re-entering public school...

[UltimateSerj]

we are about to put our children back in school after homeschooling for 1 1/2 years, ( well ds will be going for the first time) anyway i am wondering, if anyone knows about placements.. i know i am just going to have to call, but i want to be prepared. can i go in and just say they are in these grades and they will place them or will they test them? i just need to know what to expect when i call tomorrow!!!

[The Hidden Life]

Wow, there's something in the water this year! There seem to be several moms here going back to ps--or maybe that's typical this time of year? We are going back to ps after two years of hs too. How old are your children? What are your state's kindergarten or first grade requirements? In my state (WA) they must be 5 by Aug 31 for K and age 6 by Aug 31 for 1st grade. If you have only been hs'ing 1.5 years, they are probably around those ages?

My older two were in ps before, up to 3rd and 1st grades. They will go into 6th and 4th. My third dd has never been to ps but she is 6 and will go to first, so no problem. Our district has grade level guidelines online for what your child should have achieved by the end of each grade. Also in my state you are required to take a standardized test each year which I could show if the district asked. Our school offices don't open here for another two weeks, so I haven't been through the re-registration process yet. In this district, you register at your neighborhood school, not the district office.

I think each district/state is different. Best of luck.

[UltimateSerj]

Wow! our situation is very similar, my kids are 11(6th grade), 8(3rd grade), 6(1st grade) ( and i have a 2 year old) the older 2 girls where in school till half way through 4th and 1 st grade. we register with our neighborhood school also, our schools offices are open all summer so i am just going to have to go over this week and see what i have to do, school here starts Aug 19th!! ( which is insane if you ask me!) best of luck to you also!

[Linda on the move]

Most schools like to place kids by their age, so as long as you are happy with your child going into their regular grade based on their birthday, it shouldn't be a big deal at all. Each school can set their own policies on how to handle homeschool placements.

When one of my DDs entered school in 5th grade, one of the special teachers sat down with her for an hour and informally tested her. They read a little, did some math, chatted. It was no big deal. The school has tracking and they wanted a basic idea of where she was and if she would need any special services. DD enjoyed her testing experience.

When my other DD entered school in 7th grade, she was given a computerized tests on reading and math. It kept giving her more and more difficult problems to figure out her grade level. She did well, but felt like she did poorly since the test kept going until she was in over her head.

The testing was never about what grade they would be in, just so the teachers would have some idea what was going on with them. The school was GREAT to deal with. Very nice, very supportive, and never questioned either homeschooling or our decision to use school.

Good luck!