Guide to Schools

'NOTE: This is the person (Tom Croke) who started this Wikibook. In an email from Jimmy Wales today (March 7, 2003) I was warned that this Wikibook in this format might be subject to deletion if not converted into a format that is more obviously a textbook. I will begin that task over the next few months, although I can't fully deliver on that as soon as might be desired. '

This Wikibook was started by Tom Croke of FamilyLight Educational Consulting on October 29, 2005, in the hope of inspiring a comprehensive guide to schools and other related resources. On March 7, 2006, Tom was notified that the book needed to be converted to a textbook format in order to remain. Hopefully by the time you look at this, it will contain the collective wisdom of hundreds, perhaps thousands of parents, students, educators, psychologists, school and treatment facility officials, educational consultants, advocacy groups and others from all walks of life -- including much that is beyond the concept and the competence of the person who started this Wikibook. Hopefully at that time it will be usable as text in a class for parents learning to plan their children's education, for adults seeking to continue their education, and for professionals guiding educational planning. Much of the reference material will remain as an appendix.

As this book grows, it may be divided into several books, focusing on planning in various areas of education. We'll start as one book and see how it grows.

If you are planning to teach a course, hopefully this will be of use to you. After you have used the book for that purpose, hopefully you and your students will discover ways to improve it and will make suggestions on the discussion page, or, better yet, dig in and make the improvements yourself.

If you are struggling with planning someone's education, hopefully you can turn this into a self-taught course (and you to can improve on the book through your experience)

If you are just looking for resources, the resource appendices will still be of help. If you are thinking of contributing, contributors, know that you are welcome, no matter who you are or what your experience. Please look at “Discussion” before you contribute so you know the thoughts and concerns of readers and of the contributors who came before you, and you can be aware of context as you proceed.

Please also click on “Discussion” at the top of this page to comment on what you see, to offer suggestions and to learn the thinking behind this Wikibook.

Wikibooks requires that all contributions to these pages keep to a neutral point of view (NPOV). There will be disagreement between contributors, and readers will sometimes benefit from knowing about it. Hopefully contributors who see something they don't agree with will not edit that out but enter a comment of the form, “some people believe X and others believe Y.” That keeps it neutral, but the alternative points of view are made visible to readers.

Hopefully you will all benefit from the accumulated wisdom here and you will also add to it from your own experience.

Appendix A: Listings of Schools
Schools and other resources appropriate this wikibook, are listed in each section below. In the first, they are arranged geographically. If you are listing a school, please enter it in all three areas. If you are looking for a school we hope you will find one of these approaches convenient.

Alphabetical Listing
The difference between special schools and treatment facilities can be very small and is a gray area. At this time, we are growing this ebook as a reference on both. As information is filled in and this wikibook becomes more complete and less of a stub, it may become appropriate to divide this ebook into two or more ebooks, or even a separate bookshelf. But while this is a stub, it might all stay together. Contributors: If a section below becomes too large, substitute the template, "States by Region." Also make sure the school you add is linked both in "Geographic Listing" and in "Listing by Type of School."

Loan Opportunities and Other Financial Aid (for Primary and Secondary Education)
Prepgate-- loan opportunities for parents of students attending boarding schools]

Educational Consultants
An Educational Consultant is a professional person who helps parents and students plan education and select appropriate schools and colleges.

See the Educational Consultant listing in Wikipedia.

Educational consultants contributing to this Wikibook:

Tom Croke of FamilyLight

Andrew Bryan, Emerge and Launch

Support and Advocacy Groups
Juvenile Bipolar Research Foundation

Understanding IDEA and "504," assuring access to education for the handicapped
In the United States, various state and federal laws mandate access to a free public education for all children, up to age 21 or until high school graduation, notwithstanding any handicap. That includes mental health and emotional handicaps. The programs at issue are understood as "IDEA" and "504."

Web site addressing legal rights Children's Advisory Group (This is for residents of Metro New York City).

Other Organizations and Businesses of Interest
Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) The National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP)

Web Links
The links below also appear wherever they best fit according to their topic.

The Children's Advisory Group Andrew Bryan, Consultant FamilyLight Educational Consulting (operated by Tom Croke) Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) Juvenile Bipolar Research Foundation The National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP) Web site addressing legal rights