Key Questions to Ask When Conducting a School Tour

Whether your child will be participating in a regular education classroom or specialized program classroom next year, there are certain things to look for when doing your tours. This list will give you hints of what to look for that encompass both sides.

• Is the staff aware of the district guidelines to Best Practices for children with disabilities?
• Do the special program classrooms share a hall with regular education classrooms, or are they away from the general population?
• Do the special program classes have specials with regular ed classes? If not, why not?
• Are the special program teachers certified in regular education?
• What kind of training has the teacher had? Is she trained in Visualization and Verbalization?
• What is the average class size of the special program classrooms? What is the classroom ratio of students to adults in the room?
• How is technology used to support teaching and learning at this school?
• How do the arts fit into the curriculum?
• What professional development opportunities do teachers have? In what ways do teachers collaborate?
• Do the special programs classes have field trips with the regular classes?
• If my child is included in regular education, will there be an aid in that room to assist him or her? If my child goes to a regular ed classroom for reading, does a paraprofessional go with him?
• Do you have a peer buddy system with typical children? Do non-disabled children ever come into the special program classrooms? If so, how often and what ages are the children who come in?
Features to look for
• Do classrooms look cheerful? Is student work displayed, and does it seem appropriate for the grade level?
• Are schedules for the kids clearly marked and in a location where they’re easily accessed?
• Are there shelves of books and curricular reading materials, or does the room look more like a break area?
• Do teachers seem enthusiastic and knowledgeable, asking questions that stimulate students and keep them engaged?
• Is technology infused within the classroom? For students who use technology for communication purposes, do they always have it with them and are they being facilitated to use it?
• Does the principal seem confident and interested in interacting with students, teachers, and parents?
• How do students behave as they move through the classroom?
• Are paras prompting kids on the playground to play with one another? Are there nondisabled kids on the playground at the same time as children with disabilities?
• Do the children share a table in the lunchroom with a regular education class?
• Is there an active Parent Teacher Association (PTA)? What other types of parent involvement take place at this school?
• Would you be able to volunteer in your child’s classroom?
• How well are the facilities maintained? Are bathrooms clean and well supplied, and do the grounds look safe and inviting?