How bad are behaviors in mainstream MCPS kindergarten?

[Anonymous]

We recently had a meeting with our home school to determine if our ASD kid will need accommodations or an IEP when starting at the school next year for K. He's currently in a private preschool with a 1-on-1 aide that we pay for -- he's at grade level and does pretty well with someone to keep him focused, help him calm down when needed, give reminders, take him to the bathroom, etc. The school team said his behaviors sound normal for incoming kinder and there will be kids with worse behaviors in his class. They suggesting a floating para (1-2 for the whole grade) will be enough to check in on him and he'll be OK. This was alarming to me -- has that been your experience?

[Anonymous]

I think it's surprising that they would describe those behaviors as "normal". While it's not uncommon to have those behaviors sometimes, needing a 1:1 aide in preschool suggests that those behaviors are far more frequent or significant than in a typically developing child of that age.

No doubt there will be kids with greater behaviors, but so what? It sounds like they don't want to pay for the 1:1, or they need to establish a paper trail of behaviors to get authorization for the 1:1.

[Anonymous]

Needing a 1:1 in preschool does seem like more serious behaviors than you normally see in kindergarten, but what you actually describe (keeping focused, remaining calm, needing reminders) seems pretty normal. There seems to be a bit of disconnect there for me. What happens when he doesn't have the aide?

[Anonymous]

I think behavior is quite bad in mainstream K at the start of the year, at a school that doesn't have on-site preschool. It's some kids' first time in a group setting, and some kids have needs that haven't been diagnosed. So behavior, routines, and flagging issues and getting the child study process underway are a huge priority for the first 6-8 weeks. But still most kids don't have behavior or emotional needs requiring a 1:1 even in the first week.

Since your DC is having behavior even in a familiar setting with a 1:1 aide and whatever other interventions you've been doing, there's clearly a greater need here than a typical child would have. So I think it's odd that the school said that to you.

[Anonymous]

I hate when the school acts like the success of interventions means they aren’t needed.

Anyway, what happens when the aide isn’t there? I wouldnt worry much about what other kids are doing/not doing, except to the extent that an off-task kid would distract yours, or some other way they would be directly impacted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Needing a 1:1 in preschool does seem like more serious behaviors than you normally see in kindergarten, but what you actually describe (keeping focused, remaining calm, needing reminders) seems pretty normal. There seems to be a bit of disconnect there for me. What happens when he doesn't have the aide?

I agree that as described he doesn’t sound that bad. They aren’t going to promise a 1:1 aide until it’s proven he can’t function without one.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like behavior at their school is really terrible and they're trying to convince you that that's normal and fine!

[Anonymous]

You aren't getting a 1:1 aide right out of the blocks and you will definitely want an IEP. Your kid will have to have significant behaviors to qualify for a 1:1. Does your private pre-school offer kindergarten? If your kid is happy and thriving you might consider keeping them there. It will also give you time to observe your kid's transition to a more academic environment and see what the needs are.

[Anonymous]

It is difficult to get 1:1 aide in public school kindergarten. In my current kid's class, there's one kid having that service. Whoever para educator is available, a few of them take turn to be with that kid as 1 on 1 aide. I have never seen that kid acts out, but I have seen other para educators help him to get engaged in classroom . There are 25 kids with 1 teacher in my kid's classroom. It is loud and sometimes chaotic especially at the begining of school year because not every NT kids have been to preschool and some don't speak English well. My kid do not need 1:1 aide, so I speak this out of my observation as a classroom volunteer experiences.

[Anonymous]

1:1 aides are expensive for the school district, not generally considered to be best practice, and are only used in situations when other optinos have been trialed and exhausted and the kid is showing a need that they cannot function safely/appropriately without one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Needing a 1:1 in preschool does seem like more serious behaviors than you normally see in kindergarten, but what you actually describe (keeping focused, remaining calm, needing reminders) seems pretty normal. There seems to be a bit of disconnect there for me. What happens when he doesn't have the aide?

I agree that as described he doesn’t sound that bad. They aren’t going to promise a 1:1 aide until it’s proven he can’t function without one.

Proving services are needed is often torture to both kids of SN and their families. It puts a lot of undue stress of the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We recently had a meeting with our home school to determine if our ASD kid will need accommodations or an IEP when starting at the school next year for K. He's currently in a private preschool with a 1-on-1 aide that we pay for -- he's at grade level and does pretty well with someone to keep him focused, help him calm down when needed, give reminders, take him to the bathroom, etc. The school team said his behaviors sound normal for incoming kinder and there will be kids with worse behaviors in his class. They suggesting a floating para (1-2 for the whole grade) will be enough to check in on him and he'll be OK. This was alarming to me -- has that been your experience?

Is he violent at home?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Needing a 1:1 in preschool does seem like more serious behaviors than you normally see in kindergarten, but what you actually describe (keeping focused, remaining calm, needing reminders) seems pretty normal. There seems to be a bit of disconnect there for me. What happens when he doesn't have the aide?

+1

[Anonymous]

How does he do all day without a 1:1? You won't get that in public. And with 25 kids in class and one teacher even the NT kids have a hard time with the expectations and loud etc. can your child go to the bathroom themselves and know when they need to go? Can they c themselves down or whet do they do when they are spiraling out of control and there isn't an immediate help? Can they follow simple 2 step directions: put backpack in cubby and sit on floor? That's a lot of K- following and doing what everyone is doing even if you don't want to.

[Anonymous]

OP here -- without the aide he may refuse to switch activities, hit other kids if they get too close to him or have trouble sharing, and sometime forget to use the bathroom independently resulting in accidents (only #1). With accommodations like reminders, timers, breaks in the quiet corner, and a star chart for good behaviors, he's been doing a lot better. So I understand why they wouldn't start him with a 1-on-1. I was just worried about the comment that his behavior is normal and there will be other kids with those problems too. Seems like it will be a lot to deal with!