Special Ed in Florida?

[happily single]

I am thinking of relocating to Hudson Florida over the summer. I have a 11ds with PPD and Mild MR, along with all of the associated issues (sensory, speech, etc).

Does anyone have any experience with the Florida Special Education services or have any idea on how to research services availble?

Thanks in advance

 

[Momelie]

That's Pasco County, right?

I'm in Hillsborough, so can't help much, but one advice I can give is that if you have any testing, diagnosis, IEP, etc. needing to be done, GET IT DONE BEFORE YOU COME DOWN HERE!!!!!!!!

Whatever you do, don't wait for it do be done or it won't get done, or they will come up with a reason (usually budgetary) why it will take 5 years!

Best advice I was ever given with my children in Florida Special Ed was from another PTA mom and it was to simply take them to outside specialists, get their testing, evals, neuropsych, etc. done, (All Children's Hospital in St. Pete was where I took them, and I love the place) and then take them to the guidance counselors to schedule the 504 meetings. Once I did this, it took about 10 days to have the meeting, papers were signed right then, and no problems since. We update yearly, and the only problem I had was when we went from an Alpha-smart to a laptop in 4th grade. We're now in 9th, and I'm just dealing with her being a teenage clueless know-it-all that still has ADHD and a neuro tremor but wants to get behind the wheel of a car.

FWIW, I hear that Hudson is one of the better places to live around here, and the schools are great! I've been very active in regional PTA, and now band boosters, thanks to said teenager (who is about to make me turn into Captain Barbossa this morning!), so I've met some very nice parents from the schools there.

Good luck, and hopefully welcome to Florida!

 

[Stellapedia]

I've taught in both Hillsborough and Pinellas, and I can't give you much encouraging news about the state of special ed down here, especially in Pasco county. Definitely get any testing you need done before you come, because the school system here just plain won't get it done. There is no money in these schools at this time.
All Children's Hospital, previously mentioned, is a fabulous resource. There are also multiple scholarships available for children with disabilities to get out of the public school system.

 

[happily single]

Thanks for the advice. My ds11 was an IEP in place now. Due to his severe behavoirs they have been unable to complete any testing in school (I'm drawing a blank on what they call the special tests). In any event, he is placed "out of district" at a highly specialized children's hospital's school.

Can you give me the names of any private schools in the Hudson (Pasco County) area?

Also we also receive Home Based Therapy Services (HBTS) and Personal Assistance Services through Medicare. Are services such as these available in Florida and what is the name of the agency I would contact to arrange for services>?

This FLorida thing is going to take a while to get used to. In RI we are such a small state that it only takes an hour to get from the northern corner to the southern corner, so you can imagine a lof our services are the same for everyone.

 

[Stellapedia]

The main home based setup we have is Early Steps, which they age out of at three. The main provider of OT, PT, SLP, and ABA in Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Pasco is All Children's Hospital. Problem is (for you) it's a hospital and your need is educational based. Insurance most likely won't cover it and while there are grants in place, the fees are $47/15 minute (so $94 for a typical session, with a 35% self pay discount if it's OOP and you pay at time of service). The schools here do next to nothing because they plain can't. There is no money for anything but the barest of bare basics. It might let up if the class size amendment is repealed (the schools cannot possibly meet it as is, as the state has no state income tax and the schools get very very little funding).

Here is a list of private schools in Pasco. Might not be an exhaustive list, I doubt it is. There is also FL virtual school if you could handle something like that (basically online school) but it doesn't sound like that's his thing.

 

[lucigo]

Do a search and get familiar with the McKay scholarship. If the school can't meet your child's needs it will be used to get him into a private school.

If you have a chance come down and interview schools and ask around to find the best placement for him.

 

[Ali]

From what I understand from our MaKay specialist the child has to have been enrolled in a public school for a year (2 FTE periods thru february) in order to qualify for a scholarship. And next year a year in Pre-K will count. THis is new.

 

[happily single]

thanks for the info about the mckay scholarship. my son has never been in a public school, well, unless you count 15 minutes. Seriously! Apparently his sensory issues and such are such that he hasn't even been considered for distric placement. But I will continue to look into everything. Florida certainly is different from ri.

 

[Ericadawn]

The important thing is to look at the schools FIRST! Don't just talk to them on the phone. Meet with their special educations specialists because no two schools are alike. I live in eastern Pasco and all three of my nephews are special education. The oldest was at one public school where his parents requested time and again that he be tested. Even after failing kindergarten, that school refused so his parents pulled him out and placed in a different public school which had him tested IMMEDIATELY!

All three boys seem to be doing really well and the teachers write notes about how the younger two did that day for each day of class. Unfortunately, that school is in eastern Pasco, but if you look around, you should be able to find a school with that same level of help in western Pasco, private or public. The younger two even qualified for free private tutoring for a while.