Anonymous
Post 06/23/2019 21:19     Subject: Moving back to daycare after public preK3?
Taking 2 months for an SPED evaluation is typical, normal, meets federal guidelines and a completely reasonable. If you feel your child needs more 1to1 or small group time you should advocate for that within his IEP services. (you can request to add or change services at anytime) General Education teachers especially Prk don't have time to do this every often.
If you like your school and it isn't your IB you will lose your seat if you leave. Are you okay never returning?? How is you IB for K? Are you okay if you land there long term??
Prk3 definitely gave us mixed feelings and results but staying in the same place made prk4 amazingly easy.
Anonymous
Post 06/22/2019 11:34     Subject: Moving back to daycare after public preK3?
Anonymous wrote:


OP. That's today's thinking although we risk that the daycare fills all of its available spaces (probably won't but a risk). But my partner feels like that might be more disruptive than just starting the year off at the daycare.

Wow, thanks to all who have raised the IEP and Early Stages issues. Honestly, the year was so bad on the IEP issues that I just gave up thinking anything could be achieved from the whole process but maybe I was wrong. It just feels like I shouldn't have to fight my child's school to get some very basic services for a 4 year old that literally every provider who has seen him thinks he should have (and has told the school this).


1) Your partner is seriously underestimating how hard it is to get a spot at a HRCS because you got lucky last year.
2) Welcome to having school age children with special needs. It will ALWAYS be a fight. No matter the school district or the obviousness of the need. Advocating for your kids' needs is practically a part time job and part of why I own my own business that I run from home instead of working outside the home. Having a special needs kid OFTEN means one parent stays home. Not to say you need to, but you may eventually find that one of you wants to.


I am the parent of 2 children who have very different needs - 1 with a 504 / 1 with an IEP.
My experience: Our highly regarded charter did not effectively evaluate. There were other children who had more visible classroom behavior needs that my well behaved child who is dyslexic did not get identified as having a learning disability until private testing.

Advocating for you child is a part time job - 1st understanding your child and their needs - next advocating for services - next checking to see if services are actually being provided as expected - and of course supporting with outside tutoring.

My recommendation - get into the best school you can that is a fit for your child's learning needs. Read everything you can on how to advocate - going into meetings in a collaborative manner with the goal of supporting your child. It is a journey.

Anonymous
Post 06/22/2019 07:17     Subject: Moving back to daycare after public preK3?
At title 1 schools the PK classes smaller. Out PK classes at max 16 kids with a full time aid in each room.
Anonymous
Post 06/21/2019 17:46     Subject: Moving back to daycare after public preK3?


OP. That's today's thinking although we risk that the daycare fills all of its available spaces (probably won't but a risk). But my partner feels like that might be more disruptive than just starting the year off at the daycare.

Wow, thanks to all who have raised the IEP and Early Stages issues. Honestly, the year was so bad on the IEP issues that I just gave up thinking anything could be achieved from the whole process but maybe I was wrong. It just feels like I shouldn't have to fight my child's school to get some very basic services for a 4 year old that literally every provider who has seen him thinks he should have (and has told the school this).


1) Your partner is seriously underestimating how hard it is to get a spot at a HRCS because you got lucky last year.
2) Welcome to having school age children with special needs. It will ALWAYS be a fight. No matter the school district or the obviousness of the need. Advocating for your kids' needs is practically a part time job and part of why I own my own business that I run from home instead of working outside the home. Having a special needs kid OFTEN means one parent stays home. Not to say you need to, but you may eventually find that one of you wants to.
Anonymous
Post 06/21/2019 16:36     Subject: Moving back to daycare after public preK3?
Anonymous wrote:Why not wait and see how the next school year goes and reassess as you go along? No point losing a seat when he may have an entirely different experience with another teacher.


OP. That's today's thinking although we risk that the daycare fills all of its available spaces (probably won't but a risk). But my partner feels like that might be more disruptive than just starting the year off at the daycare.

Wow, thanks to all who have raised the IEP and Early Stages issues. Honestly, the year was so bad on the IEP issues that I just gave up thinking anything could be achieved from the whole process but maybe I was wrong. It just feels like I shouldn't have to fight my child's school to get some very basic services for a 4 year old that literally every provider who has seen him thinks he should have (and has told the school this).
Anonymous
Post 06/21/2019 13:18     Subject: Moving back to daycare after public preK3?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP, reach out to the Early Stages program at DCPS and see if they can help you. They can place you at a DCPS school with the appropriate supports.

Keep in mind that if you leave your charter, then you may have to move to a desirable school district to get the right school for your child. You might have to anyway. Our HRCS is terrible with SPED. Nothing short of horrific. In hindsight, I wish we just moved to the suburbs to a great school district.

I had to change my schedule to pick up my kids after school. Aftercare uses the lowest of the low providers. Mostly untrained young 20 somethings with no clue how to interact with kids, let alone any sort of special needs. See if you and your husband can work it out so one of you goes in really early so you get out in time to pick up the kids after school. The other parent handles the morning routine, then goes to work and stays later.

If this absolutely isn't possible, then reach out to some local colleges with education programs and see if you can find a babysitter studying a related field. You might be able to try care.com too and specify what type of background you're looking for.

Also try the special needs forum here. You might get more targeted advice.


They try to start with your neighborhood school - and move to other schools nearby. It is not like you can pick the school you want your child to attend - but they will work with you on an appropriate placement to get the services your child requires. Good luck!

I second all of this advice. Early Stages is a great resource that can absolutely help.


Actually, Early Stages has a HORRIBLE reputation in DCPS. I’ve been a DCPS Sped teacher for 15 years in WOTP and we cringe at the ieps that come out of there. Most of the people working there have never actually been in a school or have any idea how PreK works in schools. Just go in with eyes wide open and be ready to fight for what your kid actually needs rather than what they think the Dcps programs are like.


But since the child already has an IEP through a DCPCS - can Early Stages take that IEP as an input for placement? I know it is a different LSAT - but given where the parent is in the placement cycle, I would assume Early Stages might start there as opposed to starting with their own evaluation.

IMO - it is worth a call to Early Stages to learn more.


DP. Early Stages did our IEP first, then we went to a centralized IEP support office to get the IEP before transitioning back to DCPS K. They wrote a REALLY GREAT IEP that worked very well for us. https://dcps.dc.gov/node/1138912