Level III Services--Did I blow it?

[Anonymous]

I think I messed up. My DS is a 3rd grader and was not accepted for Level VI services. He was borderline, but we gave it a shot. He's very bright, but he tends to rush through work, which is what results in mistakes. It was even noted during the WISC testing that he probably would have gotten more correct if he slowed down.

Fast forward to today and he is bringing home near-perfect grades on his work and clearly is not challenged by the curriculum. I'm realizing that perhaps he should be receiving some Level III services at his school (which is an AAP Center). I think I was supposed to submit our request for that in the Spring after receiving notification on our Level VI application, correct? Is it just too late now and we have to wait for next year? He is clearly bored by much of his work, I want him to feel appropriately challenged.

I'm going to call our AAP Resource Teacher and get her advice, but thought I see what others here have experienced. Unfortunately, we moved (within county) over the summer, so we don't know the teachers at our new school well, nor do they have any history or experience with DS.

[Anonymous]

Depending on the school, he may be receiving Level 3 services. But from what I have heard from others whose kids were getting Level 3 services, sometimes there isn't much there there, KWIM? One friend pulled her DD out of an AAP center back to the base school and the "Level 3 services" amounted to a few minutes a week spent with the resource teacher.

But the best person to talk with is his classroom teacher and the AAP resource teacher. I would bring up your concerns at the PT conferences in a couple weeks. And I would also consider re-applying for Level IV services for next year.

[Anonymous]

Level III is a less formal process than Local Level IV or full-time Center placement. You should be able to get Level III services at any time if your child requires them & you should not have to wait until next year.

Level III really varies by school and depends in part on what they have the resources to provide. Generally they're pulling kids out of the classroom to work with a specialist - it could be every day, could be once a week, may only be certain subjects (usually language arts and/or math). Just contact the AAP teacher at your school and set up a meeting to discuss your child's needs/issues and see how much Level III service is available for 3rd graders in your school.

[Anonymous]

My child is in AAP, but when we applied for AAP the AART told us she wouldn't be eligible for Level III services if they didn't accept her into AAP. I think many of the Level III services are a joke and the AARTs (at least ours) are dingbats.