This June, as schools across Maryland hold uplifting graduation ceremonies, there will be particularly joyful moments for hundreds of students graduating from nonpublic special education schools.
These schools, which are part of our state's educational system, serve thousands of students with significant physical, emotional and developmental needs that cannot be adequately met in public schools. Students who attend these specialized nonpublic schools have a better shot at success, thanks to the focused and adaptive support they receive there.
The parents of soon-to-be graduates at Maryland's special education facilities probably feel like we did when our son, John, graduated last year; if not for us finding the right nonpublic school for him, he would not have graduated from high school as the accomplished and confident young man he is today.
When John was fairly young, we noticed that he wasn't quite where he needed to be. We had him tested in pre-school, and it was clear that he was going to require special education. We sent him to his local public school for kindergarten, but it wasn't a good fit. He was struggling, and we didn't know where to turn. We had him tested again and, at that point, the psychologist recommended The Baltimore Lab School.
Even though he lagged in math and reading, John had tested very well with visual skills. The Baltimore Lab School, an arts-based school, uses visual and performing arts as the medium through which its curriculum is taught. It seemed like a perfect fit to us.
After engaging the right team — a child psychologist and lawyer — we pushed to have the county public school system assign John to attend Baltimore Lab, meaning his tuition would be covered by county and state funds. It was nerve-wracking knowing that we had found the right place for our child to learn, thrive and grow, but also knowing we couldn't afford to send him there unless the county agreed to support him.
Eventually, the school system acknowledged that John needed a different level of educational care than the public schools could provide. In partnership with the county public school system and Baltimore Lab, then, we shifted our focus to make sure that John received the education and attention he needed and deserved.
We watched John and his Baltimore Lab classmates become joyful, confident learners because they were getting an education in a way that was accessible to them through a hands-on, arts-based curriculum. In addition to academics, Baltimore Lab focuses on socialization and organizational skills students can take with them into high school and beyond.
The children at Baltimore Lab, and in nonpublic special education schools across the state, all struggle in traditional learning environments. They need more intensive, individual attention, innovative educational environments and different educational approaches, and they often get lost in other schools. Connecting to these resources, however, can be complicated. We were lucky; we were connected to the right resources and the right school from the start.
The Maryland Association of Nonpublic Special Education Facilities (MANSEF) represents more than 85 nonpublic schools throughout Maryland, like the Baltimore Lab School, that serve students with a range of disabilities. Part of the MANSEF mission is to make sure that the children who need these schools can be placed in them.
As graduations commence, we ask everyone to remember the state's many special education students — especially the ones who are being well-served by nonpublic schools. We urge the legislature to maintain support for these schools. They are integral to Maryland's highly-ranked educational system, providing high-quality educational opportunities and support services to children and youth with disabilities.
While many students who attend nonpublic special education schools end up returning to public schools as their needs change, John stayed at Baltimore Lab through high school. And, thanks to this strong foundation, he is now thriving at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, where he is majoring in the Visual Arts program. We've come a long way since those uncertain days back in kindergarten. We are so proud of him — and so grateful to the Baltimore Lab School.
Congratulations to all the students graduating this month! And to the parents and schools who got them there!
Andrew and Elizabeth Pease live in Owings Mills. They can be reached at apease8607@aol.com.