Berkeley Unified School - Special Ed Program
Hi, My son is 7 years old and is on ASD, currently we are in Albany School District (Marin Elemantry) , but that school doesn't have good support for kids with special needs.
I am planning to take inter district transfer as I work in Berkeley City. But before moving there, I would like to know if anyone has experience with Special education in elemantry level.
As don't want to stuck with schools which doesn't have good support. At this time we are looking for pull in/out session in general ed classroom..
Any thoughts, suggestion advice will be really helpful.
Thanks
Oct 26, 2023
Parent Replies
Our experience with Special Ed in BUSD was abysmal! In elementary school it was the worst. The staff were not competent for our issues and the supports minimal. Middle school was much better due to a great Special Ed Case Manager but some of the teachers were not helpful. They didn’t even try to understand our child. In the end we had to fight the district to pay for specialized private school and still they forced us to settle for less than the full cost and forced us out of the District in exchange. I wouldn’t recommend BUSD.
Unfortunately, our experience with BUSD special ed was horrible. The district could not support our kids learning or social emotional needs, school staff demonized, and they ended up with incredibly low self esteem, were way behind academically, and had frequent school refusal. Probably one of the most traumatic experiences I’ve had.
We ended up hiring an attorney and sending them to a private school that supports LDs for middle. Best decision ever. We are now freshmen in high school (private) for neurotypical kids and so far, straight As with an incredibly engaged, and happy kid.
Sorry I don’t have more hopeful news.