knows of any program or organization that helps pay for specialized education for students. I know it's a long shot, but I thought I'd ask, just in case.

 

[soccerdad72]

I would say your best bet would be checking with the school itself to see if there is any sort of tuition assistance offered to families. I don't know if there's anything governmental that is available?

My younger son's private school offers financial aid and scholarships each year.

 

[Darcy03231]

If you can't afford the private school tuition have you considered home schooling? We have a neighbor that does this for her children (variety of needs not being met by public school) and she says it is the best thing she's ever done for her children. My understanding is there are a lot of resources out there now for home schoolers.

 

[Minnesota!]

Our private school offers many ways of obtaining financial help. They want any money, no matter how little you can contribute. Some is better than none.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Thank you all. I'm hoping to hear back from the school.

Unfortunately I can't home school. I'd love to, though. I used to be a para and love to teach. My income is a third of our total income and it's definitely needed.

 

[barkley]

does your son currently have an iep? is his current (public I'm assuming) school unable to meet his needs? if so you might try the route where you hit up the public school district he's currently in to cover the private school costs (if they can't do what he clearly needs that this other school can). I don't know if that's possible though after looking at the school's website-it looks like they aren't accredited yet but you could always check-it never hurts to ask (I would ask the private school first in case they've had someone successful at doing it-they may have advice on how to pursue it).

otherwise-always ask about scholarships. my kids did private k-8th and there were always scholarships or tuition reductions available, esp. if the school wanted a particular student/type of student to attend. on this school's website it's apparent they are marketing to special needs students so I would suspect if your son meets both that criteria AND is academically gifted they may be very generous in this area to get him attending.

 

[scrapquitler]

My son is Twice Exceptional and has been having a difficult time in school. I found an excellent local private school that looks like it would be a great fit for him (and was recommended by a psychologist I came in contact with through work), but unfortunately we have no extra money in our budget for tuition.

I've emailed the school (Sphinx Academy in Lexington, KY, btw if anyone is interested) to see if they offer scholarships, but I thought I'd ask here if anyone knows of any program or organization that helps pay for specialized education for students. I know it's a long shot, but I thought I'd ask, just in case.

Check with the school. Many (most?) private schools do have some sort of tuition assistance available, but they probably don't widely advertise it. Ask and ye shall receive, or at the least become informed about what is available.

 

[DisneyOma]

My son is Twice Exceptional and has been having a difficult time in school. I found an excellent local private school that looks like it would be a great fit for him (and was recommended by a psychologist I came in contact with through work), but unfortunately we have no extra money in our budget for tuition.

What in the world does "Twice Exceptional" mean, and why would he have trouble in school if he is so exceptional? Or is that just a euphemism for special needs? If it is, then I agree that you should see if the public school system would pay for an outplacement, although that just sucks tons of money out of a probably already strapped school district. But if you do go that route, your school may offer more support in the school, to save having to cut other programs (or raise taxes). Of course, then you get put on "that family" list. It's a catch-22, caused by federal and state unfunded mandates. And of course the true victims are the kids, all of them.

 

[mefordis]

What in the world does "Twice Exceptional" mean, and why would he have trouble in school if he is so exceptional? Or is that just a euphemism for special needs? If it is, then I agree that you should see if the public school system would pay for an outplacement, although that just sucks tons of money out of a probably already strapped school district. But if you do go that route, your school may offer more support in the school, to save having to cut other programs (or raise taxes). Of course, then you get put on "that family" list. It's a catch-22, caused by federal and state unfunded mandates. And of course the true victims are the kids, all of them.

Correct me if I"m wrong (anyone) but I think it means a gifted child, but with special needs. For example, a child with ADHD, but with an IQ of over 145. Something like that. These children would require extra attention that a regular public school would not be able to provide. They would tend to get lost in the classroom and their extreme intelligence would never be able to surface or be utilized. That's my take, anyway.

OP: hope this works out for your boy!

 

[tvguy]

What in the world does "Twice Exceptional" mean, and why would he have trouble in school if he is so exceptional? Or is that just a euphemism for special needs? If it is, then I agree that you should see if the public school system would pay for an outplacement, although that just sucks tons of money out of a probably already strapped school district. But if you do go that route, your school may offer more support in the school, to save having to cut other programs (or raise taxes). Of course, then you get put on "that family" list. It's a catch-22, caused by federal and state unfunded mandates. And of course the true victims are the kids, all of them.

