Medical Need for School Choice - ADHD

[erbear]

I'm not sure I understand. What is the goal in this? To get the school to support your child's ADHD or to somehow get the government to write off your tuition? I don't think that's a thing. If the former, do it and get it to the school -- my (private) school doesn't have IEPs but we do create individualized education plans for kids with diagnoses, including ADHD, and they have access to accmmodations.

[ny96]

Never mind. In doing some research I’m finding that it has to be a school for kids with special needs.

[waverly]

I missed the initial post but yes school for special needs. They call them therapeutic schools here and typically they would need to agree that the child needs a more restricted environment. Not sure if that was the question.

Our public school does serve some IEP needs for private school students but not sure how that translates for ADHD. For example they offer speech services for private school students, support groups (not IEP related), bussing services etc.

[penguingrrl]

I missed the OP but if you want any info on out of district schools I’d be happy to chat. I have a kid in a therapeutic school and another likely headed to the same one my older kid attends.

There are a lot of different types of out of district schools. Some are therapeutic, some handle specific learning disabilities (dyslexia being a big one), some work with children with intellectual disabilities, there are a lot. Typically getting a district to pay for it can be difficult, but not always. Our district worked with us very easily once we determined my kid needed it, and I’m hoping it goes that smoothly for my second (we’re currently building a case showing that his needs aren’t met).

These schools are very expensive (in NJ day schools run $70K+ plus transportation costs in the tens of thousands a year), so districts will only do it when all other options are exhausted, and they have to prove that such a highly restrictive environment is warranted due to laws requiring least restrictive possible.

[ny96]

I think the school we have chosen will be great. I am certain that he would not do well in our large middle school, but I don’t think he needs a special education school either. I was not trying to skirt tax laws or “have the government pay for my child’s private education” I was just looking to see if the tax deduction could apply to us since our school choice is due to ADHD. I see that our situation wouldn’t apply, matter closed.

Thanks for answering everyone.

[pinkpeony08]

Would just proceed carefully and investigate the rules in your state.

I live in WI and private schools (even while accepting public funding) are permitted to discriminate against kids with special needs and kids who require IEP. I have a neighbor who has a child who began to struggle more with ADHD at the private school they adored, and the private school said he was no longer welcome to attend. They were devastated. He has now settled into a local public school where they are now very pleased, but it was really a rough road.

[erbear]

Jul 23, 2024 20:06:14 GMT -5 pinkpeony08 said:

Would just proceed carefully and investigate the rules in your state.

I live in WI and private schools (even while accepting public funding) are permitted to discriminate against kids with special needs and kids who require IEP. I have a neighbor who has a child who began to struggle more with ADHD at the private school they adored, and the private school said he was no longer welcome to attend. They were devastated. He has now settled into a local public school where they are now very pleased, but it was really a rough road.

This is not discrimination. Private schools don't have to and often are not equipped to manage learning and attention issues. It's better to tell a family that they can't properly serve a child's needs than to allow them to flounder and fail whilst taking their money.

[niq]

The IEP paperwork we get has a big section about how you have to work collaboratively with the school district to try and find a success strategy that does not cost the taxpayers $40k/year before you can get them to reimburse you for private tuition at a therapeutic school. And realistically getting reimbursed requires an active failure by the school.

Special needs management varies a lot by district. Have you talked to a local IEP consultant about what realistic expectations are, what supports your should ask for from the school, etc.?

[ny96]

Jul 25, 2024 13:32:51 GMT -5 niq said:

The IEP paperwork we get has a big section about how you have to work collaboratively with the school district to try and find a success strategy that does not cost the taxpayers $40k/year before you can get them to reimburse you for private tuition at a therapeutic school. And realistically getting reimbursed requires an active failure by the school.

Special needs management varies a lot by district. Have you talked to a local IEP consultant about what realistic expectations are, what supports your should ask for from the school, etc.?

I wasn’t looking to get the school district to pay for our tuition, just trying to see if we could qualify for a tax deduction. I know a few families who have successfully sued the district which is now paying for their private school tuition. We were never at the end of our rope with what the district could provide, we just knew that DS would not thrive at our local middle school.