How do I get a non-public school (NPS) placement for my child with an IEP?

An NPS is a specialized private school that is contracted by a public school and certified to provide special education services for students with disabilities.

The process of placing a student in an NPS is complex and requires many discussions and considerations by the IEP team. Non-public schools establish their own admission criteria and can decline enrollment if they determine they cannot adequately support a child’s needs.

If you believe your child could benefit from an NPS placement, you can request it from your IEP team. You should enter the IEP meeting prepared to demonstrate that the school hasn't adequately provided the services required for their child. This means you must pinpoint times when the current services provided by the school district simply weren’t meeting your child’s needs. Here's how the process will go:

1. An IEP meeting is held to formally propose the NPS placement recommendation. Following the meeting, the IEP team will investigate NPS options and issue you a referral letter with NPS recommendations.

2. During this time, you should contact recommended NPS options to schedule intake interviews/tours immediately following the referral letter.

   a. If you do not agree with the proposed NPS placements or if your child doesn’t meet the enrollment criteria, then the IEP will have to provide another set of recommendations.

   b. Your child has the right to remain in the current public education program until enrollment begins in an NPS. The offer of FAPE will not change on the IEP until the student is formally accepted in an NPS.

3. Upon acceptance, your child’s IEP team will then hold a second meeting to determine if the NPS has agreed to accept the student. If so, offer of FAPE will be updated to reflect NPS placement.

For more information, see our full article Non-Public School (NPS) 101.