I hired ms. Moroff because the school district was running me around and not offering the services…read morenor giving me the information as to what my child was entitled to. They did not educate me with regard to what I needed to do to help my son or offer me the services he clearly needed. It was not until Ms. Moroff got on the case, did I even have a clue as to how the system worked against my child and not for my child. She consulted with me, wrote e mails, taped our IEP meetings and went with me to all the meeteings. It was then that I realized that I was so fortunate to have such a great advocate working for my child. I highly recommend Ms. Moroff to anyone who needs a voice for their child. She is a warm and compassionate person would not have gotten the services he now has. He has become successful in school because of this. I highly recommend Ms. Moroff, she herself has a child with disabilities. She is intelligent, educated in the field of Advocacy a warm and compassionate woman who will go the extra mile to make sure that the school district provides the proper services to help your.child be succesful.

i SEEKED MS MOROFF OUT BASED ON A WORD OF MOUTH…read moreRECOMENDATION --,AS A ADVOCATE FOR MY CHILD.with special needs she has helped me tremendously when all else was a struggle.

Valentine's Day dance was a blast! Plenty of places for the kids to play and parents got to get a…read morephoto with their kids and I'm sure the kids enjoyed all the treats. I just volunteered, kids didnt go and I didn't try any of the treats but they were so organized and made volunteering a breeze! I got to help with arranging the flower/vases and cupcakes on the snack tables and help with putting the fake flowers on the back drop and handing out fun heart glasses and took all the photos for the first group (all the k-5th families). The families were so appreciative and had so much fun. The staff here really care about the students, both educationally and their well being. My kids love going here. They just don't like to dance but after seeing it I see that there's plenty more to do rather than dance.

We LOVE this school! We left our zoned school on base for Coastal and my child has never been…read morehappier! The vibes are good, the kids are happy, and the staff is great! We love the events and field trips they plan, it's a great environment for kids to learn in. Highly recommend!

So ashamed of this school I can't believe how it's plummeted into the ground. The discrimination is…read moredisgusting. They got rid of a ton of great staff this school year. They have been there since my daughter was in kindergarten (2018) Very unprofessional now. So sad. Used to be a happy place with loving and caring teachers. Now everyone is so cold and unwelcoming.

I'm so sad that my son had to leave this school last year when he left to go to 6th Grade. This…read moreschool was like his second home, and all of the staff knew him, treated him kindly, and were always so encouraging. He was so confident and self assured...and Mr.Ruth was likely one of the best Sped teachers he had besides Mrs. Mini, who we were sad to lose after so many years of great experiences in her class. This school is so much more than just a school. They bring all students and families in and make a real "home" for them - a secondary area where they can feel accepted and supported just as they are. Miss Mayanna in the Health Office was one of Hunter's favorite people, and he talks about her, all of the office staff and the principal, Dieter Swank, constantly. He misses being there, but now he's in a charter school that is k-8, and looks very similar to the uniforms Ivey Ranch wore. It's been a much easier transition there, he only lasted a little less than a month in the Middle School, and he's really flourishing in the full inclusion of the charter school he is in now. He's learning Mandarin there, and does homework without complaint...it's been a metamorphosis that wouldn't have been possible had it not been for the collaborative efforts off all staff involved. I am excited and sad that we had to leave, but Ivery was six of the best years of Hunter's life, and every time we drive by, we talk about how many awesome Memories he had there, and how he loves his new charter school where he's got a 1:1 Aide and fully supported, he is also really doing well in this new setting...and I owe that much to the foundation that was laid in such a positive manner by the staff and volunteers at Ivey Ranch...I wish my oldest would have had such a fantastic place to attend his elementary school year. Ivey Ranch gave him the platform and foundation, and his new charter school is giving him a opportunity to tap into that so he can make his future better and brighter for himself. He's already grown so much, and parents...if you're sending your kiddo to Ivey and might have some concerns - the principal is amazing, and the staff in the front are always happy to be of help. We love Ivey...and it's going to be with us forever, as it helped shape who put responsible young man would become. I can't wait to see what fantastic alumni come from that school, and look back as fondly as our family often does on 6 long and prosperous years at Ivey. We miss you already, but we are so glad you continue to shape and guide the minds of these Young individuals...you're a very special School, with some very outstanding personnel who deserve to know how much they all meant to one little boy who is now an emerging young man...and he is proud of everything he is, is always responsible, for his actions. He is so much better for the time he spent there, and we could not be happier for that experience! Go Ivey!!!

My son attends this school. I was really scared at first. This is because we moved here from…read moreArizona and we didn't know anything. My son finally said he likes school, And he's happy. The teachers are incredible. The teachers name is Mrs. Adelle.

Hit or miss for the food at the cafe. Love the campus and their mission. Atmosphere is really nice…read moreand they have a nice outdoor seating area at their cafe. The campus has a nice landscaping. Nice people working on the campus and in the café.

