Best School District for Children with IEPs
My husband and I are currently in the process of finding a school district in the bay area that will meet all of our children's needs. Currently, our children attend a private school. Though this school has offered our children an array of support, both academically and emotionally, along with providing exceptional extracurricular activities and small class sizes, we believe our children would benefit from services (OT, counseling, resource room) that this private school isn't able to provide to the extent a public school can. This is why we are considering looking into the public school sector. My oldest child has dyslexia, and ADHD, along with anxiety and has an IEP. My other child has ADHD, sensory issues, and anxiety and would like a school district that provides services to meet their individual needs along with providing them with the academic and emotional support they have come accustomed to by being in the private school environment.
We have heard that Lafayette, Albany, and Berkeley provide great support for students with IEPs along with Mill Valley, but we really don't know much about any of the school districts as a whole. Next year, my one child will be in 6th grade while my other children will remain in elementary.
Can you please provide any feedback on any of the school districts listed or any other districts not mentioned to see if they would possibly be a good fit for my children? My husband and I are willing to move to provide the best possible experience for our children.
Thank you for your time and recommendations in advance.
Parent Replies
I work in the school district at the high school level that connects to Mill Valley, though in Marin it's a bit odd because all the elementary, middle and high school districts are all on their own. So while I can't speak to every small district within Marin, I can say that special education program at the high school that I work at (Archie Williams HS in San Anselmo, in the same district at Tam HS in Mill Valley)) is EXCELLENT and I would assume it's similar across this high school district. I've worked at schools in San Francisco, Oakland, and Richmond, and the program here is in an entirely different category. I know many families that move to this area for the schools.
I am also looking into this. Areas I have heard that are great in addition to Albany and Lafayette are Belmont and Palo Alto. I wanted to mention that you may still be eligible for services, even if you are not attending a public school. It is a logistical issue for parents/kids, but private school kids are still eligible for public funds for special education purposes, you just have to be available and get there. My non-verbal son was inexplicably not accepted into the public, inclusive preschool, but they still need to provide the services that the state gives them money to provide. I would start at your local district now, and request an IEP meeting. Moving house may take a long time, and getting services set up stat would be helpful down the road if you do move, and build a proper case in your new district. Get an advocate. Don't accept what the public school says as fact; often they turn away deserving kids who need help and it is extremely frustrating. If your local district cannot provide FAPE to your kids now, and that is why they are in private school, that does not preclude their legal obligation to provide therapeutic services to support them. A local advocate can best direct you, and save you a lot of time and anguish. I advise you to start consulting with the advocate very soon after requesting IEP meetings, so you know your rights before engaging with them.
Hi,
We live in Lafayette. The best support is a speech therapist for Dyslexia or something like Lindamood Bell. School speech therapists address enunciation. OT, Physical therapy and counseling are done through your medical or privately. Its my belief, and experience, that kids benefit from outside supports. While it is costly the public schools do not really provide beneficial support for this. The school are not really there for remediation and you will waste your childs developmental time. A good nueropsych (sp)can be helpful if they can suggest supports for remediation.
I am sorry I cant be more positive about this but you can get good care outside of the schools.
If your private schools are kind I would stay there.