I had no idea but I Googled it.

"The term twice exceptional, often abbreviated as 2e, has only recently entered educators' lexicon and refers to intellectually gifted children who have some form of disability. These children are considered exceptional both because of their intellectual gifts and because of their special needs".

 

[tvguy]

My son is Twice Exceptional and has been having a difficult time in school. I found an excellent local private school that looks like it would be a great fit for him (and was recommended by a psychologist I came in contact with through work), but unfortunately we have no extra money in our budget for tuition.

I've emailed the school (Sphinx Academy in Lexington, KY, btw if anyone is interested) to see if they offer scholarships, but I thought I'd ask here if anyone knows of any program or organization that helps pay for specialized education for students. I know it's a long shot, but I thought I'd ask, just in case.

I would ask the administrators at the school he is at now what programs they offer, and if they can help pay for it. There are millions of dollars in Federal grant money for things like that. Not every school district takes part, but the private school my kids went to ran an entire division for this, and all the tuition is all paid by Federal Grants.

 

[Poohlove]

I have never heard of twice exceptional, you learn something new everyday

Good luck to you, I hope you are able to find the funding that you need.

 

[AustinTink]

Interesting, I had never heard of that term before reading this thread. But I immediately thought of a brilliant kid at my son's school. He fits that diagnosis and is in line to become valedictorian this year.

Most private schools, ours included, offer a large percentage of students financial aid that covers all or most of the cost of tuition. Our school grants aid to 20% of the student body. Many of the folks who applied for aid never believed they would qualify, but they did. Fill out the forms right away if you can.

 

[Lilacs4Me]

What in the world does "Twice Exceptional" mean, and why would he have trouble in school if he is so exceptional? Or is that just a euphemism for special needs? If it is, then I agree that you should see if the public school system would pay for an outplacement, although that just sucks tons of money out of a probably already strapped school district. But if you do go that route, your school may offer more support in the school, to save having to cut other programs (or raise taxes). Of course, then you get put on "that family" list. It's a catch-22, caused by federal and state unfunded mandates. And of course the true victims are the kids, all of them.

Just wow. To all of the above, but especially the bolded.

I stopped caring about being "that family" or "that mom" or "that mom's kid" when it came to doing what I think is best for my kids, back in middle school.

I'm not surprised, though....I know plenty of "those moms" and "those families" who still act like they are sitting around a 7th grade lunch table.

OP - I think it's great that you are seeking alternatives for your child! I am just starting to enter the realm of what could be considered "special needs" with one of my children, and it is really opening my eyes to how people think and feel about anything out of the norm - mostly I feel they are threatened that something will be taken away from their own kid.

If the school district that currently serves him can put funds toward NOT servicing his needs, but can contribute those funds to a institution that can, it is not taking anything away from any other kid that wouldn't have been used anyway. And since I am assuming you will still be living in the same house and paying taxes to the same public school system, the school is still getting funded with the same taxes.

 

[scrapquitler]

Correct me if I"m wrong (anyone) but I think it means a gifted child, but with special needs. For example, a child with ADHD, but with an IQ of over 145. Something like that. These children would require extra attention that a regular public school would not be able to provide. They would tend to get lost in the classroom and their extreme intelligence would never be able to surface or be utilized. That's my take, anyway.

OP: hope this works out for your boy!

This. In my case I was told that because my child had a very high IQ, she didn't "need" any accommodations for her learning disabilities because she was "smart enough to deal with it on her own"

 

[OneOftheB's]

I don't know about your state, but Georgia does offer assistance for a certain number of families who enroll their child/children in private school. It's a very limited number and the family has to apply. It doesn't cover the entire cost, but we know a family who has applied and received this scholarship for several years.

 

[emma'smom]

Just wow. To all of the above, but especially the bolded.

I stopped caring about being "that family" or "that mom" or "that mom's kid" when it came to doing what I think is best for my kids, back in middle school.

I'm not surprised, though....I know plenty of "those moms" and "those families" who still act like they are sitting around a 7th grade lunch table.

