[Literate]

The director of special ed just told me that she's been talking to the lawyers. Oh, goody.

So, have any of you had the whole team recommend kindergarten going into an IEP, and end up with another year of Early Childhood instead?

In Illinois, EC is now available ages 3 THROUGH 5. All of 5, no matter when your birthday is. You can turn 6 during the school year.

But if only the parents are against starting kindergarten in the fall, and the whole rest of the team recommends it, then we will get no services. No related services, no nothing.

Help.

 

[karne]

I'm not sure I understand your situation. Are you wishing for another year of early childhood or to move on to kindy? Where does the assessment team feel is appropriate?

 

[Literate]

Sorry. I was upset when I wrote that. We believe she needs another year of EC. She's been in a private preschool with the younger group (entering kindie 2010) and she fits in very well, considering her lack of speech. No one would ever guess she's the oldest by 2 months. (End of June birthday)

The team apparently agrees (according to the director) that she is ready for kindie. If you saw her evaluations, you'd wonder what they were thinking.

I argue that being two months older than her class would be a better fit than being among the youngest in her class. As she is already significantly behind, why start her in a position of weakness?

FYI, she is profoundly apraxic, and can't string 3 words together. I asked her today to say "I want up" and she can't do it. She's a smart girl, though, and I expect her to be fully mainstreamed by the end of grade school, or maybe junior high.

As my dd1 is currently in kindergarten, I know how much knowledge is being pushed daily. It's a great school in many ways.

 

[2bluefish]

I have no idea how to get them to do what you want. But your request sounds totally reasonable. I'm planning to start kindy for DS1 when he is 6 because I want him to be 18 when he graduates rather than 17. Why in the world wouldn't they give a child who is already struggling an extra year? I hope it works out for you.

 

[PikkuMyy]

They can't give you "no services" because you aren't agreeing as a team yet.

When the team can't come to an agreement, services are continued as is until they do.

I can't believe they are trying to put that over on you. Are you sure you understood them correctly?

 

[Literate]

Not only did I understand her correctly, that was straight from the Director of Special Ed. She said, "If you don't send her to kindergarten, she will receive no related services." That was back when I hadn't yet learned about the EC law changing to allow 5 year olds, though.

 

[crl]

Us!

DS' entire IEP team recommended that he go on to kindergarten (except us, of course). We were told that it was not possible for him to get another year of special ed preschool, that the only way to "hold him back" was to refuse the placement and pay for private preschool. We were told that this was a blanket policy, not related to DS in particular. (Hello--INDIVIDUAL education plan--I was so not satisfied with that blanket policy answer.) We were told that we would have to refuse the placement and they would do a services only IEP to provide OT and ST outside of the school setting.

I was further told that DS was definitely ready. That the whole point of special education was that they would support him at whatever level he was at, etc, etc. I felt that it was a close call--he was fine "academically" but struggling some what behaviorally/socially. He's a June kid and the cut-off where we were at the time was Sept, but many summer boys in that area are held back for an extra year of preschool--not special ed boys, just boys in general.

I called the state (VA) and I made phone calls up the food chain with the district until I finally got them to admit that it was possible to do an extra year of preschool in the public system.

I anticipated a huge fight, but when we actually got to the IEP meeting they basically said, we'll just agree to disagree and we're offering you a placement at the preschool you want. (He had been in one public school preschool and we wanted to switch him to the other.) It was uncomfortable all around, but we did get what we wanted.

I don't know why they caved. If it was because we are both lawyers and they figured it wasn't worth the fight? Or maybe that it wasn't worth it when I was so clearly willing to go to the mat over it? Or maybe just a general district policy to placate parents?

Anyway, I wish you the best of luck in getting what your daughter needs!

Catherine

 

[Literate]

Well, I love your story, except for the part where you are both lawyers. I wish we were!

And you are still comfortable with your decision, looking back? No regrets?

 

[crl]

I'm good with our choice. This is actually the extra year of preschool, so I don't know how things will play out in kindergarten and beyond.

It turned out that we moved mid-year this year so I am very glad DS was not in the middle of kindergarten. And I've seen a lot of growth in terms of self-regulation and ability to separate from me, both things that I hoped the extra year would help with. DS has gone from displaying quite a bit of anxiety at the mention of kindergarten at this time last year, to actually asking to go to kindergarten now. So the year also has made a big difference in his attitude.

I think one thing that is maybe unique to our situation is that last year was very hard all around. The school was not a good fit for DS (although the placement was technically correct--inclusion preschool). This year has gone soooo much better because the schools this year have been great places. And he has gotten to be a leader because he is among the oldest. I think that's been fantastic for his confidence.

(I should say that I think his current school would tell you he should have been in kindergarten this year. But they agree that he is doing extremely well where he is.)

So, at this point I'm very glad we held him back. Who knows how it will play out over the longer haul?

Good luck!

Catherine

 

[greenmom17]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Literate The director of special ed just told me that she's been talking to the lawyers. Oh, goody. So, have any of you had the whole team recommend kindergarten going into an IEP, and end up with another year of Early Childhood instead? In Illinois, EC is now available ages 3 THROUGH 5. All of 5, no matter when your birthday is. You can turn 6 during the school year. But if only the parents are against starting kindergarten in the fall, and the whole rest of the team recommends it, then we will get no services. No related services, no nothing. Help.

