Sorry - op here - I wasn't clear. We had a disastrous experience at private prek 3. Pep has been great. And no, I don't think there is any way we could get another year of pep. I'm not sure how people have done that? But I don't think it would happen. So the options are to go with a really strong iep which is maybe not a bad option. But what do I need in the iep? I need to start working on that.

The other option is to do a private junior k or pre k with skills focus. So options seem to be dolly Madison or Maddux which is much too far. Hmmm. I'm nervous about dm because our lady prek private experience was so awful. But son has matured quite a bit since then. He participates fully now in class. He used to just roam about the room and try to leave and occasionally push.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS is in 3rd grade now but I remember when he was leaving PEP NONE OF THE PARENTS felt their kids were ready for Kindergarten. Not one. All of them wanted to convince PEP to give kids an extra year.

OP, my advice is to try kindergarten. See how it works. And I don't just mean a few days or weeks, give it the fall. If it truly means your child cannot adjust, then go private or consider a school like Diener. But don't decide in January of the final year of PEP that the following September your child won't be able to handle Kindergarten.

PEP doesn't want to keep kids back b/c it costs them more money. It has nothing to do with readiness for K but moving kids through the system.

It's also very difficult to find a mid year slot at a SN school. It will also be difficult to find a mid-year slot at a mainstream private if a kid is bombing K.

Parents need to go with their gut since they know their kid best. But it's better to make the decision ahead of time b/c most SN schools require full educational evaluations. Also, OP, most applications are due around now. So if you want to make this happen, you'll need to hustle if you already have done an educational evaluation.

It's hard to go with your gut about Kindergarten readiness in January when your child isn't entering Kindergarten until September. That's nine months of maturity left to go.

Yes I know! we are applying to newton and to dolly Madison's pre k. I welcome other suggestions.

Anonymous wrote:My DS is in 3rd grade now but I remember when he was leaving PEP NONE OF THE PARENTS felt their kids were ready for Kindergarten. Not one. All of them wanted to convince PEP to give kids an extra year.

OP, my advice is to try kindergarten. See how it works. And I don't just mean a few days or weeks, give it the fall. If it truly means your child cannot adjust, then go private or consider a school like Diener. But don't decide in January of the final year of PEP that the following September your child won't be able to handle Kindergarten.

PEP doesn't want to keep kids back b/c it costs them more money. It has nothing to do with readiness for K but moving kids through the system.

It's also very difficult to find a mid year slot at a SN school. It will also be difficult to find a mid-year slot at a mainstream private if a kid is bombing K.

Parents need to go with their gut since they know their kid best. But it's better to make the decision ahead of time b/c most SN schools require full educational evaluations. Also, OP, most applications are due around now. So if you want to make this happen, you'll need to hustle if you already have done an educational evaluation.

My son was the EXACT same way (he's 9 now & was recently diagnosed with ADHD).

We red shirted him & it was the best decision we've ever made. When we were contemplating starting him on time or keeping him in preschool an additional year, they Principal said that she's never, ever had a family regret holding back their sons for a year, but plenty of families regretted starting their sons in Kindergarten before they were ready.

She said to me "What's the worst thing that's going to happen? Your son will be the smartest & tallest kid in his grade next year"?

Mine not only had the immaturity (and now we know ADHD, but he didn't show signs of it then), but mine REALLY struggled with separation anxiety away from me.
Giving him that extra year made all the difference in the world.

If your kid knows letters, numbers; eats lunch nicely, lines up, hangs up coat, etc... he's more ready for K than mine and many other kids!

I would say to fight for a string IEP.

Anonymous wrote:Have you ever observed him in class? I had the opportunity to observe DC PEP class for over an hour and was not impressed at all. It was a joke. I had my DC moved to another program asap. IMO I wouldn't hold him back for another year of PEP but this depends on the individual child of course. If you can, ask if you can observe him while he's in class and go from there. Also find out if there are other options and possibly a more suitable program for him, just in case there is.

?? what program? I don't think there are other public programs available.

Anonymous wrote:Have you ever observed him in class? I had the opportunity to observe DC PEP class for over an hour and was not impressed at all. It was a joke. I had my DC moved to another program asap. IMO I wouldn't hold him back for another year of PEP but this depends on the individual child of course. If you can, ask if you can observe him while he's in class and go from there. Also find out if there are other options and possibly a more suitable program for him, just in case there is.

I have not - I do not think they allow it. But he already knew numbers, letters, etc., and PEP has taught him how to put on his coat, eat lunch nicely, line up, play nicely, etc. We really needed all of that.

Have you ever observed him in class? I had the opportunity to observe DC PEP class for over an hour and was not impressed at all. It was a joke. I had my DC moved to another program asap. IMO I wouldn't hold him back for another year of PEP but this depends on the individual child of course. If you can, ask if you can observe him while he's in class and go from there. Also find out if there are other options and possibly a more suitable program for him, just in case there is.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are in Alexandria, va, so really in pep equivalent.where is there a sn preschool?

Virginia has the public school equivalent of PEP.

Sorry - yes that is what we are in now. I really was asking about private special needs k or junior k for next year.

Anonymous wrote:We are in Alexandria, va, so really in pep equivalent.where is there a sn preschool?

Virginia has the public school equivalent of PEP.

I don't know about VA. Have heard about Dolley Madison. Based on what you've said about private services and assessments it sounds like you can afford to hire an advocate. If you think its crazy that they are not giving you more services and assessments/private people demonstrate that then you need to fight for it.

We are in Alexandria, va, so really in pep equivalent.where is there a sn preschool?