Finding the right school for your child is a labor of love for any parent, especially for parents of children who have support needs and learning differences. You are not alone in this struggle, although parents often feel as if they are.
Parents can reach out to various sources of support while searching for schools, including educational consultants who can provide professional guidance on finding an appropriate educational match for a child, as well as other parents who can share tips and advice in a parenting group, parent e-forum, or on Urban Exceptional’s Facebook group.
How Do I Find the Right School for My Child?
When searching for a well-matched academic setting for your child, there are many aspects of a school to consider. It is useful to begin with a checklist of school features that correspond with the learning, developmental and social-emotional profile of your child, such as a public or non-public school setting, support for different learning styles, student-to-teacher ratio, experience and diversity of staff, extra-curricular opportunities, transportation options and more.
After you have developed your checklist and a corresponding list of potential schools for your child, make time to tour each school and check off the features that you feel would serve your child best. It is useful to tour during school hours so that you can see students and instruction at work, and gain a feeling of the school environment and community. Once you have toured all potential schools, use your checklist to compare and contrast school choices for your child, and narrow down to your top choices.
Who Can Recommend Schools for My Child?
Having taught and observed your child in the classroom over time, your child’s teachers and school directors are generally a dependable reference to recommend other area schools that could best serve your child. Teachers and education administrators are typically very knowledgeable on surrounding schools within a community.
If your child has undergone a neuropsychological exam, a neuropsychologist can also recommend schools that may best compliment your child’s learning style and needs. Having conducted extensive testing with your child, neuropsychologists consider your child’s learning profile and can provide suggestions of schools that are most equipped to further your child’s academic and social growth.
What if My Child Has Been Given a Public School Assignment?
If your child has completed an evaluation through the NYC Department of Education and a public school assignment is listed in your child’s IEP, you should tour the school to ensure you agree with the proposed placement before signing consent of the IEP.
If you do not receive a Final Notice of Recommendation within 60 calendar days from the start of your child’s evaluation, or by August 15th of the upcoming school year, you should receive a Nickerson P1-R Letter. A Nickerson P1-R Letter states that your child can attend a state-approved, non-public day school at the expense of the NYC Department of Education for that upcoming school year, along with a listing of state-approved schools.
You will need to bring the Nickerson P1-R Letter and a copy of your child’s IEP when interviewing at a state-approved, non-public day school program. If you find a state-sponsored, non-public day school that you feel is a good fit for your child, and s/he is accepted to the school, you will receive a P-2 Letter confirming your child’s educational placement for the upcoming school year.
If after touring all school options you do not find an adequate public or state-sponsored, non-public day school program suitable for your child, you have the option of sending your child to a private special education program of your choice and hiring a special needs attorney to file suit against the NYC Department of Education for reimbursement of tuition. While this can be a lengthy and costly process, the benefits may far outweigh the challenges over the course of your child’s educational experience. To understand more about this process, you should consult with a special needs advocate or attorney.