SPECIAL EDUCATION:
Are Private Schools the Answer?
PUBLIC OR PRIVATE? THERE IS NO
ONE CORRECT ANSWER WHEN IT
COMES TO WHICH EDUCATION
SETTING IS RIGHT FOR YOUR CHILD.

WHEN PARENTS HAVE TO CONSIDER
OPTIONS FOR CHILDREN WITH
UNIQUE SUPPORT NEEDS, THE WATER
ONLY GETS MUDDIER.

Public schools have definite benefits
for children seeking special education, as
do private schools, but the answer often
depends on what’s best for your individual
child—and it’s up to you to make the
final decision.

Here we take a look at public and
private education models, using private
special education programs or schools in
Baltimore, the DMV, Frederick County and
the Delaware Valley to illustrate key factors
you should evaluate when choosing a
private special education option for
your child.

But first, we need to clarify what we
mean by private education.

22 Washington FAMILY OCTOBER 2022
WHAT DEFINES A PRIVATE SCHOOL?
When talking about private schools—
especially within the context of
special education—it’s important to
note the distinction between private and
nonpublic schools.

Nonpublic schools are not part of the
public school system but can provide stu-
dent services through state and federal
programs in the public school district
where the school is located, according to
the New Jersey Department of Education,
serving parts of the Delaware Valley region.

So special education students in these
schools would go through the same pro-
cess as public school students to receive
an individualized education program (IEP)
plan or 504 plan.

Private schools, however, are privately
funded and charge tuition. They provide
their own services and are not required to
accept all students.

Nonpublic schools can be indepen-
dent or private, but independent schools
have their own board of trustees oversee-
ing operations, while private schools can
be part of another entity, such as a church,
synagogue or corporation.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
CLASS SIZE
Private schools can be a worthwhile option
for students with disabilities because of
their flexibility to support smaller class
sizes. Specialized instruction can be
administered as directly as 1:1 or programs
can be tailored to your child’s unique
learning experience.

According to a study on class size reduc-
tion published in the International Journal
of Special Education, however, class size is
not the most important factor. Students
with disabilities benefit most when teach-
ers have specific inclusion training for
children with additional needs.

The Auburn School, serving Fairfax,
Va., Silver Spring, Md. And Washington
D.C., has a special focus on challenges
with communication and language, and
operates in a “highly personalized learn-
ing environment for children through
small class sizes, individualized learning
plans and a supportive school setting,”
according to the school.

This allows teachers to devote more
attention to each student, and for students
with disabilities, that interaction can make
KID-A / GETTY IMAGES
BY HEATHER M. ROSS