? about screenig and picking a program

I started calling schools to make sure they got DS's packet. Of course the district flucked up and only sent out for 1/2 day and half of them are getting put to the side because some schools (like BCCS and Barbara C. Wilson) dont have p/t programs My district is sending out a revised letter.

Any who, some of the school want to set up tours/screening for summer and full. Did you tour all the schools? Did all the schools screen your DC to let you know where placement would be (self-contained, integrated, etc.)? Did they screen even if you had not decided 100% yet on that school?

I am confused and dont know how it works. I have an appt. for a tour and screening on the 21st with BCCS (at the recommendation or another LIF mommy ).

ETA: The schools I definetely know they sent packets to are:
Little Village
Barbara C. Wilson
BCCS in Old Brookville (I think this is the smaller of their schools on Wheatley Rd.)
Variety (which I have heard iffy things about)
ACDS

And I know there were 3 or 4 more but I am not sure who they are. We are looking for immediate placement but I already contacted the ones above and they have no openings.

Message edited 3/10/2011 12:04:14 PM.

Re: ? about screenig and picking a program

I did tours by myself of a couple of schools before DS was approved to decide where I wanted his packet sent after he was approved.

He was approved for a full day and the only school of the ones we requested the packet be sent to that did not call us for a screening was Barbara C. Wilson, but when I went on the tour, they pretty much told me that they wouldn't have an opening for him, so it didn't surprise me.

The schools who had full day and half day programs had me come in for a screening even if they didn't have a full day spot, because they knew there was a possibility that we wouldn't find one and would need a half day spot, and they did have openings for half day.

Re: ? about screenig and picking a program

Re: ? about screenig and picking a program

You are going to the screening to see if the class is a good fit for your DC. My DS was currently enrolled in a half day program, so we didn't do a screening there, we knew the school and the program.

We had 3 other screenings and I think they even asked what other schools we looked at. We went late in the school year, so I did feel a little pressure from the schools to make a decision if they had a spot for him, because they were trying to wrap up their enrollment before the summer break. One of the programs never called us back after the screening, but we were OK with that, since we wouldn't have agreed to place DS there anyway. Two of the schools told us at the end of the screening that we had the spot if we wanted it, but we had to let them know ASAP. One called to follow up with us, the other did not. We had an appointment for a 4th screening but had to reschedule and then before we would have gone there, we decided on a placement, so didn't keep the appointment.

And they aren't supposed to screen him before the district approves him for a program. I think they can get in trouble for doing that. I did tours first, then had my meeting with the district, the district sent out the package, then we went for screenings.

Message edited 3/10/2011 2:15:31 PM.

Re: ? about screenig and picking a program

We had a different experience than most I think. I toured all the schools that I thought I would like. My therapists at the time discussed what setting we thought my DD would do the best in and that is what I went to the schools telling them I was interested in. We wanted a 12.1.1 capped at 10.

I found two schools I liked and made sure they had availability, then had my CPSE meeting told them what I wanted and at the meeting we called the school I picked to confirm acceptance.

That was it. We did no screenings at any school. We were only looking for 1/2 day so I think it is a little easier to find than a full day but the process was super quick and easy for us.

Re: ? about screenig and picking a program

A tour: you look at the school (usually with the social worker), you ask Qs. Nothing can really be done. You don't need your SD packet.

Screening: I brought DS' own toys, stuff he liked. Reinforcers (food for us). I did for DS' school. He did great, they were very impressed. Boces would use their own stuff. Just bring things DS like to play with. It will look like you know what you are doing, involved, etc... It's prep 101 on school screening. Yes, that's the game! Most schools won't do a screening without your packet.

Availability: Most schools will not really give you an answer until they have your packet and did the screening. BCW led us to believe they had room, etc... until I did all the screenings, etc... was I told that they did not have room AND they wanted to put DS in a bigger ratio class and a waiting list. NOT happy! I personaly do not like how they handled anything from the tour to the screening. Their social worker is a complete witch. She told me that DS would get behavioral issues if DS would go to any school because... well because if someone told me otherwise, they were just telling me lies. Just what a mom sending her kid to preschool at 3 yo wants to hear.

Re: ? about screenig and picking a program

Re: ? about screenig and picking a program

Re: ? about screenig and picking a program

Posted by Mommy2Boys

Posted by smdl

Screening: I brought DS' own toys, stuff he liked. Reinforcers (food for us). I did for DS' school. He did great, they were very impressed. Boces would use their own stuff. Just bring things DS like to play with. It will look like you know what you are doing, involved, etc... It's prep 101 on school screening. Yes, that's the game! Most schools won't do a screening without your packet.

How long do the screenings take? What do they do, a full evaluation? What kind of stuff should I bring? DS is always open to new toys so I'm not sure that would be an issue for him, as long as their are boy toys like cars, trucks and trains

Re: ? about screenig and picking a program