Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, its a daycare. Why not just describe it like that originally and avoid all the confusion? Regular preschools create classes based on the school year schedule. Daycares move kids based on birthdays to make money on ratios.

Strange that this daycare plans to keep four year olds in the same class for two years though.

The licensing authority saw it fit to use the word "preschool" in its name. I'll take their word over your ideas of what a "regular" preschool ought to be - as if there is only one way to run them.

Anonymous wrote:Oh, its a daycare. Why not just describe it like that originally and avoid all the confusion? Regular preschools create classes based on the school year schedule. Daycares move kids based on birthdays to make money on ratios.

Strange that this daycare plans to keep four year olds in the same class for two years though.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like you did your kid a disservice by placing him in such an academically rigorous program as a toddler. You say you want to do what is best but evidence shows play based learning is best for young kids. To answer you original question. The absolute only way you will find out is calling the principal and even if they say ok, you have to count on principals not changing before your kid actually starts at that school. You could always just private forever though.

I am not sure why you say that. The purpose of preschools isn't to carve children into whatever mold FCPS has issued; it's to provide an appropriately structured engagement that helps children learn and grow. The fact that he learned lots of things at preschool doesn't mean he learned it while chained to his desk. They do maybe an hour of "academics" a day - the rest of the day is all play during which they learn lots of things.

So they do zero academic work until the kids move up to the four year old group, then they teach them to read and write in two languages in a year?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like you did your kid a disservice by placing him in such an academically rigorous program as a toddler. You say you want to do what is best but evidence shows play based learning is best for young kids. To answer you original question. The absolute only way you will find out is calling the principal and even if they say ok, you have to count on principals not changing before your kid actually starts at that school. You could always just private forever though.

I am not sure why you say that. The purpose of preschools isn't to carve children into whatever mold FCPS has issued; it's to provide an appropriately structured engagement that helps children learn and grow. The fact that he learned lots of things at preschool doesn't mean he learned it while chained to his desk. They do maybe an hour of "academics" a day - the rest of the day is all play during which they learn lots of things.

How many hours a day is your kid in preschool? Are you sure you don't mean daycare with an academic model? I'm very impressed that a school is teaching toddlers to read in multiple languages through play.

It's a full-time program, a preschool/daycare model - academics & play in the morning, more play/activities after lunch. Same as every other full-time facility with "preschool" in its name. A four-year old is hardly a toddler.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like you did your kid a disservice by placing him in such an academically rigorous program as a toddler. You say you want to do what is best but evidence shows play based learning is best for young kids. To answer you original question. The absolute only way you will find out is calling the principal and even if they say ok, you have to count on principals not changing before your kid actually starts at that school. You could always just private forever though.

I am not sure why you say that. The purpose of preschools isn't to carve children into whatever mold FCPS has issued; it's to provide an appropriately structured engagement that helps children learn and grow. The fact that he learned lots of things at preschool doesn't mean he learned it while chained to his desk. They do maybe an hour of "academics" a day - the rest of the day is all play during which they learn lots of things.

How many hours a day is your kid in preschool? Are you sure you don't mean daycare with an academic model? I'm very impressed that a school is teaching toddlers to read in multiple languages through play.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'm sure this would make a difference to some degree, and I don't know how things would have worked out if he was 6 months older obviously. I will say that, in general, (and your DC could be different) boys are much less emotionally mature than girls, and it can help them a lot to give them the benefit of time for reasons that have nothing to do with intelligence or academics. But mostly, I though it was interesting to hear the perspective of a bright, academically advanced kid. I'm not sure I would have immediately though of middle school transition as an issue, but he is very right.

I would talk to the principal and really listen to what s/he advises. In affluent FCPS schools, they see tons of bright, academically advanced kids, and they have no incentive to place your kid in K if it's a bad fit. And ask them about how they would handle an advanced reader. It might surprise you how well equipped schools in this area are to deal with this (although I'm sure some schools don't do as well). But as PP said, this is why all K classes have IAs-- to differentiate instruction.