OP - I think it's great that you are seeking alternatives for your child! I am just starting to enter the realm of what could be considered "special needs" with one of my children, and it is really opening my eyes to how people think and feel about anything out of the norm - mostly I feel they are threatened that something will be taken away from their own kid.

If the school district that currently serves him can put funds toward NOT servicing his needs, but can contribute those funds to a institution that can, it is not taking anything away from any other kid that wouldn't have been used anyway. And since I am assuming you will still be living in the same house and paying taxes to the same public school system, the school is still getting funded with the same taxes.

It's too bad that so many people "stop caring" about the fact that the public schools are being drained of funds by voucher programs and charter schools---because in the end, those schools can choose to take or leave any student they wish when they start to tarnish their test score numbers---while the public schools end up taking them back (and many others) on fewer funds. Additionally, it is not a quid-pro-quo financial exchange.....sometimes those private schools accepting vouchers still require additional funds--and the per pupil loss to the district is often a larger amount of $$ then that which is spent per pupil within the district.

 

[Aliceacc]

OP, you know by now that you're your child's only advocate. So keep beating the bushes, look under every rock and stone, but get your son the education he needs and deserves. I'm sure that whether or not you're "that mom" is the least of all your concerns.

Try the school you want him in-- see about scholarships. Ask his current school for other suggestions.

You're not the first person in these shoes; I'm sure they have a means of dealing with your issues or some suggestions for alternate schooling.

 

[Gracie09]

This. In my case I was told that because my child had a very high IQ, she didn't "need" any accommodations for her learning disabilities because she was "smart enough to deal with it on her own"

They tried to pulle that crap on my daughter. Op if you district isn't meeting you child's needs I would recommend either hiring an advocate or looking up a man by the name of Pete Wright and wrights law. I went to a seminar he held and it changed my entire approach to Ieps. I go in armed with charts and graphs and they have no choice but to agree with me about services because they see the difficulties. You need to get your hands on all the subtests - the story is in the subtests. That is what you need to tease apart and find you answers in. Good luck

 

[DisneyOma]

Correct me if I"m wrong (anyone) but I think it means a gifted child, but with special needs. For example, a child with ADHD, but with an IQ of over 145. Something like that. These children would require extra attention that a regular public school would not be able to provide. They would tend to get lost in the classroom and their extreme intelligence would never be able to surface or be utilized. That's my take, anyway.

OP: hope this works out for your boy!

Public school worked for both of my children - and they were gifted and had disabilities. One graduated Valedictorian, the other Salutatorian. "Extreme intelligence" can still learn in a public school.

Just wow. To all of the above, but especially the bolded.

I stopped caring about being "that family" or "that mom" or "that mom's kid" when it came to doing what I think is best for my kids, back in middle school.

I'm not surprised, though....I know plenty of "those moms" and "those families" who still act like they are sitting around a 7th grade lunch table.

OP - I think it's great that you are seeking alternatives for your child! I am just starting to enter the realm of what could be considered "special needs" with one of my children, and it is really opening my eyes to how people think and feel about anything out of the norm - mostly I feel they are threatened that something will be taken away from their own kid.

If the school district that currently serves him can put funds toward NOT servicing his needs, but can contribute those funds to a institution that can, it is not taking anything away from any other kid that wouldn't have been used anyway. And since I am assuming you will still be living in the same house and paying taxes to the same public school system, the school is still getting funded with the same taxes.

Having seen how some families are treated compared to others in a school system - that was a friendly heads-up so the OP would be prepared if he/she goes that route. I don't agree with it, but it happens.

Your last paragraph makes no sense to me whatsoever. It could cost the school perhaps $20K to pay a 1:1, and over $60K for tuition/transport for an outplacement. It does take away - a lot. We've had to close our tech/woodshop department to make up for outplacement costs.

This. In my case I was told that because my child had a very high IQ, she didn't "need" any accommodations for her learning disabilities because she was "smart enough to deal with it on her own"

In Massachusetts anyways, there's a clause in special education law that states the disability must interfere with progress - can't find the words exactly this early in the morning, but if a student shows growth, progress, etc at a fast enough pace, then an IEP and services are not warranted. Both my children showed enough progress to not warrant an IEP, although we were dealing with sensory/autism spectrum/birth defects, etc.