If your child has been diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD ADHD), one of your top priorities is finding a school that matches his learning style. It may seem like a scavenger hunt through the thickets of the educational system. But armed with the right tools, you can find the prize: a school that understands ADHD.

Start early, says Lizabeth Sostre, an educational consultant in New York City, who helps parents of special-needs children with the school-selection process. "Sequence is crucial; a lot of research can be done in the spring before school starts in the fall," she says. Then, if you know what to look for — and the right questions to ask — you'll be up to the challenge. Here, we tell you everything you need to know to find the right school for your child. Consider it a little help with your homework.

Today's Assignment: Know Your Child

Of course you know your preschooler loves chocolate and that his favorite show is Sesame Street. But look deeper into his behavior before you consider prospective schools. First, take a few minutes and write about who your child is as a student:

• Is he a listener or does he learn better through touch?

• Does he volunteer or does he need to be drawn out?

• Does he work well independently or would he do better in a group?

Next, make a list of your child's specific needs: Frank needs a classroom where he can sit away from the windows. Barbara needs a school that's light on homework. Jim needs a teacher who will give him step-by-step instructions. Your list should be "hopeful but realistic," notes Sostre. Include your child's strengths and weaknesses, both academically and socially. Often, exceptionally bright kids enter academically challenging programs but fail because the stress levels are too high. Lay out the whole picture, so your child isn't set up to fail.

Above all, focus on your child's needs. Just because a school is considered top-notch — and the whole neighborhood is vying to get in — does not necessarily mean it's an ideal fit for your child.

Zeroing In on a School

You'll read stacks of literature, watch countless school promotional tapes, and listen to everything administrators have to say. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. To understand what a school's really about, you'll need to conduct a little Q&A of your own.

Interview principals, primary teachers, speech therapists, teacher's assistants, and other special-needs providers. And don't forget the parents of kids who are enrolled in the school. Show up when classes are letting out, and ask other moms and dads to share their insights on classes, teachers, and homework — they'll give it to you straight. Don't know what questions to ask? Start with these:

• How big is the school? Size matters. Obviously, you'll want to know how many grade levels a school has — and how many students are enrolled in each. But don't stop there. Ask about the physical size of the school as well as the layout of the building. If your child has spatial and memory challenges — as children with ADD often do — you'll want to know that he can find his way around.

• How large are the classes? "A kid with ADD gets lost in a class of 40 or more," says Harold Meyer, Executive Director of the A.D.D. Resource Center in New York City. A class of about 15 students is probably your best-case scenario, although such small numbers are tough to find in a public school. But don't give up on the system just yet. In larger public-school classes, says Meyer, the Board of Education may provide a "shadow" teacher, who will give your child the extra assistance he needs.

• What's the level of teacher training? "Be sure there's a fair share of experienced career teachers," says Colleen Berge, an educational consultant in New York City. While you'll find many fine entry-level teachers working throughout the school system, your child needs a school where he will be adequately mentored.

• How flexible is this school? Will it adapt to your child's learning style? Can he use a tape recorder in class instead of taking notes? Can he have a desk away from a window or closer to the teacher? Will the school give him extra time for tests? Don't settle for a simple "yes." Ask the school for specific examples of how it has adjusted to other students in the past. Typically, kids with ADD do not lack smarts, but they often lack skills necessary for academic success — organization, study skills, and test-taking ability.

This article comes from the April/May Issue 2004 of ADDitude.

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