Private Schools : Obtaining Accommodations

IDEA 2004 (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) does not apply to private schools. Children who attend public schools are entitled to a free appropriate education and an IEP, and they receive funding from the federal government. Private schools do not receive this funding and are not required to provide a free appropriate education or an IEP. They are not required to provide special education services to children with disabilities.  Unless  the private school specializes in teaching students with learning and attention issues, generally private schools are not covered under IDEA, the special education law.

In some cases however, private schools may still be able to offer accommodations to learning impaired students, such as:  if a public school places a child with an IEP in a private spec ed school as a part of the IEP, then the public school remains responsible for ensuring that the private school implements the IEP. Under some circumstances a public school district may pay for some special education services for a student with learning disabilities at private school as part of the school choice program.

Private schools are bound by Section 504 and cannot discriminate against a child with a disability for reasons related to the disability and might be responsible for providing modifications, accommodations, and access to educational opportunities (such as a ramp for a child in a wheelchair). However, this is not the case with learning disabilities.

This being said, some private schools are usually willing to provide certain accommodations like extra time on tests and assistive technology. A private school may also allow your child to be tutored at the school, during the class day, by a private tutor that you pay for.  But it’s possible that your child’s needs may be so great that the school will recommend you send him to a public school that has more resources.

For more information about private schools and accommodations for students with learning disabilities, call us (813)468-6528.

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