Would you go into debt to make sure your DC graduated HS?

[jodifla]

If you had a child with a disability, would you pay for special private schooling to ensure his best change to graduate?

Options:

Private school has a specialized system for your child's specific learning issues. Small classes only 10 kids, and highly individualized curriculum and support from those specially trained.

Their high school graduation rate: 100 percent. Cost: 25 grand a year

The public school has no appropriate curriculum for your child. (You have suspected this, and others inside the school district have confirmed it.) They would have to cobble together something that MIGHT work, or put your child into a classroom that doesn't fit him or her, like cognitively impaired or autism.

Cost is free, but the graduation rate for a child with any disability there is 14 percent.

So: Would being debt-free trump the chance of making sure your child has the best chance at a high school diploma?

 

[Hannathy]

Yes I would. I would not go into serious debt so they could go to a fancy college but for their basic education that they need to have any chance at succeeding in life then yes I would do whatever I could do.

 

[Cindy B]

If your child has an IEP, they should be able to go to an out of district placement at no additional cost.

That is assuming that the student is originally a public school student.
Check out www.wrightslaw.org

 

[RitaE]

I really don't see it as an issue of being debt free, but of one of deciding if it is the best use of funds.

I would first have to know what the value of that High School diploma will be for the child? Will he/she be able to attend college or some sort of Trade program? Will he/she be more likely to enter a work program geared toward the disabled? Will he/she ever be able to live independently outside of a sheltered (parent or group) situation?

Would the money be better spent saving for providing for the child's future needs?

I'm also doubtful of a 100% graduation rate. To me that says that they are graduating 100% of their students, not necessarily that 100% of their students actually obtain High School level proficiencies. $25k a year isn't even all that expensive for a regular Private High School, much less one with a specialized program such as you discuss with extremely low Instructor/Pupil levels.

 

[scrapquitler]

If you had a child with a disability, would you pay for special private schooling to ensure his best change to graduate?

Options:

Private school has a specialized system for your child's specific learning issues. Small classes only 10 kids, and highly individualized curriculum and support from those specially trained.

Their high school graduation rate: 100 percent. Cost: 25 grand a year

The public school has no appropriate curriculum for your child. (You have suspected this, and others inside the school district have confirmed it.) They would have to cobble together something that MIGHT work, or put your child into a classroom that doesn't fit him or her, like cognitively impaired or autism.

Cost is free, but the graduation rate for a child with any disability there is 14 percent.

So: Would being debt-free trump the chance of making sure your child has the best chance at a high school diploma?

If the school is not able to provide an appropriate education locally, they are required to pay the tution for a program that IS appropriate. Get a good lawyer who knows all the ins and outs of special ed law, and the school district will pay the tution for you.

 

[girli565]

As a teacher of students with disabilities (I teach students with behavior/social disorders), I suggest you find a public school/program that meets your child's needs. If he is on an IEP then you have the right to find a school that can meet your child's needs. I work in FL and we have McKay scholarships that are available to students who may need something outside the public school setting and find it in the private setting. It will pay the tuition (usually at a discounted rate).

Now, answering your question... I'd do anything my child needed to get them the appropriate education. Whether that meant fighting the system to get him what he needs in public school or going into debt for the private school setting.

 

[crusoe2]

I really don't see it as an issue of being debt free, but of one of deciding if it is the best use of funds.

I would first have to know what the value of that High School diploma will be for the child? Will he/she be able to attend college or some sort of Trade program? Will he/she be more likely to enter a work program geared toward the disabled? Will he/she ever be able to live independently outside of a sheltered (parent or group) situation?

Would the money be better spent saving for providing for the child's future needs?

I'm also doubtful of a 100% graduation rate. To me that says that they are graduating 100% of their students, not necessarily that 100% of their students actually obtain High School level proficiencies. $25k a year isn't even all that expensive for a regular Private High School, much less one with a specialized program such as you discuss with extremely low Instructor/Pupil levels.

