If your child in Prince George's County has autism, dyslexia, ADHD, anxiety, a speech delay, or complex needs — and Prince George's 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.
PGCPS serves a large, diverse community where families frequently have to advocate hard for evaluations and appropriate placements. The good news: federal law (IDEA) gives your child the same powerful rights everywhere, and here's the path to using them in Prince George's County Public Schools (PGCPS).
Before you pay anyone — including us — know your free options. We'll always tell you honestly when free help is all you need.
Located right in Prince George's County (Hyattsville). For 45+ years, a state-approved nonpublic day school for students with language-based learning disabilities such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia. Small classes, Orton-Gillingham-aligned literacy instruction, and college prep. Approved for IEP placement.
A Prince George's County (Chillum) state-approved nonpublic day school serving K-12 students (ages 5-21) classified with autism, emotional disability, or multiple disabilities. Capacity ~140; includes a Career Readiness certificate track for ages 14-21. Approved for IEP placement by MD and DC.
A Prince George's County (Largo) state-approved nonpublic day school, grades K-12, specializing in students with emotional disabilities, behavioral challenges, and social-emotional needs. Therapeutic, highly structured environment with related services. Approved for IEP placement.
A cluster of Prince George's County (Lanham) state-approved nonpublic day schools (Lower, Upper, and Academy) serving students with specific learning disabilities, autism, and emotional/behavioral needs. Structured, supportive setting with behavioral supports. Approved for IEP placement.
A Prince George's County (Lanham) state-approved nonpublic, year-round day school operated by the Sheppard Pratt system. Serves students ages 5-21 with autism, intellectual disabilities, multiple disabilities, and other health impairments, with integrated therapeutic and daily-living services. Approved for IEP placement.
Just north of Prince George's County (Laurel), a state-approved nonpublic day program for elementary through high school students with emotional, behavioral, and/or learning differences. Therapeutic services embedded; approved for IEP placement by Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC.
A Prince George's County Public Schools public special-education school serving students ages 5-21 with moderate to severe disabilities, drawing from Adelphi, College Park, Hyattsville, Laurel, Beltsville, and Mt. Rainier. Free public placement through the IEP process for eligible PGCPS students.
Roughly 25-30 minutes from Bowie/Hyattsville (Silver Spring), a leading accredited day school for bright students with dyslexia and language-based learning differences, grades 3-12. Multisensory, research-based instruction and assistive technology. A DMV gold-standard for dyslexia.
In Rockville (within DMV range), a state-approved nonpublic day school (preschool-grade 12) for children with language/learning disabilities, autism, intellectual disabilities, and other health impairments. Multisensory, language-intensive curriculum with embedded therapies. Approved for IEP placement.
In Rockville (within DMV range), a premier nonpublic special-education school serving students with autism, intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, and specific learning disabilities. Known for its Model Asperger Program and Multiple Learning Needs tracks plus strong transition/vocational programming. Approved for IEP placement.
In NW Washington DC (within DMV range), an internationally known day school for students with language-based learning disabilities, dyslexia, and ADHD. Arts-infused, multisensory academic program for elementary through high school. Approved for IEP placement.
In SE Washington DC (serves PG County families), a public special-education charter school for students ages 3-22 with intellectual disabilities, autism, or multiple disabilities who need intensive (24.5+ hrs) special-education services. Functional academics, daily-living, and career-based instruction. No tuition for placed students.
In NW Washington DC (within DMV range), the nation's leading oral/spoken-language inclusion school for young children (18 months-grade 5) with hearing loss alongside hearing peers. Each classroom is co-taught by a master's-level educator and a speech-language pathologist; heavy focus on language and literacy.
In Silver Spring (within DMV range), a state-approved day school (grades K-8) for intellectually engaged students with autism, social-communication, language, and executive-function challenges. Small classes (max ~9:1 plus aide) with embedded social-communication support. Approved for IEP placement.
In Potomac (within DMV range), an independent K-8 school using a hands-on, multisensory approach for students with ADHD and learning, language, social, or sensory-processing challenges. Occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists are integrated into the classroom.
In Rockville (within DMV range), a state-approved nonpublic therapeutic day school for students ages 5/6-21 with emotional and behavioral disabilities and autism spectrum disorder. Small classes with embedded counseling, psychiatric services, and transition support. Approved for IEP placement.
In Silver Spring (within DMV range), an intentionally small (6:1) college-preparatory high school (grades 9-12) for bright students with ADHD, anxiety, depression, or other diverse learning styles. Strong advisory system, individualized college counseling, and social-emotional support.
In Springfield, VA (serves the interconnected DMV), a state-certified therapeutic day school for ages 5-21 with emotional disabilities, autism, developmental/language disorders, and specific learning disabilities. School-wide ABA, clinical services, and embedded speech/OT/art therapy. Approved for MD/DC/VA placement.
Baltimore-based but a recognized regional resource serving DMV families, Kennedy Krieger operates state-approved special-education programs (Fairmount lower/middle, Greenspring high school, and the LEAP autism program with up to 1:1 staffing) for students with autism, neurological, and complex learning/behavioral needs. Approved for IEP placement.
We track the region's most respected evaluators and specialized schools — ranked by quality, never by who pays. Families near Prince George's County often look at The Foundation Schools (Largo) and St. Coletta of Greater Washington (DC, nearby), 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 Prince George's 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.
PGCPS runs your child's IEP and special-education services countywide. 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 Prince George's County. No pressure, no cost — and we'll tell you honestly whether you even need us.
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