Where Passion Meets Education

The Georgia Association of Private Schools for Exceptional Children (GAPSEC) serves as a coordinating organization of independent and private schools that have a primary mission or have within their mission a distinct special program that focuses on students with learning disabilities, issues, and differences.  Meeting at least annually, 

The Georgia Association of Private Schools for Exceptional Children (GAPSEC) serves as a coordinating organization of independent and private schools that have a primary mission or have within their mission a distinct special program that focuses on students with learning disabilities, issues, and differences.  Meeting at least annually, members gather to discuss common professional issues, to establish and help maintain a code of ethics, and to share information regarding programs in member schools.  As a recognized affiliate of GISA (Georgia Independent School Association), the recognized special education organization for the Georgia Private Education Council (GPEC which is the Georgia organization for the Council on Private Education at the national level) and the state affiliate of the National Association of Private Schools for Exceptional Children (NAPSEC), GAPSEC also serves as a spokes group with the State Department of Education regarding the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship and other special education issues in Georgia.

Founded in 1973 by “a group of independent school educators who were concerned about the lack of common voice and by the difficulty parents faced in choosing appropriate quality programs for special needs children,” GAPSEC received its status as a non-profit corporation in 1981.  At that time, the purpose was also “to provide a forum wher

Founded in 1973 by “a group of independent school educators who were concerned about the lack of common voice and by the difficulty parents faced in choosing appropriate quality programs for special needs children,” GAPSEC received its status as a non-profit corporation in 1981.  At that time, the purpose was also “to provide a forum where member schools could share information relating to the educational needs of exceptional children in the state of Georgia.”  The organization would meet two or three times a year.  In addition, the group would share advertising costs including the nondiscriminatory notice that listed all member schools.  At one point in its history, GAPSEC also served as an accrediting agency; however, the service was discontinued. Founders were David Schenck, The Schenck School; Harrison Kimbrell, Brandon Hall School; and James Meffin, Gables Academy.  Through individual school memberships, GAPSEC is affiliated on the local, state, and national level with the Atlanta Association of Independent Schools (AAAIS), the Council of American Private Education (CAPE), the Georgia Private Education Council (GPEC), the Georgia Independent School Association (GISA), the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS), the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), and the National Association of Private Schools for Exceptional Children (NAPSEC).

GAPSEC members believe that the organization serves to preserve the highest standards of integrity and ethical principles in their admissions, organizational, operational, and business policies.  The ethical responsibilities of each member institution require that the welfare of the persons served by the school be considered paramount:

1. Mem

GAPSEC members believe that the organization serves to preserve the highest standards of integrity and ethical principles in their admissions, organizational, operational, and business policies.  The ethical responsibilities of each member institution require that the welfare of the persons served by the school be considered paramount:

1. Member schools will maintain written information, student and employee handbooks, and policies that address the school’s mission, commitment and specific programs designed to serve students with learning disabilities, issues, and differences.  The school must either have as its overall objective to serve the population specified or have a distinct special program within the school coordinated by a qualified individual.
2. Member schools shall be fully accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the State of Georgia, preferably SACS, SAIS, or GAC.  
3. Member schools shall employ as teachers and administrators degreed employees whose experience or degrees indicate qualifications to design and administer programs for the respective student population served;  
4. Member schools shall follow acceptable patterns of professional conduct in relations with their clientele;   
5. Since education is not an exact science and there are numerous uncontrollable variables, a member school must not guarantee results or make false claims whether expressed, implied, or written in its literature, advertisements, and statements to parents;   
6. A member school will not knowingly initiate attempts to bring about the transfer or accept a student from another member school without formally requesting from the student’s former school official academic and conduct records;   
7. Member schools shall not accept nor give gifts, fees, or other forms of gratuity for admissions referrals;  
8. Member schools will maintain the professional confidentiality of school records;  
9. Member schools will give evidence of providing multi-sensory and differentiated instruction, learning accommodations, and evaluations normally associated with and accepted as pedagogically standard.