Dianna Pharr has been an absolutely amazing advocate for our entire family over the last 3.5 years…read more(and counting). It is no exaggeration to say that her guidance, assistance, & advocacy have been nothing short of life-changing! I would give her advocacy services ten stars if I could! We are a family with four children, ranging in age from preschool to high school. All four of our children have multiple chronic illnesses or disabilities, from the common to the incredibly rare. Adding to the complexity, three of our children are also gifted, making them "twice exceptional" - and also making the task of attaining help for them exponentially harder. When Dianna first began to help us, only one of our four children was even receiving Special Education or 504 services. Accommodations for that one child were woefully inadequate, and our attempts to qualify the others for ANY help whatsoever had all hit a brick wall. I'd naively assumed that my diligent efforts to volunteer & to "work within the system" would get our children all the help they needed - & that my own knowledge as a law tutor would keep our family from being taken advantage of. But my efforts were getting us nowhere. Once Dianna began to review our children's situations, it immediately became clear that our School District was not fulfilling its moral or statutory obligations. She helped me to gather & review records; instructed me in how to create a paper trail of goodwill & good faith efforts; & encouraged me to find my voice. She has patiently led me on an intensive crash course on both the broad strokes & the intricacies of Special Education law. Once-foreign acronyms & concepts like IDEA, FAPE, FERPA, IEE, ESY, FBA, BIP, OCR, Homebound, & Related Services now roll off my tongue. With Dianna's help, we have navigated the fraught Child Find process. Despite the School District's repeated rejections for services when *I* had sought help on my own, now that Dianna is assisting us, all four children are fully qualified for Special Education services. No parent wants to "fight" their school district - just as no parent wants to "fight" to prove that their child rightfully requires Special Education services. But sometimes it's our job to take up that fight, because it's what our children desperately need & deserve in order to flourish within the educational setting. It's hard to admit that - however patient & well-intentioned we are in dealing with the schools we love - our children nevertheless cannot get the education they need without these modifications & accommodations. It's hard to admit that we can't always trust that our School Districts will act in our children's best interests. We'd all like to believe that we can navigate these negotiations on our own, using goodwill & persistence. But more often than not, once we've run into delays & denials, we need a knowledgeable & experienced professional to help us. Dianna has BEEN that expert voice for our family. She has tirelessly participated in countless ARDs, phone conferences, physician consultations, 504 meetings, & informal prep sessions. When we needed an attorney, she connected us with an amazing education lawyer & even came along - all while continuing to monitor our situation & educate us further SO THAT WE CAN HELP OURSELVES. She has loved and fought for our children as though they were her own. Dianna has ferociously supported our family at every turn. When we have come to her overwhelmed, frustrated, discouraged, or afraid, she has listened carefully - & then doubled her efforts to champion our cause. When our situation within our School District deteriorated, she has helped us weigh whether to request mediation or file due process. She has even guided us in filing formal grievances with the Texas Education Agency and the US Department of Education - and she has offered testimony to support us in those proce. At every step of the way, Dianna has stood with us, shoulder-to-shoulder, as we have navigated an incredibly difficult journey. Her knowledge is so vast that I still find myself looking to her for advice, even though she has ALWAYS worked her hardest to create self-confidence and the personal knowledge to conduct these meetings on our own. Dianna has been beyond generous with her time & her passion. She is absolutely brilliant at understanding education law - but her advocacy actually springs from a deep devotion to helping children and families. She most definitely isn't advocating for money or for glory - she's in it because it is her calling to HELP children and families. We honestly can't imagine where our children or our family would be without her. Update: Since I first wrote this review, Dianna has helped us to achieve full Special Education eligibility & appropriate services for ALL FOUR of our children. We are beyond grateful!

There simply is no better advocate for children than Dianna Pharr! She is relentless and works…read moretirelessly for her clients. She is the of the highest ethical and moral character. Dianna is simply put an angel on earth.

