Special Needs Education: Public or Private Schooling?
Parents of a special needs child reaches a major dilemma when their child reaches school age. They are faced with finding the best educational setting for their child. Is it best for them to place their child in public school or should they look for special education at a private school?
While federal laws have mandated that children who have special needs must be allowed to be educated in the public school system with accomodations, it is not always that simple. While accomodations to give a special needs child a fair start sounds picture perfect in theory it does not always play out the way it should. The parents become the child’s biggest, and sometimes only, advocate. Often times the teachers or administrators are not aware with the regulations that come from IDEA and ADA or other local statutes put in place for special education. This means it become the parent’s job to learn all of their child’s rights and inform the teachers about these statutes.
Private schools is another option for parents who feel the public school system is failing their child. In a private facility the child is more likely to get more attention than in a public school because they are specializing in special needs. In addition to that there is a lower student to teach ratio which is often very helpful when dealing with children who are overloaded by too many people. While private schools can offer a more specialized education it comes with a very hefty price tag that often are too much for many parents to pay.
Each option can offer good experiences for children with special needs. There is no best overall answer, there is only the best answer for each child individually. Public and private schools have their positives and negatives, it is up to the parents to choose what is best for their child to grow in.
