| When children with special needs reach school age, | | | | program. Then find public school very stressful |
| many families struggle with the dilemma of where | | | | and may perform poorly. As they grow |
| to find the best education. Should they try placing | | | | frustrated, the educational process becomes a |
| their child in public school or should they seek a | | | | nightmare. |
| private special education school? | | | | Private special education schools are able to instill |
| Public School Problems | | | | these children with the capabilities necessary to |
| Federal laws such as IDEA and ADA as well as | | | | flourish in a public education setting. Special needs |
| state and local statues mandate that children with | | | | student who have done poorly in public schools |
| special needs must be allowed access to the | | | | may thrive after spending a couple of years in a |
| public educational system and the public schools | | | | focused special education school that focuses on |
| must accommodate their needs. As parents soon | | | | building the social, physical and academic skills they |
| discover, what sounds good on paper doesn't | | | | need to do well in school. As our children change, |
| always work out in reality. | | | | so do the education options available to them. |
| Parents naturally expect that teachers and | | | | Private Schools for Focused Education |
| administrators already are familiar with the | | | | Many parents of special needs kids find private |
| regulations governing special education, but that's | | | | special education schools are their best option. |
| not always true. Many public schools don't know | | | | These facilities are able to concentrate on each |
| the laws and will not provide needed assistance. It | | | | child's unique needs to provide a customized |
| is up to parents to learn their child's rights and | | | | educational experience unlike what schools in the |
| educate the educators. Unfortunately this may | | | | public are able to offer. |
| not solve the problem. | | | | A common obstacle for families considering |
| Public schools are notoriously underfunded and | | | | private special education schools is the cost of |
| overworked. Special education school expenses | | | | tuition. Unlike state funded schools, private |
| are much, much higher for the schools than those | | | | educational institutions are not free. However |
| for traditional students and, though there are | | | | many tuition assistance programs exist to help |
| state and federal programs to defray the costs, | | | | families cover the associated expenses, and the |
| some schools are hard pressed to provide help | | | | high quality education the children received is truly |
| needed even when spelled out in an IEP. | | | | priceless. |
| Private School as a Transition to Public School | | | | The public vs. private school debate is not a |
| Another challenge to public education may be the | | | | situation with an easy answer. While many families |
| child's capabilities. Many children with disabilities | | | | find private education preferable, each family |
| haven't been able to learn the skills needed to | | | | must consider how each educational option fits |
| function in public school, even in a special education | | | | best with their child's abilities and needs. |