If your child has special needs, choosing the right school can be a scary and terrifying experience, in part because the special education process can be extremely confusing.
In addition, the language often is spoken in acronyms. For example, some common acronyms include IEP, MET, LRE and FAPE. The list of special education acronyms can go on and on and often make very little sense. But when it comes down to it, the most important thing to know is the fact all states and schools must follow a federal law known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 2004 (IDEA).
What Parents Should Know about the IDEA Law
IDEA, an important special education law, protects parents and children with disabilities. The law ensures students with disabilities have access to a free public education appropriate to the student (Free and Appropriate Education) and the student has access to the general education classroom as much as possible (Least Restrictive Environment).
The law also protects parents by allowing them to be involved in every point of the educational decision-making process. Regardless of what school you choose for your child, parents should feel secure knowing they are protected under the federal IDEA law.
Knowing Your Options: The Positives and Negatives
Local Public School
The local public school is a great choice for parents looking for something close to home and where the neighborhood children go to school. In addition, the cost is free, and the public school has the ability to offer a variety of special education services. It is likely the school will have a specialist already on staff, making it easy for your child to get what he needs at his own school without traveling.
Although these benefits sound very nice, special needs children often are placed in larger classrooms due to funding shortfalls. This makes instruction less individualized than what you would find at a private school or charter school.
Charter School
Charter schools are public institutions also providing special education services. Some charter schools even have a particular mission or focus to help children with specific disabilities. The class sizes generally are smaller, allowing instruction to be more individualized.
Although having smaller class sizes is nice, charter schools may not have the variety of special education services you would find at your public school. Additionally, charter schools may not be able to provide the level of support needed for some children with more severe disabilities.
Private School
Private schools are great because class sizes often are small, and academics may be more rigorous for your child. With the smaller class sizes, your child will get more individualized attention and have fewer distractions than those at a public school. However, private schools tend to be very expensive. Scholarships are sometimes available.
In addition, private schools are not required to provide all the same special education services as a public school. If your child qualifies for special education services, you can opt to send him to the local public school for these services or receive equitable services at the private school he attends. The money set aside for equitable services often is very limited. Thus your child may receive fewer services due to limited funding.
In the end, this can be a very difficult decision for parents to make. Parents should consider the level of support their child needs when deciding what school is best. Always find comfort in the law that it is here to protect you and your child. The law ensures a free and appropriate education is provided to those children with disabilities regardless of the school you choose.
Resources for Parents
For more information, HelpChildrenSucceed.com.