Washington DC · Maryland · Virginia
Personalized guidance for families of children with learning differences navigating public and private school options across Maryland, Virginia, and DC.
My goal is to find the most appropriate placement for each child — not the most prestigious one.
Who I Serve
You've outgrown what your district can offer and are ready to explore what private schools in the DMV can provide for your child.
Your child's private placement isn't working and you want to understand what specialized public programs are available in your area.
You're moving to Maryland, Virginia, or DC and need to quickly understand a complex, unfamiliar school landscape for a child with specific needs.
About
Before educational consulting, I spent years in business analysis, recruiting, and entrepreneurship. What carried through all of it was the same core interest: understanding what people need and what conditions let them thrive. That instinct turned out to be exactly what this work requires.
For the past 15 years, I've worked with parents of children with learning differences — first as an advocate and then as a school placement consultant. In that time, I've visited 50+ schools across the DMV, built relationships with admissions offices, studied the latest learning research, and — most importantly — learned how to listen to what families actually need.
One thing that sets my practice apart: I work with both public and private school options.
For some families, the right answer is a specialized public program with the resources and legal framework to support their child. For others, it's a small private school that no one in their network has heard of yet. I help you find out which is best for your child and family.
How It Works
What sets my approach apart is the depth of preparation before I ever recommend a school. A good recommendation requires a complete picture of the child — not just a stack of evaluations.
We start with a 30-minute complimentary call to understand your goals and your child's needs. If we're a good fit, I conduct a thorough intake to establish a full picture of your situation.
I review all relevant school records including evaluations, IEPs, 504 plans, report cards, and progress reports — the full paper trail that tells me who your child is as a learner.
I speak directly with your child's therapists, tutors, and teachers. Their insights are often the most candid and revealing part of building an accurate profile.
Where possible, I observe your child in their current school environment. Seeing them in context — how they interact, where they struggle, where they light up — is irreplaceable.
For middle schoolers and up (or younger if parents feel it's appropriate), I talk directly with your child. Their perspective matters and often shapes my recommendations.
I deliver a written recommendations report, walk you through it, and make direct introductions to admissions contacts. I present your child's profile to schools and work alongside you through placement.
Services
A comprehensive engagement from intake through placement. I get to know your child deeply — through records, conversations, and observation — before making any recommendations. Includes direct introductions to admissions offices and support through the application process.
MCPS, FCPS, Arlington, DCPS, and others offer a wide range of specialized programs, magnets, and learning models for neurodiverse students. I help families understand what's available and how to access it, including IEP and placement advocacy.
Step-by-step support through application timelines, documentation, and school interviews. I have established relationships with admissions offices across the DMV and can present your child's profile directly — including facilitating informal evaluation reviews before you formally apply.
Who I Work With
General experience isn't enough. Each of these profiles presents differently at different ages, calls for different school environments, and requires knowing which programs in the DMV actually deliver what they promise.
ADHD presents very differently at 7 versus 15. I understand how it affects learning at each developmental stage and which school structures — size, pacing, executive function support — make the biggest difference.
ASD spans an enormous range of needs and strengths. I work with families to find environments that can genuinely meet their child where they are — socially, academically, and sensory-wise.
Dyslexia, dyscalculia, language-based learning disabilities — many families don't know the private schools that specialize in these, or the evidence-based interventions that make a real difference. I do.
Anxiety, depression, and school avoidance also present differently by age. The right school environment — culture, counseling support, academic pressure — can be as important as any therapy.
Testimonials
"Her insight into both public and private options was invaluable. We found a school that truly understands our child's needs — one we never would have found on our own."
"Navigating the move from New York to DC with a child who has learning differences felt daunting. Hayley made the process seamless — she knew exactly which questions to ask and which schools to consider."
"We were at a complete loss after our daughter's previous placement fell apart. Hayley was calm, thorough, and honest — she introduced us to a school we didn't know existed, and it has been transformative."
Contact
Every family's situation is different. The first step is a no-pressure introductory call where I learn about your child and you learn how I work. From there, we figure out together whether and how I can help.
You can also reach me directly by email. I respond to every inquiry personally — no intake forms, no assistants.
hayley@schoolplacementadvisor.com Schedule a Free Call