Current experts in the field of school-based occupational therapy discuss best practices and guidelines in consideration of federal and state law. However, private schools do not always operate under this legislation because they do not always receive funding from these sources. The determination and development of internal guidelines for SBOT practice is variable and may or may not consider best or evidence-based practices in a private school setting. The American Occupational Therapy Association states that working in private or independent schools is a developing area of practice for occupational therapists. The lack of guidelines for best practices for occupational therapists in private schools, in conjunction with the increased trend occurring in this practice area, emphasizes and substantiates the importance of developing guidelines for school-based occupational therapy practice in a private school setting. Mission statements guide private school practice and represent the student population that they educate. Focusing the guidelines on the target population of students with learning disabilities in a private elementary school setting aids in specific elements within the program manual.