Wow - that is great to know! DS's bday is 9/1 - the cutoff for school - so whether or not to hold him back has been weighing on my mind lately. He will go to EC next year as he turns 4, and then he's entitled to one more year!?

That is great news. Where/How did you find this info? Is there a link someplace?

Thank you...

 

[Literate]

Why, yes, I do just happen to have a link!

http://www.isbe.net/spec-ed/pdfs/class_size.pdf

And the Director of Early Childhood is very nice. Very supportive of parents. Don't be afraid to call Springfield.

 

[karne]

My ds entered kindy at 6, and I have absolutely nothing but good things to say about our decision. It was never an academic decision as he works far beyond grade level in all areas. But ds was a very sick early preemie with lots of residual breathing issues. I knew going into kindy he would catch a lot, probably have frequent days out, requiring lots of transitions between home and school. The extra year gave more room for immune system growth and lung development, so in the end I had a healthier kid entering the school system.

We didn't have to fight for any services, but I did want to support you in your feelings of what is right for your child. I think that the time you enter school matters a lot because sets the stage for many years to come. Good luck w/your IEP meeting.

 

[greenmom17]

Thank you for the link!

And good luck today with your IEP meeting - let us know how it goes!

 

[bublegirl1]

Do you have access to an advocate that can assist you with the IEP? Someone that is not affiliated with the school district? My son is autistic and is in his second year of ECE but just transitioned to a full inclusive program and will go to Kindergarten in the fall. My friend, however, is having a terrible time with her son. He doesn't speak hardly at all. (the boys have been in the same class) and they are recommending K for him in the fall, in a special education class. She really wants him to stay in Preschool for one more year but they are refusing stating he is too old now. But he is in an autistic class that specializes in what he needs. Her concern is that he will be with other special kids with other special needs that are not neccesarily what he needs and will he get the one on one attention he needs to thrive. It's a hard thing. My son is still not potty trained. I started and he did ok but still was having accidents at school so they told me he was no longer allowed to wear underwear at school after only 4 days!! So now he's back in pull ups and for him it's the same as a diaper and i feel totally stuck.

Sorry to ramble, the schools just frustrate me sometimes. Good luck to you at the IEP. Fight for what you believe your child needs!

 

[crl]

Amie,
I just wanted to mention that you can include potty-training in an IEP. That's what we did and the school fully supported DS in learning to use the potty. (He had accidents at school for about the first week to week and a half. The school just asked me to send lots of clean clothes and we all agreed no more diapers except when he was sleeping.)
Catherine

 

[bdavis337]

mark was potty trained when he started school last fall and we still had toileting in his IEP as part of his "self help skills" goal. It's still there this f ar into the year b/c he began refusing to close the door to use the toilet and now he's playing in the water as it flushes. So it remains.

 

[bublegirl1]

Catherine. I think potty training is in his IEP. However, after the 4 days of accidents, the school psychologist was waiting in his room when I picked him up and told me it was a hygiene issue for the other kids so that's why I cannot let him come in underwear anymore. I sent tons of extra underwear and clothes but they said it was unsanitary. So it really hurt me because it wasn't even a good try yet. So I tried pullups at school then underwear at home but it confused the heck out of him and he then had more accidents than usual. So i really need to try and buckle down this summer before Kindergarten. I am concerned because he really is resistant and has an absolute FIT when I try to put him on the toilet. It's so hard.

 

[Literate]

Geez, I turn my back for one minute, and y'all are talking about poop!

Short update: We meet again in two weeks to make a final decision. We have a lot of flexibility with how we're going to set up next year. Everyone was very supportive, and I feel really great about our district.

Long update: on my blog.

 

[crl]

Literate,

Thanks for the update! I'm glad the meeting went well for you and very glad you have a little time to think about how to structure next year.

(I know, I know we just can't seem to learn to stop the potty-talk.

)

Amie,

If potty-training is in his goals, his school HAS to help him achieve them. I would call the school on this. Ask them what they are doing to move towards this goal. They need to be the ones to make the situation work. It is their problem to figure out the sanitary issues. I know DS had accidents while he was potty-learning and I know that the school just cleaned up. They never complained or suggested that it wasn't par for the course. Come on, even kids who are potty trained at that age have accidents. How does the school deal with those? I'm really mad on your behalf that the school is trying to dodge this issue. I'd start a paper chain on this. Send e-mails or write letters and keep copies.

I remember what a challenge potty-training can be (it was hard but fast for us). I know there are lots of threads on here about it. You might try searches or starting a new thread asking for advice for yourself.

Catherine

 

[bdavis337]

Amie, Catherine is right. They can't ignore his need to be toilet trained. His IEP could be worded to have his aid take him to the bathroom every 30 minutes, gradually increasing that to 45 and then 60. And then to work towards his own initiation of using the toilet. They cannot tell you your son has to stay in diapers at school. That's not appropriate. Call them out on it and push the issue.

Using the toilet is part of my son's arrival and departure routine b/c he will not use it otherwise and then he pees his pants on the bus ride home. He also really needs to learn to not play in the sink, stick his face into the toilet while it's flushing and to close the door for privacy. So until he can do all of this, it remains part of his routine and on his IEP. I don't see it disappearing anytime soon either.