If your child in Montgomery County has autism, dyslexia, ADHD, anxiety, a speech delay, or complex needs — and Montgomery County Public Schools isn't giving them what they need — you don't have to figure it out alone. A New Story is a free resource built by a DMV parent who has lived it. Everything here is free to use.
MCPS is the largest division in Maryland — strong on paper, but a big bureaucracy where families often need help being heard. The good news: federal law (IDEA) gives your child the same powerful rights everywhere, and here's the path to using them in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS).
Before you pay anyone — including us — know your free options. We'll always tell you honestly when free help is all you need.
Independent day school (grades 3-12) built specifically for bright students with language-based learning differences such as dyslexia, dysgraphia and dyscalculia. Multisensory, Orton-Gillingham-informed instruction with small classes. Main campus plus a grades 3-4 satellite in Silver Spring; directly serves Montgomery County families.
Part of the Treatment and Learning Centers, this Rockville day school serves preschool through grade 12 students with moderate-to-severe language and learning disabilities, autism, intellectual disabilities and other health impairments. State-approved nonpublic placement with embedded speech, OT and clinical services.
Nonprofit, nonpublic K-age 21 special-education school in Rockville serving students with autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, specific learning disability and speech/language impairment. Known for its Model Asperger Program (MAP) and Multiple Learning Needs program; certified special educators and clinicians on staff.
Independent K-8 day school for intellectually engaged students with social and communication challenges, including those diagnosed with autism/Asperger's. Highly individualized learning maps, small classes and certified staff; works directly with local districts on IEP placements. Serves Montgomery County from its Silver Spring campus.
Small K-8 multisensory independent school (now in its own Bethesda building) for students with mild-to-moderate learning differences, developmental delays, sensory processing and communication disorders. On-staff OT, speech-language pathologist and behaviorist deliver integrated therapeutic support.
Nonprofit, nonpublic coed day school (grades 5-12) specializing in students with language-based learning disabilities including dyslexia, dysgraphia and dyscalculia. College-prep focus for students of average-to-above-average ability; 45+ year track record serving Maryland and DC, just inside Prince George's County and minutes from Silver Spring.
Nonpublic special-education day school (age 5-21) operated by Sheppard Pratt for students with emotional and behavioral disabilities and autism spectrum disorder. Small classes with integrated psychiatric and counseling services, transition support and individualized academics; located in Montgomery County.
Part of The Foundation Schools, a state-approved nonpublic serving K-12 students with emotional disabilities (and autism in lower grades) across the Washington metro area. Specialized behavioral and social-emotional programming with certified special educators; Gaithersburg location serves Montgomery County.
K-12 college-preparatory independent school in Potomac built around its Abilities Model for students with mild-to-moderate learning differences including dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, ADHD and executive-functioning/anxiety challenges. Small classes (9-10), embedded academic support, NAIS/LDA member.
State-approved nonpublic therapeutic day school for students with emotional, behavioral and learning disabilities and autism. Integrated special education, counseling and family services with certified staff. Located in nearby Howard County (~15-20 minutes from Silver Spring/Rockville) and draws students regionally including Montgomery County.
Renowned independent school (grades 1-12, founded 1967) for students with language-based learning differences such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia and ADHD. Distinctive arts-integrated, multisensory academics across two NW DC campuses; accepts IEP-placed students from surrounding jurisdictions including Montgomery County.
Nonsectarian special-education charter serving 270+ students ages 3-22 diagnosed with intellectual disabilities, autism or multiple disabilities who require intensive IEP services. Neighboring-jurisdiction students (including Montgomery County) enroll through the IEP/placement process; certified special educators and therapists.
Independent school (18 months-grade 5) using a co-teaching model that pairs a master's-level teacher with a full-time speech-language pathologist in every classroom, integrating children with and without hearing loss in a language-rich program. Nationally recognized for listening-and-spoken-language outcomes; draws families from across the DMV including Montgomery County.