Well, as I said, I have no interest in pushing him to first grade if he isn't ready emotionally or in other ways. If schools are equipped to keep him engaged, that's good to hear. I am sure there will be other good readers in his class. We'll have to wait and see.

but you are pushing him into a K program when he isn't old enough for K. Why not find a nice preschool class for 4 year olds, like almost every other child his age in Fairfax?

Who says what's "old enough"? I don't think he belongs in a preschool class any more, because for starters, he'll be four only for three weeks of it. Besides, private K is a lot closer to preschool than to FCPS - lots of play, art, playground etc. It's not like they are chained to their desks.

Preschool is for ages 3-5. In what universe does a four or five year old not belong in preschool? That's the definition of preschool age. You are making no sense. If private K is just like preschool, why not just do preschool like everyone else and then start K on time

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'm sure this would make a difference to some degree, and I don't know how things would have worked out if he was 6 months older obviously. I will say that, in general, (and your DC could be different) boys are much less emotionally mature than girls, and it can help them a lot to give them the benefit of time for reasons that have nothing to do with intelligence or academics. But mostly, I though it was interesting to hear the perspective of a bright, academically advanced kid. I'm not sure I would have immediately though of middle school transition as an issue, but he is very right.

I would talk to the principal and really listen to what s/he advises. In affluent FCPS schools, they see tons of bright, academically advanced kids, and they have no incentive to place your kid in K if it's a bad fit. And ask them about how they would handle an advanced reader. It might surprise you how well equipped schools in this area are to deal with this (although I'm sure some schools don't do as well). But as PP said, this is why all K classes have IAs-- to differentiate instruction.

Well, as I said, I have no interest in pushing him to first grade if he isn't ready emotionally or in other ways. If schools are equipped to keep him engaged, that's good to hear. I am sure there will be other good readers in his class. We'll have to wait and see.

but you are pushing him into a K program when he isn't old enough for K. Why not find a nice preschool class for 4 year olds, like almost every other child his age in Fairfax?

Who says what's "old enough"? I don't think he belongs in a preschool class any more, because for starters, he'll be four only for three weeks of it. Besides, private K is a lot closer to preschool than to FCPS - lots of play, art, playground etc. It's not like they are chained to their desks.

Anonymous wrote:OP - I hope you read my reply. I did not have time to read the other 9 pages of responses.

YES - you can start your child "early". We did it with my child this past year. If your child is attending an ACCREDITED private kindergarten then the principal cannot make you take a test legally. Here is a link to accredited private schools: http://77241.inspyred.com/images/2015-07-16%20State%20Recognized.pdf. If the school tries to make you take a test and your child is at an accredited school, please refuse. My child's school tried to do this to us last year and I put my foot down and said according to state law a test is not necessary. Now, if your child is not attending kindergarten at an accredited school then the school can make you test. Last year before I went to register my child I consulted with the Virginia Council of Private Education and they assured me that I was absolutely correct. When Fairfax County tried to make me test my child the VCPE helped me advocate to refuse that testing.

See this memo: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/administrators/superintendents_memos/2014/194-14.shtml as well. In that memo there is this which states the laws that are applicable:

"Transfer Students

Section 22.1-253.13:4 of the Code of Virginia (Standard 4 of the Standards of Quality) requires local school boards to make provisions for students who transfer between public secondary schools and from nonpublic schools or from home instruction as outlined in the Regulations Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia (SOA). The SOA provides:

…Students transferring in grades K-8 from Virginia public schools or nonpublic schools accredited by one of the approved accrediting constituent members of the Virginia Council for Private Education shall be given recognition for all grade-level work completed. The academic record of students transferring from all other schools shall be evaluated to determine appropriate grade placement in accordance with policies adopted by the local school board…. (8VAC20-131-60.A)

…A secondary school shall accept credits toward graduation received from Virginia nonpublic schools accredited by one of the approved accrediting constituent members of the Virginia Council for Private Education (VCPE)…. (8VAC20-131-60.D)"


My child did great this past year and we have no regrets. I got the Naglieri results back and was amazed at the score and as a result we just had a WISC done. Administrator of that said without a doubt we made the right decision to "start early". Don't listen to the people who tell you that you are making the wrong decision.

I'm very impressed that a school is teaching toddlers to read in multiple languages through play.