Best schools for children with IEPs?

**christina1003** · 12-02-2011, 10:11 PM

My son (4 1/2) will be starting Kindergarten in September. The Catholic elementary schools have made it very clear they cannot accept any children that may need a bit more help than the average child. I'm not talking a massive hand holding here....but still, needs support.

Therefore, I'm left to struggle with the alternatives - public school or charter school. I realize that public schools actually have a good reputation for their special education programs. I'm not crazy about the idea of the atmosphere - plus the fact that I work 45 minutes away does not make me feel comfortable with the before/after school care issue.

I have applied to MaST but heard it's practically impossible to get into. I know there are other charters around here (Far NE) but I have not heard anyone talk of them. Does anyone have any experience with this?

Or, a similar experience (good or bad) with your child?

**mayfairmom3** · 12-02-2011, 11:02 PM

Mast has a very long waiting list. My kids go to Tacony Academy Charter School and we love it! The only advice I can give you is to apply to as many as possible now.

**KillyPumpkin** · 12-03-2011, 07:57 AM

Originally Posted by mayfairmom3

Mast has a very long waiting list. My kids go to Tacony Academy Charter School and we love it! The only advice I can give you is to apply to as many as possible now.

My oldest son goes to Tacony Academy also. My youngest goes to Forrest. My son at Tacony Academy has an IEP. I like how they handle special education over there. No separate room for special ed. He's simply taken out of class for the subjects he needs help in, and taught in a small group. The emotional support they offer is extraordinary. The only thing that bugs me is he takes the bus so it's a LONG day for him. He's on the bus at 7:30am and home at 4pm. Obviously, this isn't the school's fault though.

He didn't even have an IEP before he went there. They are the ones who got it all together for us.

**Irish** · 12-03-2011, 08:39 AM

I'm curious, which catholic schools did you look into?
I have heard good things about New Foundations, although I have no personal experience. A friend sends her child there for high school. He went to catholic elementary and he really likes the school.

**caL** · 12-03-2011, 04:03 PM

Our Lady of Confidence Day School

Principal: Sr. Judith Moeller IHM
215-657-9311

**NJbound** · 12-03-2011, 05:36 PM

Originally Posted by mayfairmom3

Mast has a very long waiting list. My kids go to Tacony Academy Charter School and we love it! The only advice I can give you is to apply to as many as possible now.

Mast is not doing well.. Most of the really good teachers left last summer and the new Admin is having issues... Id stay away from mast. Tacony is good, NFCS and Franklin Towne are excellent.

**OldMama** · 12-03-2011, 05:36 PM

Are there opportunities to be in regular classes at Our Lady of Confidence? I remember it being an entirely special needs population. If this child can possibly be included, that may not be the best option (no disrespect to the school). Most kids with IEPs are not in full time special ed classes in public school. It depends on the level of need.

I have a lot of experience (36 years) with special education in the school district. Please feel free to PM me.

**KillyPumpkin** · 12-05-2011, 10:31 PM

Originally Posted by OldMama

Are there opportunities to be in regular classes at Our Lady of Confidence? I remember it being an entirely special needs population. If this child can possibly be included, that may not be the best option (no disrespect to the school). Most kids with IEPs are not in full time special ed classes in public school. It depends on the level of need.

I have a lot of experience (36 years) with special education in the school district. Please feel free to PM me.

Exactly. Idk what your son's special needs are but my son has Aspergers and ADHD. He also has a learning disability in certain areas and he's in occupational therapy. Despite all this he fits WELL into a reg. classroom. Not perfect but well, and he's still GIVEN that chance. I believe that alone has helped him. You def. don't want your son being thrown into a full time classroom.

I'm not sure about First Philadelphia, but they are one and the same with TAC. Might be worth applying to also.

**mayfairmom3** · 12-05-2011, 11:09 PM

Originally Posted by KillyPumpkin

Exactly. Idk what your son's special needs are but my son has Aspergers and ADHD. He also has a learning disability in certain areas and he's in occupational therapy. Despite all this he fits WELL into a reg. classroom. Not perfect but well, and he's still GIVEN that chance. I believe that alone has helped him. You def. don't want your son being thrown into a full time classroom.

I'm not sure about First Philadelphia, but they are one and the same with TAC. Might be worth applying to also.

My son also has Aspberger's and ADHD. He is thriving at TACS.

**christina1003** · 12-06-2011, 04:28 AM

Thanks for all the replies....the notifications didn't come through that there were any!