Our family loves St. Francis School (SFS, a pre-K through 8th-grade private nonprofit…read moreinterdenominational school operating for 30+ years near the ACC Highland campus in north-central Austin). After a mixed but ultimately disappointing experience in 1st - 3rd grades at a crowded, overpriced, chaotic start-up foreign language immersion school, our family needed a fresh start. Our once confident and joyful learner of a child had been reduced to an overstressed student who loathed school and struggled through hours of tedious homework each night. St. Francis provided the small, truly diverse and welcoming community environment we wanted for our child, with a balance of challenging academics, ethics reinforcement, and attention to the nurturing & development of the whole child by experienced educators who really know how to differentiate instruction to many types of learners. This approach has totally turned around our child's experience of school and his learning & achievement have skyrocketed over the past 2 years. His school grades are now more in line with his always high standardized testing results, and homework no longer comes to tears! Another parent reviewer said it well when she described the diverse and "unpretentious atmosphere" at SFS. Every imaginable demographic is represented in both the student body and faculty. People are kind and friendly and welcoming, and individual differences are celebrated. Every time I'm on campus, I just feel inspired and hopeful. Because SFS keeps class size (max of 15) and total enrollment (around 400) in check and teachers love the place so much they stay for decades, the small, cohesive "neighborhood school" feel is maintained. Huge props go to the incomparable founding head of school, Barbara Porter, who has since 1985 guided SFS on its core mission of "excellence without exclusivity." SFS backs that sentiment up by supporting 25% of the student body with scholarships and charging one of the lowest private school tuition rates in the Austin area, while consistently graduating their students into the most competitive public school magnet programs and private high schools. Another wonderfully unique feature among area private schools is the SFS Learning Center, where students with special needs can receive tutoring and additional services to support their success in school. Kids with learning differences are fully integrated into SFS classrooms and are able to thrive as part of a truly diverse school community. At the same time, a large proportion of the student body would be described as "gifted & talented," demonstrating highest performance in academics, the arts, and sports. Each Friday morning, an optional hour of "chapel" is held in which the entire student body and faculty, as well as any parents & family members who wish to attend, gather together in the gym to share an uplifting community-building and/or character-building assembly or pep rally to celebrate that month's achievements. It's not actually religious (although some religious content is shared from time-to-time; the school is named for St. Francis of Assisi, after all). The 8th-grade year culminates in a transformative Spring Break trip to Italy to visit the hometown of St. Francis (among other sites), and the kids raise all of the money for the trip themselves over the course of their years at SFS. I could say much more about all the reasons we love SFS, but if you are considering private school or are just looking for a better school for your unique learner, I encourage you to take a tour and see for yourself. Curriculum and other details are available on the school website at http://www.stfrancis-school.org.

Well run institution with a great culture…read more Pro: - Long Term: with over 35 years in operation, they've had time to build a strong program that will last through economic downturns. - Culture: teachers, students and parents are fully bought-in to the schools values (see school site for details). - Student attention: lower than average student/teacher ratios plus a dedicated, free-standing tutoring building adjacent to the school. Con: - Playground: nice but not inline with the quality of the rest of the institution. - Admissions: it's a centrally located, high quality private school in a growing city, meaning demand is high Personal lessons from our school search: After spending 12 months searching for the 'best school', we realized the importance of finding the 'best school for our child'. Initially, I was too tied up in rankings to spend the time to understand what was important for our family and how that lined up with each program. In the end, we loved the goals at St. Francis of (1) excellence without exclusivity, (2) a meaningful commitment to diversity and (3) attention to the needs of every student. Covid-19 update: School is really stepping up to deliver for students in a difficult time. The teachers are really going above-and-beyond.

SPARK LEARNING IS THE BEST My kiddo loves everyone there. Amanda, Kayla, Laura, Melody, Liz,…read moreMichelle, Casey, Rachel, Erica, America, Masha... everyone is just amazing! My son has developed a lot since he started going there. Everyone is very experienced and they put so much effort into each kid so they can learn and develop :). I'm thankful for everyone there Would highly recommend this ABA center to everyone

We've been working with Spark since 5 and a half month. Kristen and her team are amazing. And I…read moremean, AMAZING. We've seen huge progress in our son with his expressive communication skills, social skills and behavior. Not only that our son is a much more happier child but we're a much more happier family working together to give him the resources he need and we have Spark to thank for that. When I first met Kristen, I did not want to look anywhere else and knew this was the place for our son.

I've recommended Joshua's Stage to all of my friends in education and disability advocacy! Programs…read morethat truly work to meet the needs of children with disabilities, and specifically Autism, hold a special place in my heart.

