This FAQ is written specifically for parents and guardians of a child with an IEP or 504 plan — the questions we hear most from families once a Blue Horizons aide is part of your child’s school day. Looking for broader questions about our company and screening standards instead? Visit our general FAQ page.
What’s the difference between an Instructional Aide, a Behavioral Support Aide, and a Sensory Support Aide?
Blue Horizons places three types of aide, and which one fits your child depends on what their IEP or 504 plan calls for. A Instructional Aide works alongside the classroom teacher to support your child’s academic goals. A Behavioral Support Aide is placed to support a student who is working through a behavior plan. A Sensory Support Aide is placed to support a child’s sensory processing needs. Whichever type your child is assigned, that aide has already passed DOJ Live Scan screening before ever stepping into a classroom.
How is my child matched with a specific aide?
We start with what your child’s IEP or 504 plan actually requires, then match an aide whose placement type fits that need — instructional, behavioral, or sensory. Every aide is already DOJ Live Scan–screened before this stage, so the matching conversation is about the right fit for your child, not vetting from scratch. See how to request an aide for your child for how this process begins.
Who supervises my child’s aide once they’re placed?
Every Blue Horizons aide works under a multi-layer supervision model, and that supervision doesn’t stop once your child’s aide is placed. Aides are checked before placement and remain under supervision throughout the school year as part of our ongoing retraining, so oversight is continuous rather than a one-time review.
How is my child’s progress and attendance tracked?
Behind every placement, we track schedules, attendance, timesheets, and journals through our own system. That record feeds directly into our Quarterly Performance Review Program, so there’s an ongoing, documented record of your child’s aide’s attendance and performance — not just a verbal assurance that things are going well.
Who do I contact if I have a concern about my child’s aide?
Your family is assigned a named single point of contact from our senior management team — not a rotating call-center voice. That person is backed by our 24-hour service center, so a concern about your child’s aide reaches someone who already knows your placement, whenever you need to raise it. You can also reach us any time through our contact page.
What happens if my child’s assigned aide is out sick?
Your named point of contact and our 24-hour service center exist specifically for situations like this. Reach out as soon as you know, and they’ll work with you and your child’s school on next steps, coordinating directly rather than leaving you to sort it out with the school alone.
If a new aide needs to be brought in, how is that transition handled?
Any aide who is transitioned in mid-year or otherwise goes through the same DOJ Live Scan screening and training as every Blue Horizons aide before entering the classroom. Your single point of contact stays involved through that transition, coordinating with your child’s teacher and IEP team so the change is handled directly with you rather than left to chance.
Will my child have the same aide all year, or should I expect changes?
Continuity is something we’re built around: your named single point of contact stays consistent for your family even if a specific aide’s schedule changes, and any change of aide is handled directly with you and your child’s IEP team rather than through an anonymous hand-off. If you’re weighing whether a change is warranted, when to request a new aide walks through what to consider.
Will I be routed through a call center, or will I speak with someone who actually knows our situation?
You’ll have a named single point of contact from our senior management team, backed by a 24-hour service center — not an anonymous 1-800 line. The goal is no dropped hand-offs: the same person who knows your child’s placement is who you reach when you call.