Mayfairmom3 - thanks! I did apply at MaST, so I assume we'll know more in March with the lottery drawing. Where is TAC at? Do they provide bussing for all students? (Sorry if this is a dumb question, but I am clueless about this whole starting school thing since he's my first)

KillyPumpkin - wow that sounds great, it's nice to hear such a positive review of a school! Do you work FT, or is there someone at home when he gets home? I'm nervous because I do work FT...Im either going to have to cut my hours or somehow look into after care.

Irish - when his IEP was first started last year, I proactively started looking for schools that would be a good fit for Kindergarten. I looked at St. Katherine's website and at the time, there was a disclaimer of some sort that read (I'm paraphrasing), "...we cannot make accommodations students that require special needs or additional learning support at this time..". I looked for it again just now on their website, but the entire site has been redesigned and strangely enough the link for 'learning support' is just a blank page. My husband's similar experience growing up in a catholic elementary school has me leery of the catholic school system honestly. I've heard good things about NF high school.....but nothing about their elementary so far so I'm curious too.

caL - thanks! I believe some of the posts further down have said what I was going to say - he doesn't need special education all.the.time...just needs a helping hand in some areas. So a special needs school would not work for him.

NJbound...love the name btw. Do you have personal experience with saying MaST is not doing well? Not being snarky, just being completely curious...I'd definitely like to know more about that 'vibe'! Where / what is Franklin Towne?

OldMama - I think I'll take you up on that PM.

Right now, our 'home' elementary school is Holme Elementary I believe.

KillyPumpkin & mayfairmom3 - that's pretty much hitting the nail on the head. He does great in the classroom....but needs help with social skills, communication, sensory, and attention skills. He's thriving in his preschool where right now he gets support twice a week for an hour, and they want to move forward with OT. He doesn't do well in large classes (too much stimulation) but with enough time he does acclimate to it. I dont' see how that can be avoided though.

**Irish** · 12-06-2011, 06:08 AM

St. Dominic does have learning support. You may want to check it out to see if it would be a good fit for your child if the charter schools don't work out.

**christina1003** · 12-06-2011, 03:36 PM

Originally Posted by Irish

St. Dominic does have learning support. You may want to check it out to see if it would be a good fit for your child if the charter schools don't work out.

Thanks, I will, I didn't think of St. Dominic!

**ariannehowell** · 09-14-2012, 01:53 AM

My friend told me about this foundation that is really good when it comes to education. She send her child to this school and her daughter easily adopt the environment of this school and she loves it very much. You should check about New Foundation and you can see their good hands when it comes to children.

**NJbound** · 09-14-2012, 08:08 AM

christina1003- What became of your situation??

**KillyPumpkin** · 09-14-2012, 07:46 PM

Originally Posted by NJbound

christina1003- What became of your situation??

I was wondering also. I never answered her either. In case she sees this, Tacony Academy has a great aftercare program so I've heard. Also affordable. We're on year 3 at TACS, and things are still great. They always revise his IEP as needed and are in VERY close contact with me always.

I hope she found a solution. :/

My youngest is still at Forrest, but luckily he's had the best teachers so far. His kindergarten teacher was the best teacher either of my kids have had so far.

**christina1003** · 09-18-2012, 02:24 PM

When my son's IEP was revised in the Spring, we were very sad to learn his needs outweighed what the standard school system could offer him. Unfortunately it meant finding a private specialized program for the next year or two (or more I guess) until he can make sufficient progress to be returned to mainstream school.

I will still face the issue in two years, because I know he will continue to need the additional support options. Although they are not excessive needs (OT therapy 2x a week, the assistance of an aide during class time to help keep focused) they are still considered more than the school systems are able to provide to him. Ironically, his intelligence is far above the grade level that is for his age. So far, I've managed a patchwork of changing my work hours, asking family to change their working hours, and paying for before care to manage the non-school (8-830, 330-5) hours.

I'm not sure if continuing to apply to charter schools (to get on waiting list) before having the go ahead he is ready is the right decision to make. I do wish I could have had a crystal ball before having children, because I would have done more research on how to make the best situation for my son rather than being so reactionary!

Originally Posted by KillyPumpkin

I was wondering also. I never answered her either. In case she sees this, Tacony Academy has a great aftercare program so I've heard. Also affordable. We're on year 3 at TACS, and things are still great. They always revise his IEP as needed and are in VERY close contact with me always.

I hope she found a solution. :/

My youngest is still at Forrest, but luckily he's had the best teachers so far. His kindergarten teacher was the best teacher either of my kids have had so far.