How
Do You Find a Good School District?
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I have
a son who is in special ed. kindergarten and is receiving great services.
We may have to move to another state because of my husband's job.
How do different states compare in sp. ed. services? I don't want
to leave our present situation if I can't find equal or better services
elsewhere. THANKS.
Answer
from Pete Wright
During
my consultations with parents and attorneys around the country, I've
found that special ed problems are nearly always the same, even when
one state is supposedly "better" than another. I've found that differences
in quality within states is very high, just as it is in schools within
the same jurisdiction.
If you
are debating where to live, analyze the quality of programs at different
public schools in the jurisdiction. Do not rely on the economic status
of the neighborhood. Affluent school systems are sometimes very arrogant
- and do not provide what they claim they provide. These districts often
do a good job of marketing their program.
The real
issue is whether or not a school focuses on teaching the children how
to read, write, spell and do arithmetic - or if the school focuses on
socialization, let's improve our self esteem and allow children to "discover"
skills"at their own pace.
Other schools
use modifications and accommodations, instead of teaching children the
"basic skills" they need to learn. Our children need to learn the three
"R's" to be successful.
Local parent
groups in the area are usually your best source of information. Contact
disabilities information groups and do research on the Internet for
more specific information.
Pete