I read the information on the Stepping Stones website, and it looks incredibly encouraging! I'm…read morehoping by the time my youngest son is ready to exit 8th grade, his current Charter School will have a high school option, but if not, it is great to know places like this exist in the local community. They also collaborate with a large number of nationally accredited charter schools across the state. The varied options I mentioned earlier include homeschooling, independent study, and blended learning opportunities - I am so happy to see schools joining this model of education...it's really proving to be the best way to educate children for successful futures instead of churning them out like a grim scene from The Wall... In their own words: "Our focus is personalized education for each student. The best way to change tomorrow is to invest in our children today... One Step at a Time." Yes. More of this, please!!! One thing that particularly stands out is that they are community-centered learning institutions. This has a twofold effect - they promote success in academics by nurturing a connection with the community (usually through volunteerism or other efforts), and they also partner their students with successful to make sure they achieve the steps necessary to succeed from the time they start Kindergarten until the time they choose a career. That's smart educating! Through their network of partner schools, they can tailor a student's education to help keep them engaged, participating, and give them the tools they're going to need for future success in college, university, or trade/vocational school programs (again, education works different for everyone, and it looks like these people understand that!!!) Their website uses the word "investment" regarding their students, and I can't day how much I love that...I wish more schools treated education like an investment in our children and the future of not only the individual, but the community and society as a whole. They teach children to be self-paced and directed; and also foster a sense of independent thinking and those who can not only use critical thinking to solve problems, but also communicate in whichever way is best suited to their own personality and style. Since I know many people who communicate through electronic devices, I like to hear the emphasis placed on communication and not "speaking." There is a big difference. These folks seem like they "get it!" Their main goal appears to be simple: to help students of all ages and stages to "learn how to learn." I love that phrase! They know that many students don't have a place in our rather drab and outdated school model, with endless tests and redundant, utterly uninteresting and non-dynamic curriculum. In addition to general school/high school academics, these students also apparently get to discover their own potential career path; and this could include technical courses, visual/performing arts, apprenticeships (similar programs currently exist in some European countries) and service learning projects - I've done Service Learning Projects in my own college; and they're enhancements to the curriculum you're already learning, it's really great foundation building work! This was one of the things that stuck out at me while I was reading about their program... apparently, Stepping Stones also offers two years of college at no cost for those who qualify. This could just be help filing out the FASFA FOR Federal Student Aid (which not everyone will qualify for, depending on how much their parents make), but could potentially also include help finding grants, scholarships, and alternative ways to fund tertiary education beyond high school. :) My son's current charter school has been a godsend, but now that we've been able to dodge the proverbial "bullet" that was a nightmarish middle school experience (it only lasted a month, thankfully!), and he's now fully included in his school. There are no segregated classes for special education, but he receives as much support as he needs (including a dedicated aide that the school hand picked for him and hired after he enrolled), so I cannot sing the praises of charter schools enough. His behavior is better, self-confidence has skyrocketed, and he is now taking initiative to work both on classwork and chores at home! But he's in 6th Grade now, and the school he's at currently only goes to 8th. I'm hoping they'll add an option for high school in the next few years, but if not...I am very pleased to know there are alternatives that match our current setup available within close proximity. I have friends that need this type of opportunity for their own children, so I'm passing this on to them too. If only I'd known what was out there when my 21 year old was being pushed through the school system..."No Child Left Behind" just means they're going to end up with many adults that are left without...because they never caught up...

My son's attendance here began when he was 2.5 years old (that's 30 months for the month-counters…read moreout there). The entire experience has been nothing short of fantastic since the first day I ever waved goodbye to my toddler, leaving him in the care and educational guidance of amazing teachers, interns, and classroom helpers/volunteers! On entering and exiting the adorable CDC of MCC you are always welcomed with warm greetings and sent home with generous well-wishes by the woman behind the front-desk, Mark or Linda! (directors of the center) This school, located on the MiraCosta college campus, is a laboratory school meaning that students of the college studying Child Development are allowed to learn from children at play via observation booths or hands-on activities within the various classrooms in the center. Parents, of course, sign a waiver consenting to allowing their child to be observed. I think this aspect of the school is wonderful! It's like educational mutualism: everybody benefits! It's also great because as a parent or relative, you can visit your child's respective classroom observation booth and watch your kiddo in their natural element without them even knowing you're there! Each classroom is comprised of children within the same age range and the ratio between child and teacher is adequate and comforting! Children engage in many different kinds of play and learning every day of the week, in fact, teachers often plan their days based on what they have seen their students finding the most interest in! While the classrooms have routines that they try to follow to create that sense of a schedule for the children, it is never 100% cookie-cutter final: the children too can help drive the direction in which the activities go! The actual classrooms themselves are spacious and feel organic! (I LOVE the use of natural light to brighten the learning space and the fact that the classrooms are not equipped with those cheap, plastic climb on toys you might find at any other preschool-like setting!) Instead the classes are furnished with wooden structures for climbing on, cozy reading areas, play-pretend nooks, various child-sized round tables for a variety of different activities, spots made with specific themes in mind: science, math, writing, nature, ect, a place for group-time/gathering, and a lovely outdoor place space! Don't forget the tiny toilets! I have enjoyed my son going here as much as I believe that he too really enjoys being enrolled at this great preschool! The tuition is quite reasonable! The center offers rates dependent on whether a parent is a MIraCosta student or simply a member of the general population. The lines of communication are always open between families and the staff of the CDC, whether you'd like to speak in person, over the phone, or through email! I love when the center has events that bring children, their families, and the center's staff together. We really make a unique community!

