Setting up to Fail

This is why I homeschool. You teach your child at a pace and in a way that is geared to the child. It's easy and fun. We're done in a couple hours and then the rest of the day we "unschool", learning from experience, the best teacher. Read www.waldorfhomeschoolers.com and other sites for more information. BTW-it sounds like she's right on target with her learning abilities. Children should be molded slightly at this age, not forced to do academics. Its squashes their little spirits. I also work part-time.

I am very sorry for your situation and for your daughter. I have no real advice. Unfortunately, this is the problem nationwide with the pblic school system....it is a 'one-size-fits-all' philosophy. It is what it is, an insitutuion that has very limited resources and has to meet the needs of the masses, not of individual kids that have individual needs and requirements. Every child is different, yet it is not set up for nor does pblic school have the ability to accommodate each childs needs. This is one of the many reasons I will be homeschooling my children....

Don't feel as though you can't homeschool just because you work F/T.... you can provide a week's worth of one on one quality learning that is personally directed to and meets the specific needs of your child in only a small omount of time. It is very special time that you and your daugher will never regret. Do you know that if your child couldn't attend public school because of injury or illness and had to have a school tutor come to your home that they would only come for a few hours, which is all tey need to cover all the material that they would have covered in a full week of MANY hours at school? You can do all of it and more at home - and have it be personalized to YOUR child. If you would like some websites or start-off direction of places to look into this option, feel free to email me.

By LAW you are entitled, IF you request the testing in writing. We fought hard over this with my oldest boy. We turned in a request from him therapist with a letter from us consenting to the testing. They said that it wasn't us requesting it so they just ignored it. We were told that If we request it ourselves, sign it, they only have so many day to test I think I was told 30-60 days. And they have to keep you in the loop of what is going on with your child's development. Make sure you keep a copy of anything you give them and document who you gave it to and when, this way you have it, if they try to tell you they don't have record of it.

Hi D.,
You know your child best.
If homeschooling is an option,
instead of public schooling, do it.
Otherwise, most good moms have been
teaching their kids since birth.
Keep at it.
Early elementary is simple stuff you could do,
regardless of your own academic background.

I homeschooled my daughter until she said
she WANTED to go public.
It broke my heart, but I sent her.
She was the youngest in her class.
It took the class about two years to catch up to her
with most academic stuff, but she liked
being outside of our rural home five days a week
and enjoyed her new friends.
Homeschooling prepared her well
for the amazing nerdy girl she was in high school.

As mentioned by other moms,
you have a RIGHT to be an intrinsic part
of your child's education in school.
The ESE process is a pain in the butt,
but the squeaky wheel gets the grease, so to speak.
Assert yourself
and let them know you are an ADVOCATE for your child.
Contact everyone you can in the school
until you get someone who will listen to you
and help you get through the red tape.
Start with the teacher, and work on up to the superintendent, if need be.
Your daughter is worth it.

I know folks who've seen GREAT success
by taking their kids to Sylvan for a bit
until they caught up on things.
It's pricey, but seemed quick and effective in results.

I would send the girl to first grade
and see how it goes,
if I were keeping her in public school.
She sounds bright, from what you've mentioned.
But then, your child is not my own.

The biggest reason I am so DONE with child rearing
is the school system.
My youngest is in 10th grade,
and every day I remember that
we are one day closer to graduation, thankfully.

Remember, you are her greatest advocate.

GOOD LUCK!

It sounds to me from what you said that your daughter is a lot smarter than the average child who enters kindergarden. Addition is not something that they are recquired to know untiul the end of first grade. It sounds to me that although your child may be lacking in some areas the school really does have your child's best interest at heart. If you reatain her in kindergarden, and then do an IEP at the beginning of next school year, because nobody wants to do anything they do not have to this late in the year, they are concerned that she is going to test high for a child entering kindergarden. However if they advance her to first grade, and then test her at the beginning of the school year she will test low for a child entering first grade. Governor Jeb Bush implimented a no child left behind policy which means that they can not advance children if they have not met certain requirements. That is also why we have FCAT testing. To make sure that children after second grade are not only learning but testing at a level that allows them to be in that grade. I completely understand your frustration. I agree that the squeaky wheel gets the grease and the first day of first grade I would be asking when she is going to get her IEP. You do not really want her to carry a stigma all through elementary school, if she does not have to, that she failed kindergarden. Look into out side sources that can help you as well. Good Luck!

