Re: Choosing a school district...

[Guest guest]

Since I have older kids, I'd like to add another perspective to this. Look carefully at the high school programs as well in the district. How strong is the vocational training if you don't think your kids will be going to college? If you think they might be able to go to college, look at the support they might be able to offer your kids.

I know for a fact that a lot of the east-side school districts go to CEVEC for vocational training in high school. This includes Beachwood, Cleveland Heights, Shaker, Solon, Bedford, Mayfield - probably some others. We have had a horrible experience with CEVEC with our daughter Diane, and a lot of other parents that I know have had similar experiences. CEVEC is great for lower-functioning (sorry don't know the politically correct term here) kids, but don't handle the higher-functioning kids well at all.

Gail

[Guest guest]

Gail,

Thanks so much for your input about the importance of a district's

vocational program. I can truthfully say I would have never

considered it. With my son being only four years old sometimes it is

difficult to see past elementary school; but you are correct, the

time for college or vocational training will occur and it should

enter into our decision when choosing a district. I will be sure to

ask about that when I speak with our potential district.

Thanks again,

Janice

--- In , " Gail Buffington " <gailbuf@...>

wrote:

>

> Since I have older kids, I'd like to add another perspective to

this. Look

> carefully at the high school programs as well in the district. How

strong is

> the vocational training if you don't think your kids will be going

to

> college? If you think they might be able to go to college, look at

the

> support they might be able to offer your kids.

>

> I know for a fact that a lot of the east-side school districts go

to CEVEC

> for vocational training in high school. This includes Beachwood,

Cleveland

> Heights, Shaker, Solon, Bedford, Mayfield - probably some others.

We have

> had a horrible experience with CEVEC with our daughter Diane, and a

lot of

> other parents that I know have had similar experiences. CEVEC is

great for

> lower-functioning (sorry don't know the politically correct term

here) kids,

> but don't handle the higher-functioning kids well at all.

> Gail

>

[Guest guest]

When I was choosing a school district, my first call was always to

the special education director. That gave me an idea of the kinds of

programs and services available. I made sure I visited the schools

my son would be attending. I got to see the classrooms, meet the

teachers, and on occasion meet with school psychologists, speech or

ot providers, behavior specialist. This way I got the see the

setting my son would be in.

I also made an effort to talk to a parent with a child like mine,

currently in the district/grade. Some of the larger school districts

have what is called a Parent Mentor. This individual will give you

real life experiences. I believe at the time (about 3 years ago), I

found a website with the names of all the parent mentors for the

districts in this area. However, I have no idea where that website

is anymore. Another good avenue is to get in touch with the head of

the OPEN group. Most schools have this. You can usually find the

group head on the schools website. It is a parent support group for

kids with special needs and gifted students. They could lead you to

someone to talk to.

As far as questions to ask - look at your child's needs and ask them,

what will their day be like? How much inclusion is there? Is it

only self-contained class rooms? Will the child get social skills

with typically developing children? Is OT/speech/PT - one on one or

in groups or both? After school activities? Are ESY services

(extended year - summer school) provided? If so how is eligeblity

determined? What options for communciations are available between

teachers and parents? Is it daily, once a week, only when there is

an issue? Some of these questions can be asked directly to

adminstrators or teaches. But Parents usually give a more accurate

analysis of how this all works.

One question I didn't ask, but wish I did is what are the special ed

services like above 3rd grade. Its hard to look that far away when

you are still in pre-K/K. But you should know what the school

district has in place going forward. You don't want to have to make

a change again when the child gets older. I think in general schools

are still developing programs for older students, because the

increase in children on the spectrum is hitting them now. I know my

child isn't the first to go through the system, but it seems that

districts/teachers are still learning alot about how to instruct and

support our children.

I always laugh when the Cleveland magazine puts out the best school

district list each year. Because although it uses the statistics to

prove which is best, I never see real life proof that these school

districts are the best when it comes to special education. It would

be great if there was an all inclusive website, that gave you the

information you need to make this decision.

Feel free to ask me any more questions. Either on the board or off

line.

I will try to find that website that lists the parent mentors.

Kathy

>

> For those of you that moved to OH, how did you go about choosing a

> district? What data did you look at? Who did you talk to? Parents?

> School administrators? If so, what sort of questions did you ask?

In

> retrospect are there any questions you didn't ask but wish you did?

