How to evaluate a private special education school
A practical set of questions and things to look for on a school visit: approval, staffing, programme fit, data, transitions and communication.
Choosing a special education school is one of the bigger decisions a family makes, and the school's brochure will not tell you everything. This guide suggests what to check before you visit, what to ask, and what to look for while you are there. It is a starting checklist, not a rating system, and we do not rate or rank schools.
Before you visit: the basics
- State approval and licensing. Ask the school what state approvals it holds and check with your state education department. If you hope for a district-funded placement, the school usually needs to be on the state's approved list. The federal placement rule says a child placed by a public agency in a private school must receive an education that meets applicable standards.
- Accreditation. Ask which body accredits the school and confirm it with that body. Accreditation and state approval are different things.
- Who the school serves. Ask which disabilities, ages and levels of need the school works with, and whether your child's profile matches. Schools that describe themselves as special education schools vary widely.
- Data from NCES. Each profile here shows what the school reported: grades, number of students, teacher full-time equivalents and students per teacher. These are self-reported and may be out of date.
Questions for the admissions team
- What does a typical day look like for a student like my child?
- How do you use the child's IEP? Do you write your own plans, and how do you report progress against IEP goals?
- Which related services are provided on site (speech-language, occupational therapy, physical therapy, counselling, behavioural support), and by whom? Which do we need to arrange elsewhere?
- What are the qualifications and licensing of teachers and therapists? How long have they worked here, and what is staff turnover?
- What is the ratio of adults to students in the classroom I will be in?
- How do you handle challenging behaviour? Ask for the written policy on restraint and seclusion, and how families are notified if they are used.
- How and how often will we hear from you? Who is my point of contact?
- How do you prepare students for the next step, whether a return to a public school, a higher grade or adult services?
- What are the tuition, fees and extras, and what is refundable if a placement ends midyear? Get the enrolment contract to read before you sign.
On the visit
- Sit in on a class if the school allows it. Watch how staff talk to students and how students respond.
- Ask to see the therapy rooms and outdoor space, and what safety arrangements are in place.
- Ask to speak with current families, and ask what they wish they had known.
- Check whether the school can see the child in a trial day or observation period.
After the visit
Write down what you saw in the same order for each school so you can compare them fairly. Involve your child in the decision in whatever way suits their age. If you are hoping the district will pay, bring the school's information to the IEP meeting, and read our guide on private placement and the IEP first, because the steps you take, and when, can affect your options.
Red flags
- The school cannot explain its state approval or accreditation.
- Guarantees of outcomes or of “curing” a condition.
- Pressure to enrol or pay a deposit before you have visited or read the contract.
- No written policy on discipline, restraint or seclusion.
- Reluctance to let you observe or to put answers in writing.
Free help
Your state's Parent Training and Information Center can help you prepare for IEP meetings and understand the options. Find yours through the Center for Parent Information and Resources.