I held my 5 year old - with possible autism - back from kindergarten to keep him in a fantastic therapeutic preschool. This was done after discussion with his developmental therapist, speech pathologist, OT and preschool teacher. Plus, he has a mid august birthday - so he would not be dramatically older than his peers.
However, I have just learned that CPS does not allow him to enter Kindergarten because he will be 6. They say NO EXCEPTIONS! Does anyone have any experience or suggestions with this. I have been trying to get the IEP process started since October.
Thanks for any help
Thanks for all of the advice. We all read the policy the same. However, when I talked to the person in charge of k through 12 placement - she said he had to go into 1st. I have now pushed for the IEP - with the Domain meeting being next Friday. Too late for the lotterys. The individual schools have been no help = just touting the party line.
M.,
If I may suggest; Here is an Advocacy Service I highly recommend. She serves the needs of parents and kids with 504 and IEP issues. Diane can be of great help with CPS...She's down to earth and down to business. We loved her!
Diane Gaul
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Best wishes,
M.
This is an interesting policy, as there are some kids who turn six years old prior to the first day of Kindergarten. With the Sept. 1st deadline, kids born between Sept. 1st and the first day of school in Chicago (which is generally later than that) are 6 years old. I know that's not many kids, but still. The rigidness of their entrance age policy makes little sense to me.
Hope it works out!
Hi M.,
I'm a CPS employee from Earlyb Childhood. You can let him start now and push the IEP process. Check into Rudolph School. They have all kinds of disabilities. Really push that IEP. Hope this helps.
Hi M.,
This is a policy that is followed citywide for CPS schools. I would keep him in the therapeutic or private school until the fall. Hang in there... I know it's frustrating!
All the Best!
I'm certainly no expert, but I read the guidelines and from what I understand, a child would be tested as far as grade placement and that, dependent on placement testing, a further consideration may be made for age, thus allowing a child who possibly tested on the higher end and reached age 6 to enroll in 1st grade, instead of kindergarten. Also, it seems to me that these rules were written with that scenario in mind, as opposed to your particular one. I also know that my daughter is in kindergarten now at a CPS school and there are a few kids in her class that were 6 either just before school started or shortly thereafter.
I think that you should continue to do what you are doing and but I do not read anywhere in that statues that says a 6 year old would be prohibited from entering kindergarten, especially if that child tested at that level on a placement test.
Hey M.,
Contact either one of these organizations or both!
Parents United For A Responsible Education www.pureparents.org.
Family Resource Center on Disabilities www.frcd.org.
Also, contact Illinois State Board of Education office of Specialized Services.
They will tell you what your child's rights really are. As for the poster who actually posted CPS policy - The very first thing in the CPS policy manual always states "what is in the best interest of the child".
Get some more info and go back in. I have student in CPS with mild spec needs. Getting the whole process started is the hardest thing. But if they know you know your rights, they won't try to buffalo you.
contact the principal and/or counselor of the school you are considering for your child. they will be able to help you navigate this process. if the particular school is not helpful, you might try a different school. good luck. working with cps can be challenge.
M., I have a friend who is both an itinerant teacher for the visually impaired (DuPage County) as well as an attorney. You may not need that but if you would like her contact info, please let me know. I am aware that some years ago she worked with someone with a CPS problem; unfortunately it's been a long time and I don't know the outcome. Good luck.
S.
Ugh, how frustrating. I didn't realize that happened in Chicago although I've heard about it in other states - crazy.
I don't have experience with this, but from this policy it looks to me like they are required to evaluate for grade placement and can't just make a decision based on age (page 4) http://policy.cps.k12.il.us/documents/702.1.pdf
1. Grade Placement. Students who were previously enrolled in a private school orother school district who seek enrollment in the Chicago Public Schools in any grade may be evaluated for appropriate grade placement. Further, schools shall
follow the Office of Specialized Services’ Procedural Manual on students with disabilities transferring from other school districts.
Also, in the paragraph where it talks about age, it uses the word "May," not "Must." ("In accordance with Board Rule 6-2, children may enroll in kindergarten or 1st grade if they have reached the age of 5 or 6 years respectively on or before September 1st.") I'm not an expert, but it sounds to me like the school officials are interpreting the policy the way they want to.
Keep doing what you're doing and asking other parents for advice. If there is some sort of special ed advocacy group working with parents in Chicago, that might be a good starting point. Good luck!
Maybe you've done this already, but the place to start with IEPs is to put your request for testing in writing - then they are required by law to address the issue. If it's not in writing they often give the run-around to parents forever. I believe they have 10 school days to respond to your request to let you know the next step. Best of luck!
