What You Should Know About Private Schools

Published: Tue, 05/28/19

Has a school district told you that they finally realized they can't meet the needs of your child? And that they're looking at private school options?

Or do you just have a personal preference? And you want your children to go to a religious or other type of private school.

Or are you just done with the treatment that your child is getting in the public school, and you can no longer have your child in that situation? And you are ready to look at private schools?

Today we'll talk about 3 different private school scenarios and you'll find out what you should know about private schools.

Watch the condensed video, or the full interactive replay and/or catch the podcast of the episode. Links are below.

What You Need to Know About Private Schools

Watch the 21 minute condensed version of the episode on my YouTube channel. Click here.

Catch the replay of the interactive, Facebook live training. Click here.

Listen to the 21 minute podcast while you're swinging on your back porch (a favorite past time of mine). Click here.

SOMETHING NEW

The Key Take-Aways will now be taken from the condensed video so you can get the major points, in less time. The time stamps below are from the 21 minute video and podcast.

* What happens when the district says they can't meet your

child's needs and are looking at private school options? 3:35

* Whose responsible for making sure the IEP is implemented

when a district places your child in a private school? 4:04

* Who pays for the private school tuition when a district places

your child in a private school? 5:04

* When a district places your child in a private school do you and your

child retain your rights under IDEA? 5:22

* Second scenario – parent placed private school children 6:53

* What services will your child still be entitled to? 7:07

* Differences between IEP and Individual Service Plan 7:36

* What about school districts spending a proportionate

amount of their IDEA funding for services for students in

private schools? 8:51

* What's the formula for figuring out how much of the

district's IDEA money must go to kids in private schools? 10:05

* Why you need to know if the private school takes any

federal funding. 12:22

* Third scenario, unilateral placement by parents because of

a lack of FAPE 14:14

* What do you have to do in order to get the district to pay

for a private school? 15:05

Here are some quotes from the recent The Art of Advocacy show.

When there's consensus that a private school would be the appropriate placement, the public school remains the responsible party for paying the educational costs and ensuring the private school implements the IEP.

Charmaine Thaner

Parentally placed children in private schools, don't have that same entitlement for services that they would receive in public schools.

Charmaine Thaner

We know that sometimes it's difficult in public schools, to have the school district implement the IEP with fidelity. Chances are in many private schools, getting them to implement a service plan will also be challenging.

Charmaine Thaner

Districts can decide how they spend a proportionate amount of their IDEA funding for services for students and private schools. Some districts may think it's a better use of money if they provide professional development for the staff at the private school, instead of direct services.
Charmaine Thaner

The proportionate amount of the IDEA funding the district has to spend on students in private schools won't go very far. It's possible that some parentally placed children with disabilities will not receive any services and others might.

Charmaine Thaner

If your child's private or religious school accepts any federal financial assistance, then the school has to follow the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and they cannot exclude your child with a disability. Now, here's the caveat, if your child can with minor adjustments be provided an appropriate education by the school.

Charmaine Thaner

If a religious school or other type of private school does not accept any federal funding, then the school has no responsibility to provide accommodations for your child.

Charmaine Thaner

There are very specific things that you have to do in order to set your situation up that you can later come back and ask for reimbursement of the private school tuition. (see the letter template in the Resource section below).

Charmaine Thaner

Parents who unilaterally move a child to a private school in response to an unacceptable IEP, get reimbursement for a private school's tuition only if the public school has violated the IDEA and the private school is appropriate under IDEA. (see the 6th Circuit Court decision below in the Resources).

Charmaine Thaner

• Unilateral Parent Placement of Child in Private School

When you have evidence to show your child has not been receiving a FreeAppropriate Public Education (FAPE) and you have decided to pursue a private education, there are specific items you need to include in a written letter or email to the district special education director.

First, the timing of the letter - you need to notify the district in writing, 10 business days before you enroll your child in a private school. Notice the language says before you enroll your child. Don't turn in any enrollment papers, until it's been 10 business days that the district has received notice from you that you're going to be enrolling your child in a private school.

In the email you need to have stated your concerns with the current situation in the public school and you need to reject the proposed placement that is written in the IEP.

In order to get the district to pay for tuition, you probably are going to have to go through a due process hearing. You need to know that this is going to be a long process if you want to have the district reimburse you for the tuition costs of a private school.

It's time, energy and money for a due process hearing and a longer period of time if it's appealed to the court. It can be two to three years at a minimum, that you're going to have to be responsible for paying that private school tuition. You have to be prepared to financially fund a private school for your child while waiting to see if you get a favorable decision.

• Here’s a sample letter from the Center for Parent Information & Resources. Click here.

• Guide from IDEA Partnership about Children Enrolled by Their Parents in Private Schools. Click here.

• How Does The L.H. v. Hamilton's 6th Circuit Court Decision Impact Your Child's Education? Get a copy of my eBook. Click here.

• My interview of the family attorney and L.H.'s advocate. See the video, Click here.

Thursday, May 30th: Lunch with my grandchildren. No live show

because we'll be having milk shakes, chicken

strips, pancakes, and hotdogs celebrating my

grandkids' school year. Good thing there's a

restaurant they like that serves all of that for

lunch! :)

Thursday, June 6th: Ask an Advocate with Charmaine Thaner

Every 1st Thursday of the month we have an Ask

the Advocate show, so you can ask YOUR

questions.

Thursday, June 13th: Photos Grab Attention, Stories Capture Heart,

with our guest Barb Orozco

Our live shows are at Noon Mtn. Time, 2pm ET, 1pm CT, 11am PT.
We’ll be live at www.facebook.com/VisionsandVoicesTogether.
The replays will also be available.

See you soon!

P.S. I take serious my commitment to you for sharing valuable information so you can become an even more effective advocate for your child. I know how hard it can be as a parent to be heard by school staff, to have people have high expectations for your child, and for others to understand the incredible importance of accepting your child as they are.

Your child does not need fixing. Many education systems do, however. I say this as a retired public school teacher, parent of an adult with disabilities, and professional advocate.

If you find value with my work, please share it when possible. The more parents know about their rights and how to navigate the system, the more students will be happy, safe, and learning everyday beside their friends.

www.cspeda.com Free resources on my website

www.facebook.com/VisionsandVoicesTogether A new FB live training every Thursday! Also, a place we can connect!

www.youtube.com/c/CollaborativeSpecialEducationAdvocacy My YouTube channel with 150+ videos

https://soundcloud.com/stream Check out the weekly podcasts.

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charmaine@cspeda.com 208.340.5874 www.cspeda.com

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