7 Questions: Deciding on The Best School for Students with Special Needs

Finding a school that is the best fit for your family can be tricky, especially when you are looking for an environment where your student will not only get an excellent education but also will be able to explore their interests and passions. Let’s dive in!

The Basics

There are certain non-negotiables when it comes to picking the right school for your student with autism - for every family, they are different. 

What are your non-negotiables? Maybe it’s having teachers and staff that have had special education experience, funding options, a certain class size, transportation, or a wide range of electives. 

You can start by making a list of schools. Take a look at their websites and peruse through their About Us page, where you can learn about their values and approach. You will also want to learn about their programs, figure out what tuition costs are, and see what other parents have said on their testimonials page. 

You will also want to determine if the school can meet your student’s specific needs. For that purpose, you will want to reach out to the school and talk to someone on their team and even do a virtual tour. 

If you put all of this information in the same place, you can compare the school’s features side by side to see the pros and cons of each. 

Consider the School’s Culture 

You can get crucial details about the school’s culture by reading its mission statement, which is often posted on its website. 

Consider whether the language communicates an inclusive message. Do they mention something about technology, arts, aside from academics? A selection of extracurricular activities? Does it mention supporting the needs of every learner? Or give off a community feel?

Also, consider checking their school calendar, as it can reveal a lot about their priorities. Find the events listed for families and students and whether the school is involved locally or offers extra activities for its students. Do these listings convey interest and inclusiveness in the wider community? 

And finally, ask yourself what feeling you receive upon checking out the school’s website. Trust your instinct and use this collected information to create a list of your top schools. 

Visit the School 

The best way to get a sense of whether the school is a good fit by touring it virtually or in-person. If it’s a public school, you should let them know that your teen has an IEP. Do they have the resources to support a teen with special needs?

If you are visiting a private or charter school, some schools have waiting lists, while others aren’t equipped to meet all of the needs of each teen. You should try to be up front about your teen’s learning profile and specific needs and behaviors and what you are searching for in a school so that you don’t waste time on programs that aren’t suitable for your student.

Also, touring schools will allow you to ask more extensive questions than you can on an initial phone call. You will get a sense of what the whole school setting is like.

 7 Important Questions to Consider 

1. (Public) What is the behavior plan of your school? Do all teachers follow it? Is the protocol different for students with special needs? Can your school make changes schoolwide, and in the classroom, to accommodate IEP goals or behavior plans? 

   The school must have a protocol for working with students with special needs. 

2. (Public) If your teen spends time in a general education classroom, how much training does the teacher have in special education? Do they have experience with the accommodations or modifications my teen needs? 

   If not, are they open to working with my teen’s service providers, and me, to meet such needs? 

3. (Public) What is the model of special education that your school offers? Does the student with special needs spend part or all of their day in a self-sufficient classroom? Are they involved with their peers in some special activities or subjects? 

4. (Public, Private, Charter) What is the staff turnover at your school? 

   Remember that high turnover rates could indicate that teachers aren’t satisfied, are unhappy, or aren’t being adequately paid, which can mean less committed staff.

   If you can’t learn that information from the principal, you can ask families whose teens attend the same school or check out some parenting forums to see if that concern has been discussed. 

5. (Public, Private, Charter) What is your school’s communication policy? Will I hear from the teacher regularly or just during teacher-parent conferences? How accessible are the principal and teacher to parents? Does the school consider the parents to be members of the team that supports our teen?

6. (Public, Charter) What happens if my teen meets or doesn’t meet their IEP goals? 

   Take note that IEP goals must be assessed at least once each year and more often if parents ask. That’s true whether or not the goals are met. On top of that, the same goals must be continued year after year if the teen isn’t making any progress with them. 

7. (Public, Private, Charter) When you tour the school… What is the school environment? Does it feel welcoming and friendly or sterile and cold? Is there student work posted around the school? Do the students seem happy in the classrooms and hallways? 

If you’re still considering how to pick a school for your student with autism, remember that no school is perfect. Not every school will have the best responses to all the above questions, even though it is likely that there will be a few schools that stand out from the rest.

Consider which aspects of the school’s support services and learning environment matter the most for your family and teen. Essentially, ask which of the schools you have toured feels right to you and your teen. After that, you can proceed to the applications. 

Programs should not only focus on education, but also developing your student’s social skills, exploring their interests, and also, creating a safe and inclusive environment. If you’re interested in learning more about our K-12 customized programs, how we group teens by ability and not age, and our 20+ electives in a wide range of subjects, and even our hands-on transition program for teens, schedule a virtual tour now.