I teach students with special needs and I agree with this approach. It sounds as if this child requires a very intensive program. It has been my experience that the more intensive a program the child needs in school, the more support he/she will need after high school. Every case is different of course. But you would need to honestly assess what level of independence this child is truly capable of achieving and then ask yourself what would best prepare him/her for that outcome. A high school diploma may not be the answer. Perhaps a program that helps to place him in a job and then follows up with on-the-job support. I know we have that in our state and it's an awesome option for kids who can be taught a skill or trade but maybe lack the self-confidence to work independently or would not be able to handle the social aspects of having a job. They have someone there to guide them until they are comfortable handling the situation on their own. And the best thing is, it's free and can be done in conjunction with attending high school. If you haven't explored options like these, definitely do so before committing to the expense of private school. And don't stop with the answers you get from your local school system. Not everyone knows about these programs - even within special education. Look into state vocational rehab programs for starters.

Good luck with whatever you decide. I see parents grapple with these decisions all the time and I know it's tough.

 

[marmalade]

I really don't see it as an issue of being debt free, but of one of deciding if it is the best use of funds.

I would first have to know what the value of that High School diploma will be for the child? Will he/she be able to attend college or some sort of Trade program? Will he/she be more likely to enter a work program geared toward the disabled? Will he/she ever be able to live independently outside of a sheltered (parent or group) situation?

Would the money be better spent saving for providing for the child's future needs?

I'm also doubtful of a 100% graduation rate. To me that says that they are graduating 100% of their students, not necessarily that 100% of their students actually obtain High School level proficiencies. $25k a year isn't even all that expensive for a regular Private High School, much less one with a specialized program such as you discuss with extremely low Instructor/Pupil levels.

This is what I was thinking as well.

 

[kirstenb1]

I know of a couple of families that have gone that path.

Family 1: their oldest is extremely dyslexic. He spent 3 yrs at a private middle school that specializes in that disorder. He will be mainstreamed into high school, and is reading/writing on grade level.

Family 2: daughter is on the low end of the autism spectrum. Her Mom paid $35k for private school that specializes in autism, meanwhile, fighting the school for alternative placement (ie, the school has to acknowledge they cannot provide an appropriate education for this child, and they are on the hook for teh $$ for teh private placement). The Mom did finally win in court after a year, so now her daughter attends the private school, at the public school system's expense.

I know I said I know 2 families. However, there was a boy in Hanover County, who's parents spent years fighting for alternative placement. They did ultimately win, but I can't remember how old the kid was after all this transpired. I remember reading about it in the paper, and wondering how much education was lost during this interim fight.

Our school system is tiny, but does seem to be recognizing they can't provide a "free and appropriate education" to certain kids.

If I were in this situation, I'd do my due diligence. I'd ask around and talk to parents who's children were in the private school. I'd also start the process with my child's public school to get an alternative placement. But at the end of the day, I'd go into debt to send our child to the school, if I thought it would really make a difference.

 

[mrsklamc]

I agree that it depends on what the value of the diploma would be to the child.

 

[descovy]

I do not have a special needs child and have not had to navigate the ins and outs of FAPE and IEP, and all that.

That said, I do not believe in being a penny wise and a pound foolish. If a private school could educate my child in a way that the public school could not reach my child, I would pay for the education, even if it meant going into debt.

I would find it of utmost importance that my child could grow up to be as independent as possible. If getting a diploma would do the trick, so be it. If it was certain life skills they would be taught, even better. If a child stays in a free public school but does not learn, what kind of life will they lead after age 21?

Anyway, not knowing the exact details, I would not worry so much about being frugal today, but to weigh if the investment (because I see it as an investment and not a debt) would pay off for your child in the future.

To put it another way, if attending the expensive private school would allow my child to gain the certificate or skills to hold a job, then that is money that I would not have to spend on my child at age 25, 35, 45, etc...

 

[CarolineB]

I attended wrightslaw weekend seminars -- they were very informative. You can also order their books to become familiar with the law. You can apply for a stipend to cover the cost of the seminar. The seminar that I attended had excellent child care.

I don't really know if I would go in to debt or not. I think the PP asked excellent questions regarding the type of h.s. degree that the private school is going to provide and what the h.s. degree will mean in terms of college and work opportunities.

Why does your child need to graduate after 12th grade -- can't he stay an additional year.

I've also had some success with joining a local support group for parents of children with disabilities and managing the public school system.

Is part of the private school's program with psychologists or therapists because you may be able to get insurance to pay part of it.

How many years does the child need to go -- one more year or four years?

 

[ssawka]

If you can, fight the school the best you can. Don't simply pull your child out to send them to a private school. If you simply walk away, you are letting the public school district off. They have an obligation to see that your child gets a "free and appropriate education". If you let them off the hook, you are not only hurting yourself and your child, but every other family in the school district that may find them in a similar situation.

