Questions to Ask When Choosing a Special Needs Classroom

 Back to school season is a highly exciting time for families, but it can also be just as stressful—potentially even more so for families of children with special needs. If you are getting ready to send your child back to a school they’ve already attended or to school for the first time, take time to explore these questions and consider their answers in order to secure a best fit for your child.

1. What is the student:teacher ratio?

Classes designed for students with special needs often have a lower student-to-teacher ratio than a general education class. But when assessing whether or not a classroom or school will meet your child’s needs, you may need more precise information on the number of certified teachers and paraprofessionals, as well as the total number of students in the room.

2. Will my child have the opportunity to interact with their neurotypical peers?

Practicing social skills with other students outside of their special needs classroom will be very beneficial for your child. You may want to make sure they will have the chance for this interaction at various times of the day such as recess, lunch, and specials like art or music classes.

3. Are there push-in or pull-out resources?

Does the school have on-site therapists or interventionists of any kind who will go into the classroom to provide extra support or pull students out to work one-on-one? Some schools even provide a pull-out time where students participate in a gen ed classroom for part of the day.

4. What is the discipline plan?

Ask about how teachers plan to address behavior issues as they arise. Do they use positive reinforcement or only negative consequences? How will they communicate with you about your child’s behavior or other issues?

5. Does the focus of the curriculum meet the needs of my child?

Some schools, unfortunately, set the bar too low for students with special needs so that no one “falls behind” in their goals. When, in reality, students may need more ambitious content-based goals in order to begin to see necessary academic growth. You know your child best, and before settling on any school, it is important to consider if the curriculum is challenging enough—or too challenging—for your child.

Positive Reinforcement provides in  ABA therapy services to Richmond Virginia, Somerset Kentucky and surrounding areas