My DH has been offered a job in PA and if he takes it, it requires a move from NJ. So for those of you who are in PA and use the public school system, how do you like it? Does anyone have a special needs child in the system?


I lurk around here often for information on homeschooling and thought someone might have an answer. Thanks in advance.

Hi! I can't answer your question, but if you get a chance, drop in on the Special Needs forum. There are a few parents of autistics there. I have a son with Aspergers.

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i know in this area alone the quality and spectrum of services offered by a school varies from district to district. You would think the school with the higher population of affluent (ie: higher tax paying) families would have the best special needs services but it is not so. One of the rural districts with a lower tax base actually has the best services for kid with special needs.

I would contact all the districts in the area and ask for information on their services specifically those that will involve your child.

That's just what I was going to say...You'll have to check around the area. My best friend has a special needs child...I can't even tell you what she went through here! Actually, I think the elementary school wasn't too bad, but the high school...grrr...she did finally get him into a program in another district not far from here, but.....
Do you know where you'll be located?

His job would be near Wilkes-Barre but I don't want to live there. I am looking at Lackawanna County and Monroe County. I know that both districts offer most of his current services but I really wanted to hear the parents side. Not that I don't have faith in what they tell me but you always more truth from parents. Thanks again.

Hmm...you're a little too far north for me...I think about 1 1/2 hrs away...not that that's sooo far, I just don't know anything about up there...

PA Ladies.....anyone know?

I am closer to Wilkes Barre than I am Lackawanna county.... sorry. I don't know anyone that far east.

This probably isn't going to help much, but while researching alternative education options for my son here in PA, I've discovered a lot of students enrolled in at-home, cyber charter schools in Monroe County. Therefore, I deduced the public school system may not be so great there?!?! With a special needs situation, I would suggest you do a lot of research before choosing a PA school. I was born & raised here, earned my teaching certificate & my Masters of Education here. Having said that, I am very much against sending my son to our public school (and we live in a nice district!) PA has some strange laws & some strict guidelines. It's very "teach to the test" and $$$ is lacking in a lot of districts.

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A Classroom of One's Own

I live in Western Pa and I must say that our school district is pretty good- they even have a program for special needs students as well (I believe that they started the program when I was in 7th grade- yes I am in the same school district that I went to school in). Like others stated you will have to check out each school district to see which one you like best- hopefully there will be programs in the area you choose to live. Maybe get in contact with a realitor and see if they know what school districts offer that option. A few years ago I stumbled upon a site that parents and students grade the school- it was really useful- I will check to see if I can find it again (I will let you know after I investigate!).

If all else fails- you can do the cyber school. I believe that it is free for all Pa residents (our Former Senator Rick Santorum got in trouble over this one- he had his kids enrolled in it as they were living in Virginia- they used their old address in order to get the free education- of course it was an abandoned home!).

As for what Mom2one said- I agree to a point. I think our school district is pretty good (and actually was fighting against the state over a few issues- like those standardize testing)- of course there is some issues- but I think it is just some of the schools policies. Anyways- I talked to my DH's friends wife (who is a teacher in the rural mountain area)- she has to teach her students to pass a test thanks to the no child left behind thing. If their students don't do good on the test- they will lose government funding and so on.

Stevesgal,

I have friends in the cyber school and they like it. We already homeschool on top of 5 hours a day of public school. The website you are refering to is not something I trust too much after reading an article from someplace where the homework assignment was to post a positive review on it. Even my current school district( which only has 200 kids K-12) has positive reviews on it and I know a lot of people are in too happy. A realtor we speak with tried to led us to a district with strict dress codes and that just won't work for us.

My husband did except the job so I have a little bit of time to figure this out.

Thanks ya'll