Help for Learning Problems at Private Schools

Question: Does my child have to attend a public school to be identified as having learning problems? My son is currently a freshman in a private high school, and he is failing every class except gym, health and music. -- Worried

Answer: Any child who is failing several classes has a learning problem. Private schools vary enormously in the amount of help they give students with learning problems. Contact the counselors or administrators at your son's school to find out what help they offer or are required to offer. It is quite possible that they will be very concerned about your son's failing so many classes and eager to help him turn things around.

There are a lot of laws regarding students in private schools who have learning disabilities; however, they may be interpreted differently in individual states. If a private school takes federal money, the school will have to give some help to students with learning problems.