 

[gillenkl]

Would you be open to homeschooling as another option?

 

[seashoreCM]

Why does your child need to graduate after 12th grade -- can't he stay an additional year.

A reduced course load (tm) may be a possible approach for children with certain disabilities. Courses not taken (or dropped) but needed for graduation could be taken during a summer or later year depending on the public school's schedule and offerings.

The student would not be treated differently due to having passed his graduation year, having passed a certain age, or having spent more than the normal number of years in the system, but he may be placed in special ed classes at any time.

It may even help the child's self esteem to get three A's and/or B's instead of four C's and/or D's.

 

[Brer Shay]

I think the point others have made as to the value of a HS dipoloma for your child are valid. I'm guessing that you believe it will make a long-term difference in the child's life or you wouldn't be considering this type of debt.

I also agree that you need to continue to fight your current school district, if they can't adequately provide the education your child needs within their walls, they need to provide (pay for) it somewhere else.

I have a child with Asperger's. We paid for interventions, support staff, mobile therapists, behavior consultants, etc.. when he was in elementary school to the tune of about $60K, $40K of which was debt. In our case, these early interventions were likely to (and did) make a huge impact on his ability to succeed. Now in the 7th grade, fully mainstreamed, A student, I can say it was well worth it. We still have about $15K left to pay off, and, yes, it will limit our ability to help him with college. In his case, those early interventions made a difference that couldn't be recouped later. I wouldn't hesitate to spend that money again.

Good luck with your decision and the fights that are undoubtedly ahead for you.

 

[jodifla]

Lots of good input here. Thank you.

To answer a few questions:

--Graduates get a regular diploma. All the grads for the past four years were accepted into four-year college programs. (Of course, this school is definitely picking who they can actually help -- kids with language disorders and LDs. But the parents I've talked to say this school was life-changing for their child, who were struggling/flunking at their regular schools.)

--Students stay from 1 to 12 years. The school turns over about 1/4 of its students a year, mostly because the students have made enough progress to return to their regular schools.

--Homeschooling probably not an option, because of temperaments and learning styles and the fact that the child learns a great deal by observing peers.

--It took an amazing amount of work to get the school district to give the right support through elementary, although it did work out by 2nd grade. Middle school and High school are such different animals, because you aren't dealing with one teacher who has to understand the learning needs, but 6 or 7.

 

[Heluvsme]

Hi Jodi, it's Dawn!!

You know, if my town had a private school like the one you have described, I would spend the money on it for Jacob! That is a lot of money, no doubt, but it sounds so specialized and individualized, I think I'd find a way to make it work. As you know, we homeschool, and the older Jacob gets the more I wonder how I'm doing. We are covering, of course, what we need to, and we are adding in his personal interests, but I still wonder at times how he would do in a setting like that.

I for one would do it, but it's such a personal decision, lots of soul-searching in your future I'm sure! But soul-searching is something we're used to huh!!

Take care hun!!

 

[jodifla]

Hi Jodi, it's Dawn!!

You know, if my town had a private school like the one you have described, I would spend the money on it for Jacob! That is a lot of money, no doubt, but it sounds so specialized and individualized, I think I'd find a way to make it work. As you know, we homeschool, and the older Jacob gets the more I wonder how I'm doing. We are covering, of course, what we need to, and we are adding in his personal interests, but I still wonder at times how he would do in a setting like that.

I for one would do it, but it's such a personal decision, lots of soul-searching in your future I'm sure! But soul-searching is something we're used to huh!!

Take care hun!!

Thanks, Dawn!

It is a lot to think about.

 

[emma'smom]

We have friends who have chosen a private school route for their autistic son and it has made such a difference. The local school system has an "autism unit" where all students who are on the spectrum are grouped together and pushed into typical classrooms for some subjects and individually pulled out for others. While the teachers work-hard, they have students who are all over the page with their specific needs and only so much time in the day....

My friend fought the district for years to get them to recognize that this wasn't the best match for her child...in the end, she managed to get the district to fund part of it and her health insurance covers part of it....and they pay the rest. To see how this child has grown and improved since attending this specialized school for the last few years is amazing! Even thought it requires an 1 1/2 drive each way each day, a battle with the school system during each IEP review, and staying on top of the laws---it's worth every minute and every penny to see him thrive in ways they never thought possible!