To the program parents out there, or those considering a "Specialty Boarding School" placement, let me say, I have had first hand experience with one of these programs. I do know what I am talking about.
I don't want to go into a lot of detail about our family situation. I will say though, that our situation was fairly typical. I made the same decision you did (or that you're considering) probably for many of the same reasons, and with the same hopes. I want to tell you a bit of my story and explain some of what I have learned.
Something that got my attention pretty early on and hoisted some red flags, was the reaction of the people on the BBS when concerns about the program were raised. I saw that it was widely accepted that none of what the kids wrote home about was true. Anything that wasn't positive about their experience; anything that might cause a parent concern about the quality of the education, or sanitation, or meals, or abuse that was reported, was dismissed as lying and manipulation.
