All the teachers say your child is bright. You’ve changed your child’s family schedule and diet. You’ve secured an IEP. But despite your best efforts, your child is still struggling academically and emotionally at school.
Maybe the problem isn’t you. Maybe your child needs a different type of school.
In years past, parents had few options for students with emotional or behavioral issues. But today, therapeutic schools are specifically equipped to help students with emotional issues learn to regulate their feelings and to excel academically.
This article helps parents understand therapeutic schools and how they compare to traditional and special education schools. It also offers guidance to parents and caregivers on placement and payment options for a new therapeutic school.
What Traditional Schools Provide
To understand therapeutic schools, let’s first take a look at traditional schools.
The primary mission of America’s traditional schools is to provide instruction that is aligned with state standards. Most traditional schools – whether public or private – are open to all students. Because classrooms in traditional schools aren’t specialized in any way, they may be noisy or overwhelming.
Traditional schools place a high emphasis on academic outcomes and the graduation requirements outlined in state law. While they may monitor non-academic factors, they generally do not treat these conditions.
Traditional schools have counselors on staff. However, nationally, there is a ratio of 376 students to every 1 counselor. (The number is far worse in some states.) Unfortunately, this means that many traditional schools have limited counseling capacity.
What Is a Therapeutic School?
While traditional schools work well for many students, they don’t work well for everyone. When they don’t, therapeutic schools may be the answer.
A therapeutic school is a specialized educational environment for children with emotional, behavioral, learning, or mental health issues that interfere with their education. However, therapeutic schools place a premium on counseling and emotional wellness in addition to academics. While traditional schools don’t always have counseling services, in a therapeutic school, counseling is a core component of the school environment, and therapy is often integrated into the school day. Therapists are often in the classroom. In fact, whereas traditional schools monitor only academic progress, therapeutic schools also track each student’s emotional and clinical goals, such as emotional regulation and coping skills.
Therapeutic schools have smaller classes than traditional schools. The smaller size provides many advantages. With fewer students, it’s easier for teachers to keep an eye on each student. As such, teachers are more likely to notice each student’s cues and respond quickly before emotions can escalate. Additionally, smaller classes allow students to learn at their own pace without the pressure of competition. Finally, smaller classes are also quieter and less visually crowded. This is particularly helpful for students with anxiety or ADHD.
Also, while parents typically get feedback from traditional schools twice per marking period or at 504 or IEP meetings, therapeutic schools want parents to be involved and invested. Parents may even participate in therapy.
Which Students Might Benefit Most from a Therapeutic School?
Because therapeutic schools focus on counseling, they are a good fit for students with serious emotional issues. A student whose dysregulated emotional outbursts affect their learning could be a good candidate. Therapeutic schools help students with ADHD, anxiety, autism spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, depression, intermittent explosive disorder (IED), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and more.
However, the diagnosis is not the issue. The criterion is whether the emotions lead to behavior that interrupts the child’s education. Examples of this might include a student who:
- Has severe social anxiety at school
- Often has emotional outbursts at school
- Has not improved academically despite tutoring or other supports
- Has received multiple suspensions for conduct related to emotional dysregulation
- Is socially withdrawn
- Lacks motivation
Is a Therapeutic School the Same as a Special Education Program?
No. Special education schools and programs are still academically focused. Like traditional schools, these schools focus on implementing IEPs and 504s and meeting the goals in those plans. The focus is still on making the general curriculum accessible.
Most special education schools and programs are not designed to provide the level of individualized counseling support that therapeutic schools offer. A counselor may provide occasional services, but they are not integrated into the classroom as they are in a therapeutic school. Also, parents are typically not deeply involved. Special education schools and programs can be a good step, but they do not provide the level of “wrap-around” support and guidance that a therapeutic school can provide.
How Can I Get My Child into a Therapeutic School
Getting your child into a therapeutic school can be a process. First, you’ll need to meet with your child’s IEP team to determine their needs and whether the current IEP meets them. The district will then review and list the interventions it used in its attempts to provide a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). The district can recommend that the child be placed in a therapeutic school. Parents can also request a review and appeal if the request for therapeutic placement is denied.
Are Therapeutic Schools Public or Private? Who Pays?
Therapeutic schools can be public or private. (Also, some are day programs like regular schools, while others offer boarding programs.)
There are several ways to cover the cost of a therapeutic school. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that a public school provide your child with a FAPE in the Least Restrictive Environment. If this is not possible, your child’s IEP team may propose an out-of-district placement at a therapeutic school. If they recommend this option, the district will have to pay for tuition and transportation.
On the other hand, if you place your child in a therapeutic school without district approval, you may be able to seek reimbursement. However, you’ll have to prove that the district failed to provide your child with a FAPE as required by law.
Finally, you can attempt to pay tuition directly without seeking public payment or reimbursement. Your family may be eligible for financial aid or scholarships. Also, if your child is in a residential program, health insurance policies – including Medicaid – may pay for part of the cost.
Getting into a Therapeutic School
If your child is struggling, a therapeutic school might help. If your family is looking for a therapeutic school in New York, please consider Academics West. Our team of teachers and counselors has the experience and dedication to help your child reach their academic and emotional goals. To learn more about our school, take a virtual tour. Then call 212-580-0080 to schedule an in-person visit.
