Carol M.....re kindergarten

February 10, 2002

Carol,

You already got a fabulous response from Carolyn but thought I would add my two

cents worth and try to clarify.......did you mean that since the 3yr. eval is

coming up right now they want him in the kindergarten program right now.....as

in putting him in during Feb. or March???? If that is the case I would say

absolutely not!! However, as someone else mentioned and you are also

questioning, how is his current program helping? Is he getting the one on one

therapy he needs in addition to the nice social environement at the preschool??

If not then you need to get that for him for sure....see if you can transport

him to the school for just that....some schools will do that or maybe get

insurance/medicaid/katie Beckett to pay for that. That should be your focus for

now. While the school is doing their three yr. eval try to get a PRIVATE eval

done as well to compare findings and ideas at the IEP meeting they will hold in

the spring or sooner.....try to get them thinking in terms of next year

kindergarten and how they can make that a SUCCESSFUL and learning

experience....is the classroom going to be a small number of kids, is it a

caring and understanding teacher, does your child need an aide, etc. etc. It

is your decision as parents what he is doing this year and you have already made

your decision. My school also tried to get us to change our minds but now that

my son is in middle of kindergarten at 6 1/2 we know for SURE we made the right

decision in holding him back, as hard as it was....and the school case manager

is still angry with us that we " bucked " her recommendation and simply flatly

refused.....it is a shame that she has let her personal feelings on this affect

her ability to be a support and help to us this year but there it is: life! We

prayed all summer for God to provide for my son and to direct us in the right

decision and they hired a new teacher, warm and caring as well as redu cing the

class size....these two factors and his older age have helped him have a

wonderful and successful and positive year so far in kindergarten. Carol H.

(great first name you have! )

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