http://community.greatschools.net/q-and-a/295962/Special-Ed-at-ExplorerSunriseDesert-Shadows-Middle-Schools I'm trying to decide which of these three schools to enroll my 6th grader in next year. They all appear to be great schools. Since my daughter has ADD and is on an IEP, I believe that our decision should be based largely on the quality of the special ed program. Does anyone have experience with special ed at any of these schools? GreatSchools en-us dhfl143 Thanks for posting this in the Learning and Attention Difficulties Group! http://community.greatschools.net/q-and-a/295962/Special-Ed-at-ExplorerSunriseDesert-Shadows-Middle-Schools?cpage=1#comment_453306 5100.453306 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:25:20 -0700 Anonymous It's been posted. http://community.greatschools.net/q-and-a/295962/Special-Ed-at-ExplorerSunriseDesert-Shadows-Middle-Schools?cpage=1#comment_453195 5100.453195 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:45:54 -0700 healthy11 Sonora, would you consider copy/pasting your suggestions as a new discussion, under the Learning and Attention Difficulties Group at http://community.greatschools.net/groups/11554, so more parents of special education students could see it? http://community.greatschools.net/q-and-a/295962/Special-Ed-at-ExplorerSunriseDesert-Shadows-Middle-Schools?cpage=1#comment_453135 5100.453135 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:32:26 -0700 Anonymous I'm so happy you asked for a suggestion on rating special ed programs. Here's my version of a questionnaire, to be filed with the district and posted on its' website ... http://community.greatschools.net/q-and-a/295962/Special-Ed-at-ExplorerSunriseDesert-Shadows-Middle-Schools?cpage=1#comment_453083 5100.453083 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:21:41 -0700 healthy11 Sonora, I had been reading this discussion that contains many replies from different people: http://community.greatschools.net/q-and-a/259536/Have-teachers-become-the-convenient-scapegoats-for-parents-who-are-simply-irresponsible? I apologize for confusing you and suomi. I know you are both teachers and parents, ... http://community.greatschools.net/q-and-a/295962/Special-Ed-at-ExplorerSunriseDesert-Shadows-Middle-Schools?cpage=1#comment_452868 5100.452868 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 08:19:34 -0700 Anonymous China Doll,Try finding some parent groups to contact in the area of the schools you're interested in (don't know if you are living in Scottsdale or Paradise Valley, but either ... http://community.greatschools.net/q-and-a/295962/Special-Ed-at-ExplorerSunriseDesert-Shadows-Middle-Schools?cpage=2#comment_452844 5100.452844 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 07:41:38 -0700 Anonymous Healthy 11,I have no idea what your are referring to with your statement,"I've read many of your past postings, and it sounds like you can't even get a lot of ... http://community.greatschools.net/q-and-a/295962/Special-Ed-at-ExplorerSunriseDesert-Shadows-Middle-Schools?cpage=2#comment_452843 5100.452843 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 07:37:26 -0700 healthy11 Sonora, as the parent of a child who has ADHD, as well as SLD's in reading and writing (dyslexia and dysgraphia) I agree that many children's needs aren't being adequately ... http://community.greatschools.net/q-and-a/295962/Special-Ed-at-ExplorerSunriseDesert-Shadows-Middle-Schools?cpage=2#comment_452794 5100.452794 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 06:37:27 -0700 Anonymous Sorry Healthy 11, but I respectively disagree. Nothing is impossible in this great nation. Where there is a will, there is a way. It is time to live up to ... http://community.greatschools.net/q-and-a/295962/Special-Ed-at-ExplorerSunriseDesert-Shadows-Middle-Schools?cpage=2#comment_452753 5100.452753 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 01:02:02 -0700 healthy11 I agree, but at least the numeric ratings of public schools on Greatschools come from a larger "pool" of data, that being how individual school's students perform on statewide testing. ... http://community.greatschools.net/q-and-a/295962/Special-Ed-at-ExplorerSunriseDesert-Shadows-Middle-Schools?cpage=2#comment_452681 5100.452681 Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:49:51 -0700 Anonymous I think your point can be applied to the reviews on this website which vary widely even within one school. I don't believe parents make decisions based on one review. ... http://community.greatschools.net/q-and-a/295962/Special-Ed-at-ExplorerSunriseDesert-Shadows-Middle-Schools?cpage=3#comment_452673 5100.452673 Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:39:36 -0700 healthy11 sonora, I was explaining why it would be hard to rate special ed programs at any given school, not that you can't identify needs of individual children. Let's say you ... http://community.greatschools.net/q-and-a/295962/Special-Ed-at-ExplorerSunriseDesert-Shadows-Middle-Schools?cpage=3#comment_452657 5100.452657 Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:01:16 -0700 Anonymous Healthy 11,I am perplexed by your comment, "The individual teacher can make a huge difference, but it would be hard to categorize the child's type of ADHD (inattentive, hyperactive, or ... http://community.greatschools.net/q-and-a/295962/Special-Ed-at-ExplorerSunriseDesert-Shadows-Middle-Schools?cpage=3#comment_452623 5100.452623 Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:51:51 -0700 mysonfirst I 'heard' Explorer has a Great program. A friend of mine has her 13 year old there.He has come along way..I have seen a HUGE change. Good luck. http://community.greatschools.net/q-and-a/295962/Special-Ed-at-ExplorerSunriseDesert-Shadows-Middle-Schools?cpage=3#comment_439951 5100.439951 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:48:03 -0700 healthy11 Yes, it appears that your posting shows up both in a local and "general" message board...I have to be honest, I think it would be very hard to rate special ... http://community.greatschools.net/q-and-a/295962/Special-Ed-at-ExplorerSunriseDesert-Shadows-Middle-Schools?cpage=3#comment_296399 5100.296399 Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:26:43 -0800 chinadollmom I thought I posted this to the local Phoenix, AZ sub-group... Does it show up in a larger group also?I have also posted a similar question in the Learning and ... http://community.greatschools.net/q-and-a/295962/Special-Ed-at-ExplorerSunriseDesert-Shadows-Middle-Schools?cpage=4#comment_296228 5100.296228 Wed, 03 Dec 2008 11:08:20 -0800 healthy11 Unfortunately, Greatschools is a nationwide forum, and there aren't a lot of people from any one city, much less parents of kids from a particular school, who have children of ... http://community.greatschools.net/q-and-a/295962/Special-Ed-at-ExplorerSunriseDesert-Shadows-Middle-Schools?cpage=4#comment_296037 5100.296037 Wed, 03 Dec 2008 06:14:06 -0800