Brain diversity, or “neurodiversity,” is one of many aspects of diversity that form a child’s identity, and should be a factor when considering an appropriate school setting for a child. Neurodiversity presumes that all human brains exist along a continuum of competence, and in order for individual competencies to be cultivated, educational methods should match the specific learning styles and needs of students.
General education classrooms are typically not equipped to accommodate diverse learning styles, so for children whose educational needs are not being met in a mainstream classroom, there are public and non-public school options that meet the needs of children with developmental, social and learning differences.
Types of Public School Classroom Settings for Diverse Learners
To find out more about the types of public school learning environments listed below, you can visit the NYC Department of Education’s Special Education Programs page, as well as the special education section of Insideschools: The Center for New York City Affairs at the New School.
- Mainstream classroom, in which teachers use a Response to Intervention (RTI) approach for individual students, as needed
- Mainstream classroom with special staff support and/or adaptive devices (as mandated by a child’s IEP)
- Mainstream classroom with intervention services delivered by therapists/service providers in or out of the classroom (as mandated by a child’s IEP)
- Inclusive, integrated co-teaching (ICT) classroom, within a general education school, which consists of one general education teacher, one special education teacher, 60% general education students and 40% students with an IEP
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Nest (ASD Nest) classroom, within a general education school, designed specifically for a combination of general education students and students diagnosed with autism
- Self-contained special education classroom within a general education school (student/teacher ratios will vary)
- Special education school (District 75)
- Funded home instruction
- Funded hospital instruction
Types of Charter & Private School Settings for Diverse Learners
To find out more about the types of non-public school settings listed below, you can visit the New York State Association for Independent Schools for a full directory of independent schools. For further information on charter school options, visit the NYC Department of Education’s Charter School page. You can also visit the New York City Charter School Center to access resources and learn more about the NYC Special Education Collaborative.
- Charter or private general education schools
- Charter special education day schools
- Private special education day schools
- State-sponsored special education day schools
- Private in/out-of-state special education day programs
- State-sponsored in/out-of-state special education residential programs
Home Schooling
If you do not find a school that feels like the right fit for your child and are considering home schooling your child, whether on a short-term or long-term basis, you can visit the NYC Home Educators Alliance or HomeschoolNYC to learn more about home schooling resources in NYC. In addition, there are several home schooling resource centers that offer resources and classes for children who are home schooled in NYC, including Different Directions and The Resource and Opportunity Center for Homeschoolers.