laws, etc. about pulling child out of preschool?

[alliegad]

Are there laws or hoops when a 4 year old is pulled out of preschool after just a few days or weeks?

My son is a very young 4K'er in the public school system and long story short- I am not sure it was a good choice. Perhaps a different system, or perhaps nothing until next fall- but what laws are there and what issues will I face if I want to pull him?

Talking to the principal and teacher today, the teacher said that it would be a "disservice to him" to do that b/c he is smart and thriving..... I just worried about legal matters when I heard that...

I am in WI if that matters.

[Mom4tot]

Allie, I don't believe their are any legal ramifications for taking a child out of preschool. You can check the age of compulsory education in your state (for instance, in NY, it is age 6). At that time you must make a decision to school or homeschool. Preschool is entirely optional. The teacher and principal were probably just trying to make you feel guilty.

[Zach'smom]

You can take your child out of preschool whenever you want. Preschool is not required.

Up until 2 years I ago I lived in Waukesha!!! I didn't even know that they had public preschool unless you have special needs. I used to take care of a little girl that went to Lowell starting at age 3, but she had special needs.

[alliegad]

Thank you- if anyone has other input, I appreciate that as well. Am meeting with them tomorrow... thanks again!

(We actually left Waukesha about 6 months ago and are now in Wauwatosa- 4k through the public system.)

[Momily]

Most places PreK is optional so you could pull him if you wanted to. In my area PreK spots are not guaranteed and if you decided to pull him several days a week he'd be asked to leave and the spot would be offered to a child on the waiting list.

If you have to pay tuition for the spot you might be liable for the tuition for the remainder of the year or until they found him a space.

[lightheart]

don't let the teacher principal bully you... the disservice would be you not doing what your heart and gut is telling you.

think of it this way.... you have a pain in your back and you go to a surgeon--- what is going to be his 1st course of treatment---- surgery, it's what they do, understand that it's what they do too, they are teachers, they are school administrators, they want every child to have a 'proper education'

if you take a child to a speech therapist or a music teacher or a gym teacher or anyone who is "into" what they do they will tell you ways that THEY can improve your child, there has to be some sort of line drawn where you have to make the descion to allow or not allow.

I've has soooo many people in the community, the school, and the biggest, most hurtful to me (I'm sensative) critic was my brother! "you need to send that child to preschool, he's going to get in school and be ...behind, in trouble, not behaving, they teach manners they teach ________" whoa slow down there don't criticize me, what about the fun stuff that being a kid is all about? what about the 'other stuff' the stuff that he will only get at home with free time, with play, with family that he will be missing out on if he's being sent to "preschool"

big fellow just started public-K and he's doing great, no problems other than handwriting which I'm not too worried about, (need to keep on top of) but socially he's fine and FWIW, he's a July turned 5, so is one of the young ones too in his class.

good luck tomorrow, I can't really help with the legal aspects but agree with the others to check and even ask the teachers what is the state/local compulsory attendance age/rules and as long as he's younger than the age you should be able to take him out, if for some reason he's above the age and it's a rule that he must go, check into what you can do to homeschool him, there are ways around it even if they say "he has to be there"

[karne]

Do you have a local homeschooling group you could turn to for advice/support?

[Eris]

Just, FWIW, there are NO states in the US in which education is compulsory at age 4, and in Wisconsin, the ages for compulsory education are 6-18. Most states it begins at age six, some ages 5 or 7, and two are age 8.

[hillymum]

Just to further enforce what a pp said, my neighbour is a pre school teacher and she is always on at me about how my 3 yr old should be in preschool. No thanks, yes, I am sure he would have fun, but I honestly don't see the point.
Our playroom is set up like a preschool environment. All the toys have a place they belong in, we have eductional posters on the walls, we have loads of books that are so well read some are looking very used and we have more art supplies than many classes I have been into. Oh, and we use all the toys, books and art supplies and all my children are read to every day. So what exactly is my son missing out on? Not socialisation, we are active in our playgroup, which meets almost every day of the week if we want to go out every day.
My neighbour knows all this, but as a preschool teacher she still thinks that a bright 3 yr old would benefit from being in preschool 2 or 3 mornings a week.

[ChristaN]

Originally Posted by Eris

Just, FWIW, there are NO states in the US in which education is compulsory at age 4, and in Wisconsin, the ages for compulsory education are 6-18. Most states it begins at age six, some ages 5 or 7, and two are age 8.

: You are not legally required to send your child to school in Wisconsin until the age of 6: http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0112617.html . Where I live, it is age 7. If you choose not to send him at that point, you usually just have to register as a homeschooler with your local district.

Let us know how it works out.

[kofduke]

Is it a school that gets federal funding? If it is, there seems to be a big push this year to not have kids leave programs and to ensure that enrollment is kept at appropriate levels...she may be "encouraging" you because of the threat of losing federal funding for the program.

[lilylove]

I pulled my Dd out of her public school preschool last year. It was obvious that they thought I was a bit crazy and making a bad decision There was nothing they could do though. I didn't like the teacher or the program. So I wasn't going to keep her there just because they didn't agree with me.