Is a special education school right for your child? These schools can be public, nonpublic or private and often utilize different teaching methods than traditional public schools, as well as professional training programs, that are specially designed for students with disabilities.
Though the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act guarantees that all students with disabilities have access to public school education at no cost, some families choose private and nonpublic schools that charge tuition in favor of their specialized programming. Many states offer financial assistance programs to help shoulder the cost.
To apply to these schools, students typically receive an evaluation to determine their disability and educational needs. But it can be difficult to determine which school is right for you. Here are some factors to keep in mind as you explore schools in the Chesapeake area.
Demographics
While some special education schools cover a wide range of disabilities, including physical, intellectual, developmental and learning disabilities, others are more specific — and may be a better option for children with that disability.
For example, the Radcliffe Creek School in Chestertown specializes in teaching students with learning differences, such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, ADHD and language processing disorders. Because students with these conditions may not thrive in a standard public school learning environment, the school offers different classes for students with varying skill levels so they can receive extra instruction in areas they need it.
Of course, schools catering to a wider range of needs can give your child the opportunity to meet and befriend students with other disabilities and learn more about them.
Curriculum
The way subjects are taught can vary greatly between special education schools. It can depend on the age of students taught or the kinds of disabilities they have. Some special education schools will take their students through the standard public school curriculum used for their district, but with the use of adaptive tools and additional resources.
Others use completely different approaches to teaching. Individualized education is common at special needs schools, as they take students’ specific needs into account and help to tailor the curriculum to their learning style. In both public and nonpublic special education programs, it is common for parents to fill out an Individualized Education Program (IEP) plan for their child, outlining their specific needs and learning style.
For example, students at The Summit School in Edgewater are grouped into small classes based on their individual profiles and learning styles. This way, the students can be taught using the methods they learn best from, rather than a uniform approach that may not properly educate all students.
Other common approaches to learning at special education schools include multisensory learning, which engages the five senses and allows students to get hands-on experiences with the subjects they are learning about, and arts-based learning, as art can help students with communication difficulties to better express themselves.
Therapy
In addition to a regular school curriculum, many special education schools such as The Harbour School at Annapolis offer therapy programs for students. These usually include occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy and in-school counseling.
While many public schools also offer therapy services, students often have to miss classes to take therapy, as the regular curriculum is not made with extra time for therapy in mind.
According to the National Institutes of Health study “Therapy use for U.S. school-aged children with developmental disabilities: State variation and determinants,” in-school therapy can be especially helpful for developing children’s physical, language, emotional and social skills, as developmental disabilities affect children early in life. Administering therapy at an early age can help children with disabilities develop important life skills.
Post-School Programming
Graduating high school at age 18 and heading off to college may not be an option for all students with disabilities or neurodivergence. If your child is older, or you’re already looking ahead to the future, you may want to consider what resources special education schools offer to help adult students enter the workforce, go to college or receive continuing care.
Some schools teach students into adulthood. For example, the High Road School of Anne Arundel County in Millersville teaches students up to age 21 and offers transition and school-to-work programs that teach students important career skills. There are even on-campus businesses where students in these programs can work so that they can gain career experience before graduating.