>

> *** I reposted this off my previous Solon Schools post because it

> seems a more general topic***

>

> I have been looking at the Ohio Dept of Ed website data that gives

> percentage of " disabled " students that are proficient in reading,

> writing, math, etc. Those statistics can be pretty depressing in

some

> districts, while in some others it is fairly good. Is that data even

> meaningful in terms of assessing what those districts are

> willing/able to do for kids on the spectrum? Is there other info out

> there?

>

> I feel like this is a great opportunity for my son IF I make the

> right choice. I feel like sometimes I am obsessing about this

> decision....

>

> Many thanks for any and all assistance,

>

> Janice

>

[Guest guest]

When I was choosing a school district, my first call was always to

the special education director. That gave me an idea of the kinds of

programs and services available. I made sure I visited the schools

my son would be attending. I got to see the classrooms, meet the

teachers, and on occasion meet with school psychologists, speech or

ot providers, behavior specialist. This way I got the see the

setting my son would be in.

I also made an effort to talk to a parent with a child like mine,

currently in the district/grade. Some of the larger school districts

have what is called a Parent Mentor. This individual will give you

real life experiences. I believe at the time (about 3 years ago), I

found a website with the names of all the parent mentors for the

districts in this area. However, I have no idea where that website

is anymore. Another good avenue is to get in touch with the head of

the OPEN group. Most schools have this. You can usually find the

group head on the schools website. It is a parent support group for

kids with special needs and gifted students. They could lead you to

someone to talk to.

As far as questions to ask - look at your child's needs and ask them,

what will their day be like? How much inclusion is there? Is it

only self-contained class rooms? Will the child get social skills

with typically developing children? Is OT/speech/PT - one on one or

in groups or both? After school activities? Are ESY services

(extended year - summer school) provided? If so how is eligeblity

determined? What options for communciations are available between

teachers and parents? Is it daily, once a week, only when there is

an issue? Some of these questions can be asked directly to

adminstrators or teaches. But Parents usually give a more accurate

analysis of how this all works.

One question I didn't ask, but wish I did is what are the special ed

services like above 3rd grade. Its hard to look that far away when

you are still in pre-K/K. But you should know what the school

district has in place going forward. You don't want to have to make

a change again when the child gets older. I think in general schools

are still developing programs for older students, because the

increase in children on the spectrum is hitting them now. I know my

child isn't the first to go through the system, but it seems that

districts/teachers are still learning alot about how to instruct and

support our children.

I always laugh when the Cleveland magazine puts out the best school

district list each year. Because although it uses the statistics to

prove which is best, I never see real life proof that these school

districts are the best when it comes to special education. It would

be great if there was an all inclusive website, that gave you the

information you need to make this decision.

Feel free to ask me any more questions. Either on the board or off

line.

I will try to find that website that lists the parent mentors.

Kathy

>

> For those of you that moved to OH, how did you go about choosing a

> district? What data did you look at? Who did you talk to? Parents?

> School administrators? If so, what sort of questions did you ask?

In

> retrospect are there any questions you didn't ask but wish you did?

>

> *** I reposted this off my previous Solon Schools post because it

> seems a more general topic***

>

> I have been looking at the Ohio Dept of Ed website data that gives

> percentage of " disabled " students that are proficient in reading,

> writing, math, etc. Those statistics can be pretty depressing in

some

> districts, while in some others it is fairly good. Is that data even

> meaningful in terms of assessing what those districts are

> willing/able to do for kids on the spectrum? Is there other info out

> there?

>

> I feel like this is a great opportunity for my son IF I make the

> right choice. I feel like sometimes I am obsessing about this

> decision....

>

> Many thanks for any and all assistance,

>

> Janice

>

[Guest guest]

parent mentor website is this:

http://www.thelinkto.org/parentmentor/

> >

> > For those of you that moved to OH, how did you go about choosing

a

> > district? What data did you look at? Who did you talk to?

Parents?

> > School administrators? If so, what sort of questions did you ask?

> In

> > retrospect are there any questions you didn't ask but wish you

did?

> >

> > *** I reposted this off my previous Solon Schools post because it

> > seems a more general topic***

> >

> > I have been looking at the Ohio Dept of Ed website data that

gives

> > percentage of " disabled " students that are proficient in reading,

> > writing, math, etc. Those statistics can be pretty depressing in

> some

> > districts, while in some others it is fairly good. Is that data

even

> > meaningful in terms of assessing what those districts are

> > willing/able to do for kids on the spectrum? Is there other info

out

> > there?

> >

> > I feel like this is a great opportunity for my son IF I make the

> > right choice. I feel like sometimes I am obsessing about this

> > decision....

> >

> > Many thanks for any and all assistance,

> >

> > Janice

> >

>