Looking for advice on moving DS from small private to regular public

[HIU8]

Have you done this? When? DS is in a small private. He does better with smaller class size right now. This year class size is 9. Next year will be closer to 14. The current school is attempting to up DS's comfort level in larger settings (he tends to fade into the background in larger groups). Really, they are working on helping him gain confidence. I'm just curious of what to expect when the time comes. FWIW, it may actually be coming soon b/c we may not be able to afford to keep DS at his current school for next year. We have applied to a private with financial aide and have the option of going public and having DS pulled out for social skills and reading. Public would be 27-30 kids.

[crl]

Do you think he will qualify for an iep? I would start that process asap so that he has one in place when the school year starts. And I would raise this very issue at the iep meeting and ask for their suggestions, both for you to implement now and for accommodations, etc to put in his iep.

Catherine

[crl]

Thought a little more and wanted to add that you might try to tease out what bothers him in bigger groups. Is it noise? Is it too many people jostling him? Is it the distraction?

That might help you figure out accommodations. For example, if it is noise, tennis balls on the bottom of chairs can cut the noise level of a classroom. Or teacher choice can also effect this. Some teachers just run quieter rooms than others. If it is people jostling him, maybe there is a room with a layout that is better. DS is in the 1st grade room that happens to be physically the biggest this year so there is more room to move around. If it is distraction, preferential seating may help.

Just a few more random thoughts.

Catherine

[ett]

Do you think he will qualify for an iep? I would start that process asap so that he has one in place when the school year starts. And I would raise this very issue at the iep meeting and ask for their suggestions, both for you to implement now and for accommodations, etc to put in his iep.

Catherine

:yeahthat: If he qualifies for an IEP, the public school is required to make accommodations for his needs. This may include having an aide in the classroom to assist your DS.

ETA: I just read your other thread about his ADHD diagnosis. I do think he would qualify for an IEP with this diagnosis.

[egoldber]

I definitely think you should contact the school counselor. In our district, the clock on the IEP process starts with the formal request to the counselor. I would ask the person you saw at KKI to write a letter to the school outlining his diagnoses and requesting accommodations for him. I would attach that to the request. You need to do this now before the school year starts winding down. Which may seem off, but once the third quarter is over, things slow to a huge crawl at many schools.

But even if the counselor is not the one who starts the IEP process in your district (and they will know who does if they are not), you can enlist their aid in helping your son acclimate. They can arrange a tour of the school over the summer. They can put him in a lunch bunch in the fall for new kids. They can keep an eye on him and let you know how he is adjusting. They can tell you what accommodations are typically given for kids with his diagnoses.

So the earlier and sooner you start that dialogue with the school, the more they can help him adjust and give you good ideas.

[ett]

You need to do this now before the school year starts winding down. Which may seem off, but once the third quarter is over, things slow to a huge crawl at many schools.


And nothing happens here over the summer.

[egoldber]

Continuing to think.....

Last year when we switched my DD from one school to another, the counselor did a tour for her over the summer to show her where everything was. It was easier for her to "see" the school when it was not full of kids.

I also enrolled her in a summer camp there for a week so that she would be more familiar with the building, the playground, know where the bathrooms are, etc.

[jamesmom]

I definitely think you should contact the school counselor. In our district, the clock on the IEP process starts with the formal request to the counselor. I would ask the person you saw at KKI to write a letter to the school outlining his diagnoses and requesting accommodations for him. I would attach that to the request. You need to do this now before the school year starts winding down. Which may seem off, but once the third quarter is over, things slow to a huge crawl at many schools.

But even if the counselor is not the one who starts the IEP process in your district (and they will know who does if they are not), you can enlist their aid in helping your son acclimate. They can arrange a tour of the school over the summer. They can put him in a lunch bunch in the fall for new kids. They can keep an eye on him and let you know how he is adjusting. They can tell you what accommodations are typically given for kids with his diagnoses.

So the earlier and sooner you start that dialogue with the school, the more they can help him adjust and give you good ideas.

Yes to all Beth said!! I think your DS would definitely qualify for an IEP based on your diagnosis from KKI, and the school can do a lot for your DS. DS has an IEP for ADHD Other, CAPD and sensory issues, and off the top of my head, he has received preferential seating, OT in the classroom, sensory diet during class time, placement with teachers who work well with SP kids, increased time for test taking, pull-outs to Learning Support for academic review and test taking (classroom with few kids), partnering with more nurturing classmates during class assignments, Title 1 services for math and language, and an aide in the classroom as needed. DS also started in a new school this school year due to redistricting in our school district, and the school has helped with the transition by having the kids tour the school and meet the teacher and the school staff a couple of times before school began. I am sure the school can arrange that, and also have your family attend any family events at the school this school year so your DS can start getting used to his new school.

BTW, you are doing a great job advocating for your DS and getting him the help and support he needs. You're an awesome mom!

[jamesmom]

And nothing happens here over the summer.

Yes to that too! We asked for DS to be reevaluated at the 3rd period parent-teacher conference last school year, which required a lot of testing, classroom observations and various specialists' inputs. The report was not completed until two weeks before school began, and we ended up having DS' IEP meeting in the 2nd week of the school year. Part of the delay was probably due to the fact that DS was moving to a new school with a lot of the testing/classroom observations having to be done at his old school, so there were two sets of staff involved. You do need to start ASAP.