Nationally renowned nonpublic special-education day programs (Fairmount K-8 and Greenspring/High School age 14-21) for students with complex developmental, neurological and behavioral disabilities and autism. Affiliated with the Kennedy Krieger Institute/Johns Hopkins; accepts IEP-referred students from more than half of Maryland's districts plus DC and the broader region including Montgomery County.
The county's public special-education system, including the Comprehensive Autism Preschool Program (CAPP), elementary/secondary autism learning centers (e.g., Carl Sandburg Learning Center), Secondary Autism Resource Services and a continuum of IEP-driven supports delivered by certified special educators across Rockville, Bethesda, Silver Spring and Gaithersburg.
We track the region's most respected evaluators and specialized schools — ranked by quality, never by who pays. Families near Montgomery County often look at Ivymount (Rockville), McLean School (Potomac), The Katherine Thomas School (Rockville), and The Diener School (Rockville), among others. Start with your child's specific need:
Use our free, guided "What's going on with my child?" tool — it turns what you're noticing into a clear one-page summary you can hand your Montgomery County school or doctor.
Pediatric neuropsychological evaluation at Children's National's Montgomery County (Rockville) location, home of its Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders.
A Potomac (Montgomery County) practice providing neuropsychological evaluations to children and adolescents; the clinician completed a pediatric-neuropsychology fellowship at Kennedy Krieger and Johns Hopkins.
ABPP board-certified pediatric neuropsychologists (Drs. Salorio, Pritchard) — rigorous, school-ready evaluations, with outpatient clinics including a Montgomery County campus.
The American Board of Professional Psychology directory lists only board-certified neuropsychologists. Filter to Maryland to find one near you.
A Montgomery County practice with Certified Educational Therapists and Orton-Gillingham practitioners providing dyslexia and reading intervention, executive-function coaching, and IEP support.
Find an Academy-credentialed Orton-Gillingham practitioner or a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT) — the genuine dyslexia-instruction credentials — near you in Maryland.
The IDA's provider directory lists structured-literacy tutors and programs that meet its standards for evidence-based dyslexia instruction.
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's ProFind locates CCC-SLP–certified speech therapists near you — the licensure that matters for school-based and clinical speech therapy.
The American Occupational Therapy Association helps you find a licensed OTR-L occupational therapist for sensory, motor and self-regulation support.
Pediatric occupational, speech-language and physical therapy through Kennedy Krieger, serving Maryland families including the DC suburbs.
Developmental and autism evaluation through Children's National in Rockville, including its Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Board-certified developmental-behavioral pediatricians and neurodevelopmental specialists who evaluate and diagnose developmental and learning differences — a medical anchor for a strong IEP.
The American Academy of Pediatrics' HealthyChildren directory helps you find a board-certified developmental-behavioral pediatrician near you.
Janet Lee provides Montgomery County educational advocacy — meeting preparation, IEP and 504 help, accommodations and school placement, with deep MCPS experience.
A Montgomery County (Rockville) special-education law firm handling IEP hearings, mediation and due process under IDEA at every phase of the process.
The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates' searchable directory lists only active, vetted special-education advocates and attorneys — the field's real professional standard.
By law, your district must evaluate your child for special education at no cost once you request it in writing — always the first, free step. Use our free, ready-to-send request letter.
The UMD Psychology Clinic in College Park (Prince George's County) offers year-round, sliding-fee psychoeducational assessment — LD, IQ and ADHD testing — for families across the Maryland suburbs.
MCPS runs your child's IEP, with a continuum of special-education and autism programs. Programs change year to year; confirm current offerings.
Maryland's free, federally funded Parent Training & Information Center: help understanding your rights, evaluations, the IEP/504 process and meetings, birth to 26. A great first call.
Maryland's federally mandated protection & advocacy agency — free legal-rights information and help when your child's special-education rights are being denied.
Free, family-centered developmental evaluation and early-intervention services for children birth to 3 with a delay or disability, run locally in every Maryland jurisdiction.
Tell us what's happening with your child in Montgomery County. No pressure, no cost — and we'll tell you honestly whether you even need us.
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