We have been going to Innovative for 7 years now. This place is amazing and the staff is even more…read moreamazing! My son has a list of special needs/diagnosis as does most kiddos who go here. I have to say they have helped us above and beyond what a typical therapist would normally do. We had/have behavioral issues and they helped us navigate that, we had sleep issues they helped with that, school issues they help with that. I mean anything and everything you need help with they are more than happy to jump in and problem solve right away. They think outside the box and make therapy fun for kids. They are so kind and so gentle and so loving and silly my son loves going here. When we switched to a PPO they even helped me figure out how to submit insurance claims and let me tell you that is a full time job in and of itself! We've done the LiFT program a few times to and it's amazing as well. Our son potty trained after completing the first LiFT program and we weren't sure he'd ever be potty trained. He stopped chewing on his straws after we did LiFT a second time. His speech always improves and he says new words after every LiFT completion we do. I can't say enough about Innovative. They are one big family and they actually care about your kiddos. I've recommended them to everyone I know.

Innovation Therapy: has been a great support and resource for my son who is fantastic but has very…read morediverse thinking. through compassion and expertise they have given him so many helpful tools for navigating life.

I think this is a good school overall, I just feel their special education section needs more…read moreteachers to help with more one-on-one work. Your kid won't get that here. I've worked at lots of schools, and I've seen how, over the years, this school has had a difficult time working with kids who are non-verbal. I haven't seen much progress in particular kids and it has been 3 years of them being there. I think there are other schools that have more staff who can maybe help more in severe cases. If your kid is okay in group classes, though, in general ed or special Ed, then this school is fine.

Went here from 2011 to 2017 and it was the worst years ever. Terrible staff, terrible office…read morepeople especially Ms. Snagel. Oh man I hope she's gone by now for the sake of those poor kids. Also be careful with the old lady teachers. They can be very mood swingy and snappy and some of the younger teachers are just plain out snobby. I would like to shout out to Mrs. Montano and Ms. Zadylak. I am so glad I am far gone from this school. Knobhill? More like KnobHell! Also the discipline system is cruel. I mean who freaking isolates a poor kid to the wall in front of everyone to shame them. Just wow. Good luck to whoever goes here next and ps. Watch out for rude supervisors and lunch ladies. You will love middle school way better. Good day

I took my 8-year-old to Dr. Bloch due to his double vision and blurriness. A complete test with…read moreregards to every detail was done by the friendly and helpful staffs and Dr. Bloch, a diagnosis was made. My son was put on a serious eye muscles exercise for his eyes to work together, and also a training for better reading habit. The improvement was astonishing! In just a few weeks, his symptoms were almost gone, and he started developing better reading habit. His not even complete with the whole program yet, but his reading is already off the chart (some at high school or college level), but his performance in sports also improved. When I look for any doctor, i care about their medical knowledge, patience to listen and appreciate my concerns and if they are respected by their colleagues and patients. Dr. Bloch is more than that, he's passionate about what he's doing, and he genuinely cares. These good qualities also show in the tidiness of his office, and his whole team of staffs. My family really appreciates this partnership in this process with Dr. Bloch and his team.

I was honestly at a standstill with my son. We were at kindergarten reading levels even though he…read moreis in 2nd grade. His dyslexia was frustrating for him. Watching my child struggle created so much anxiety for the whole family. I didn't know what to do. A friend told me to see Dr. Bloch. I thought what I have to lose at this point. Dr Bloch has changed my son's life. Within one month he is bringing me chapter books to read. Word recognition, fluency, reading speed, and confidence have improved 100% from where we started. It is an amazing program!

I retired from VUSD , it was a wonderful place to work. Good pay, great benefits, great retirement,…read moreand you can always count on the security. My wife is getting ready to go to work for them and I couldn't be happier. Thank you VUSD!

The athletic department in particular Varsity Baseball coaches have got to be the most biased bunch…read moreof clowns. They have serious issues if a student enjoys more than 1 sport, and if they aren't part of the travel ball club called the Reds they definitely won't get the instruction or chance to even play. It's really frustrating when the Coaches try to get a kid to quit rather than include them in the Team. As a grandparent who is also Alumni of VHS I must say they are a HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT. VUSD you really need to do better. If a family isn't part of the certain clique they are looked down on. Well to the coaches of Varsity baseball it's a no wonder you never went beyond being a PE teacher.