The special ed/ESE process is very complicated and confusing. Before babies, I was a school counselor in Florida and oversaw this process for my school. Let me just say to those of you who are saying FLorida schools are awful- let's not generalize and lump all schools under one umbrella. Truly what makes a school good is the principal and it's teachers. Every state has rules they must follow- some teachers hate and some that parents hate.

All that aside :)- From my experience, the teachers are the ones who are observing this childs skills daily and MOST have the child's best interest in mind. Of course it is critical to get the parents input. Invitations to meetings etc. must be documented so if you feel you weren't included- I would ask to see her ESE file. Also, requesting testing in writing does not automatically guarantee they will do it. It is up to the committee (through an In School Staffing) which you can request to attend. Typically parents are notified of this meeting but not invited but, again, you can attend if you ask.

As far as having her repeat kindergarden, keep in mind that students who don't meet FCAT standards in 3rd grade will be retained again (unless she has an IEP)..So she could be theoretically be retained TWICE.

I know it is frustrating as a parent b/c you don't know all the in's and out's of the ESE process but the school psychologist and ESE teachers are most likely thinking through all of these things that may impact her future as tehy plan what is the best plan now.

Your daughter is so lucky to have you so involved and advocating her. Keep asking questions and giving your input until you are comfortable that the right decision is being made.

I know that the ESE resource and your child's teacher can get in a lot of trouble for not contacting you regarding committee meetings. It is both illegal AND unethical! The teacher is definetly in the wrong if she never mentioned any of this despite seeing you for conferences, open house, etc. It is very frustrating to feel that your child is not getting the attention they deserve!

I see the opposite end, in high school. I have parent committees all the time with the kids that did not get a proper IEP at an early age and now struggle to work on grade level and/or have given up. (I would love for a parent to insist on a meeting, I usually have to bribe parents with extra credit for their kids for them to attend and I teach at a wealthy A school) Please know that it is not uncommon for teachers to give parents of all students, both regular and honors, extra work to help them practice their weaknesses at home. The lack of time to address each child's issues is the greatest weakness of the public school system. The greatest strength, however, is watching them grow together as a unit, and seeing them acquire valuable skills that they need in the workforce once they have to function without a safety net (teamwork, deadlines, workplace manners, etc.)!

Either way, your daughter is blessed to have a mother who doesn't want to let things slide and cares about her becoming a productive adult. Good luck!

Hi sweetie,

Listen, don't be disheartened. I just moved to Florida about 1 1/2 yrs. ago, and my son was being homeschooled up North in Rhode Island. He had his IEP's still done by the school system there, because he was "recognized" as a student. Down here in Florida {the public schools} do not "recognize" our children as such. You are entitled to having your daughter not only evaluated, but to having an IEP as well.

I think it's a terrible thing the way they manage their school system, that is why I prefer to teach my 9th grader on my own.

And you can still get help from your public school system, btw...they have programs within the public schools.

If you like write me, and maybe I can help you further, really I don't mind...as I was lost when I first got here. My son is "specially gifted" and we go to our local library for books. Or online for freebies.

Give me a holler if you need to know anything hon.
Take care, we are all here to support each other in this...lol.

Many blessings of peace,
Shell...

Hi there,

When my son was 2 years old I knew that something was wrong as he was unable to say more than 1 word sentences. As he got to 3 years old he was not any better even though I was working with him at home. We had him tested through FDLRS Florida http://www.paec.org/fdlrsweb/. They labled my son with a language disability and were able to get us help with schools and what would be best for him. They helped get his IEP set up. He is now off the IEP and in the 4th grade. He now has a hearing disability which isn't related but personally I have found that as a concerned parent you need to keep on the school system to get things done. Make sure that you are satisfied with what you feel is best.

Florida schools are really bad about just passing kids on. I knew someone when I was in school who attended a total of 4 days of the 8th grade and they just passed her on to 9th. You are going to have to be a jerk and make them mad. You need to demand that they retest her and you can make them hold her back if you want to. So there plan is to pass her on to the first grade so that she doesn’t loose her assistance and then they will pass her on to the 2nd grade. It is so aggravating. I have a learning disability and did well in school, mostly because I had a mom like you who was very involved and stood up for me and teachers who put forth an effort to make sure I was getting every opportunity to get the best education for me. Also at that young of an age you should be getting a weekly report, at least, in my opinion. A child at that age can’t keep you updated on what they are learning in school and how they are doing. I know that the teacher has 30+ students in her class but a basic over view of what is being taught for each parent with a couple personal notes isn’t to much to ask. Good luck.