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In order to thrive in an educational setting, some students need to attend a special education program or receive accommodations from the school. Public schools have Exceptional Student Education (ESE) programs that help students excel in general education classrooms. These programs may also pull students into special education classrooms throughout the day depending on the needs of the student. They provide accommodations needed based on the student’s Individual Education Plan (IEP) or 504 document, which legally requires the school to provide what the student needs to learn. Though public schools offer these programs, many private schools do not have the resources and training to do so. Therefore, some private schools in Tampa, Florida have special education programs or classes, but many do not.

What private schools provide special education or classes for children with special needs?

Whether or not a private school has the ability to provide special education accommodations depends on a few factors.

Cost of resources. Many smaller private schools cannot afford the resources that are required to offer these programs. These resources may be additional teachers, classroom supplies, ESE curriculum, or space for more classrooms.

Training. In order to provide the best education for students with disabilities, teachers need to go through additional training. Most private school teachers are only trained to teach in general education classrooms.

Do private schools still accept students with disabilities if they do not offer special education classes?

Even if a school does not offer ESE programs or special education classes, they may be able to accommodate some students with disabilities. For example, Bayshore Christian schools in Tampa, FL do not provide special education classes. However, we still have students with disabilities that attend. Bayshore has students with autism or students with IEPs and 504 documents that attend. However, these students are able to thrive in the environment of our classrooms. There are students who do need to attend a special education program or special classes in order to excel in school.

Unfortunately, some private schools need to turn away students who have IEPs or 504 documents. This is not because the schools don’t want to help, but because they don’t have the resources or training to accommodate the students correctly and fully. Accepting the student into the school despite the lack of resources would not help the student but hinder their education.

Will attending a smaller school help my student with a disability?

Many people think that if they send their child to a smaller school, their learning or intellectual disability will improve. Even though smaller private schools have the ability to get to know the students on a more personal level than public schools, they are not able to pull out students for individual or small group instruction and learning like they can in ESE programs, unless they specifically offer those services. Though smaller class sizes may help some students, it generally does not work for the student in the same way that special education programs do. If your child needs personalized, one-on-one instruction, it would be more beneficial to find a school that offers special education programs and classes.

Private high schools in Tampa

Bayshore Christian School is a private high school in Tampa. We also offer schooling for pre-K through eighth grade students.

Contact us, today, for more information on accommodations in private schools, or to see if our school may be the right fit for your student.