Where is the best state to live for a child with a learning disability? I know some states offer more funding.

Public Comments

1. Alaska
2. All states have underfunded programming. It is not so much the state, as the district and the individual school. Each state has school districts with incredibly good special ed programs, and districts where their special ed programs are awful. It depends on the teacher's training, and how the district and individual school have set up their programming. States/regions I would NOT recommend include Texas, California, Connecticut, or any low-income area in large cities. I've had people move to Texas to follow a job, and then show back up to re-enroll their kids with me, giving up the high-paying job, because the special ed programming was so bad over there they'd rather take the pay cut than have their kids in those schools. And they know my program works, so they came back. Same with California. Connecticut has tons of parent lawsuits against districts there, and the state itself, whose written responses to court cases and federal law has made professional news because of Connecticut's lack of ethics... Plus, parents I've talked to there are generally negative about their schools regarding special needs, overall. Avoiding big-city poverty area schools is just common sense. You will need to shop school by school. ASK!!! Meet with parents who live in the area. Contact the state's parents advocacy group (in my state, New Mexico, it is Parents Reaching Out) for recommendations. Which university in the area have produced the best special ed teachers? Which schools are doing, as far as they know, a good job? Then, once you have a list of 3 or 4 schools you are really interested in, ask the school principal about SPECIFIC training/background for the special ed teachers that are going to work with your child. Do NOT accept "They are all very professional and highly qualified." Here's a list of questions to help you get started: 1. What university did the teacher(s) graduate from? (Remember your research with the parents' advocacy group?) 2. Do they use any formally researched approach to teaching reading from a learning disability program? (e.g. phonics combined with short passage comprehension exercises) If they ONLY use modified regular ed instruction, it is not the best sort of program. 3. What is the teacher's current caseload percentage? (if it is 95% or higher of FTE, especially if he/she has no aide, you may want to look at another school, as your child may not get all the attention he/she needs) 4. What professional organizations does the teacher belong to? (It should include disability-specific organizations like the Council for Exceptional Children, or the International Dyslexia Association, etc.). You can come up with additional questions after you have talked with the parents' advocacy group. Once you have selected a school, keep in mind, always, that you and the teachers/staff are a TEAM to help your child. Come in positive and supportive, give immediate feedback for what you think they are doing right, not just problems, etc. Good luck! http://www.spedusource.org/