Q: I Am Interested In A Private School For My Son Or Daughter? I Can Only Spend A Certain Amount...
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Q: I Am Interested In A Private School For My Son Or Daughter? I Can Only Spend A Certain Amount For A School, Can You Help Me?
Answer: Yes. Maybe. Maybe not. Many parents who request a private school may not understand the difference between a private school and a private boarding school. We help parents to understand a specific school or program, with limits to the cost of a school. Some parents will find that it might be difficult working with a consultant when the cost for the program is higher than they can afford. In these instances, we try to help the parent no matter what the circumstance, but we provide options which are realistic. Consultants cannot determine the needs of a student based on a specific dollar amount attached to a school by the parent(s). Most consultants cannot afford to remain in this business when a parent has determined that they cannot afford a specific school or program. This does not mean we will not work with a parent, if the school is within our range for services. Many parents will find while searching for a school that most private schools may cost much more than public schools. We simply cannot afford to send a student to a junior boarding or upper level school that is less than the average public school. The average family paying regular taxes pays about $7, 300 per year in regular public school. So asking a consultant to find a school that is less than a public school may not be realistic for the consultant. Special needs students are given $28,000 per year for special education services at public schools. However, unless supported by an IEP, most districts have not paid for a private school placement. There have been exceptions in the case of Oregon through a ruling by a Supreme Court decision in 2000. Most private day schools alone cost from $11,000 and higher. Although we would like to work with you, we certainly want to do our very best to find the best school for you at an affordable price. Some school districts have paid for special education services in a private school. International parents will find that, in most cases, the cost for a private school is two or three times the cost for many students living outside the country. We would be happy discuss with you the options you have, but we have to be realistic. We cannot find a school that is simply not affordable, when the parent has limited resources. Our goal is to find the resources for you. This takes time by the consultant. We ultimately want to help you find the best option for you and your child. Maintaining the highest level of personal confidentiality with parents is important to us in this business, so we do not discuss with other parents or consultants your credit worthiness for a school or a program. We have to work out all of the details with you in addressing your child's needs. Therefore, it is essential for us to meet with you, to speak on the telephone with you, and to let you know all of the details. It is probably better for you to contact us via email or telephone. We are available most of the time any day of the week, so please call us at your convenience. Our willingness to work with parents and to maintain our commitment is very important. We have to discuss many areas of placement when it comes to finances with a parent. Sometimes, we have to discuss the reality of having to pay less than public school for a private school, which is simply not available. In this case, we would be both open and honest with you. We know that in many instances there are simply limits to your budget, especially in these times. But by knowing these constraints, there are always the exceptions. Any business relationship with parents must be based on trusting information that is accurate and clear. Whether parents can afford a school or program is up to the parent, not the consultant. But we will work with you in all areas to address your needs. We want to maintain a relationship with you based on trust and confidence. Our business is to help parents. With that comes the need to provide them with information to support our practice as a professional.
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