From the owner: Joshua's Stage is the premiere performance center for children ages 3 to 18 with a wide range of…read morespecial needs; featuring classes in theatre arts, dance, digital photography, and filmmaking. Children enrolled in classes at Joshua's Stage have the opportunity to: explore fine arts classes specifically developed for children with special needs; demonstrate creativity; develop self-confidence in the classroom and during exhibits and performances; maintain high self-esteem; form long-lasting relationships with children with similar needs and caring, qualified teachers.

We couldn't be happier with The Magnolia School. Our kindergartener found public school…read moreoverwhelming, so three months into the school year, we made the decision to switch him. The small class sizes and personalized learning at The Magnolia School have truly made a world of difference. The teachers and staff foster a warm, engaging environment where kids can have fun while still learning. Our child is now thriving!

This is a special gem of a place. It's filled with kind, caring compassionate people who teach your…read morekids how they learn. They have a rigorous academic environment while having fun. What a special place to learn and grow.. Truly one of a kind. And the impact on my son and our family has been life changing. The kids learn manners, kindness, friendship, & teamwork on top of the academics.

My child goes here, and it has been a wonderful experience. The attention and care he receives are…read moretruly exceptional. The staff is incredibly kind, patient, and attentive. The moment you walk in, you're greeted with such warm, positive energy--it immediately puts you at ease. The facility is always spotless and well-organized, which reflects their high standards of cleanliness and care. It's a nurturing, cheerful environment that makes both kids and parents feel welcome and comfortable.

From the owner: Success on the Spectrum is a dedicated Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy clinic committed to…read morehelping children with autism reach their full potential—with no registration fees and no wait list. Our evidence-based approach features individualized treatment plans tailored to each child’s unique needs, fostering growth in communication, social skills, and daily living abilities. Backed by a compassionate and highly trained team, we provide a supportive, engaging environment where children thrive. Our mission is to empower families and equip them with the tools for lasting success—both in therapy and everyday life.

Wow, what can I say, I feel like we won the jackpot when we found Magellan. our daughter started in…read moreKindergarten and although she isn't very good at adapting or transitions, she immediately fell in love with her teachers and school friends.. There are no cliques and no bullying and when we have had issues we have raised them with the teachers and they have jumped on them to solve them immediately, and unlike other private schools there's no sense of entitlement from the parents or students. Also, because the school is so good at awarding scholarships not everyone is 'rich'! The school also has a great parent teacher association which offer weekly meet-ups and play dates as well as adult only events. Each class also has a WhatsApp chat group so parents can easily communicate with each other. If it sounds like one big happy family you'd be right, that's exactly what it feels like. In terms of academics my adhd child has thrived. Diagnosed at 4 we thought she would struggle but the school has been amazing at supporting her needs and accommodating her. They also offer many different seating types from a bouncy ball chair, to cushions on the floor and other such. It's very holistic and non political and offers many diverse ways of learning. They have a calming corner, encourage reading and emotional open communication as well many other ways of teaching emotional and academic intelligence. They teach in Spanish from day one and introduce Mandarin from 3rd grade, they also teach following the international Baccalaureate which is amazing. It teaches the children self confidence through weekly presentations and teaches them autonomy. Honestly this school is amazing and now it goes until 12th grade we are obsessed and so you will be too. But, sshh don't tell anyone about our secret slice of heaven.

My son has attended Magellan since the age of three years old-- he is now in second and we have…read morealready registered him for third grade. Hands down, my husband and I feel it is best decision we have made for his education. Although it can be a bit pricey, we have felt that it has been worth every dollar. He is growing up to be a well spoken, well thought, caring little human. I love that he is bilingual, but I really love his open minded views and his eagerness to learn. The teachers... the teachers have all been so amazing. They are loving, caring and really take each student's personalities and abilities into consideration as they grow from year to year. As I said, it's not the cheapest option and we do discuss yearly if we will be renewing his tuition-- and, with each year this answer comes easier and easier with an astounding "YES". We love the school, the community, the parents and look forward to many more years at Magellan!

Fabulous school, where the children's needs come first! The teachers are dedicated to providing…read morequality education with an emphasis on community and achieving goals. Love this school!

Exceptional education and commitment to student growth and self-advocacy. My dyslexic son thrives…read morehere and doesn't feel the pressure of learning differently being in a school of children who are also dyslexic.