Preschool

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Alrighty. I met with school in my town that is designated for 'special needs' preschools that integrate with 'normal functioning' children. First off....don't like the teacher. When I asked if I could observe the class one day before my son starts, she rolled her eyes (no kidding, the Early Intervention staffer that was with me said something to me after the meeting about it) sighed and said, "Well, I guess so. Give me two days notice.". O....kay. So then, I learn that he will only be able to attend two days a week (typical for 'special needs') to a max of three and they are sent home at 1:20. All the other children stay 5 days a week for the entire duration of the school day. He will also receive one 20 minute session once a week with the speech therapist. My son is PDD-NOS - speech language delay. The sensory integration therapist that he sees says that he has no obvious sensory issues and that it's mainly language. The speech therapist at the school said he will only be needing her services and will not need occupational nor physical therapy.

I don't get it. How is 2-3 days a week beneficial? I am thinking about just keeping him at the daycare he's currently been attending and paying out of pocket for the therapies he'll need. (My insurance will pay for 30 speech therapy visits, then OOP for the rest).

Is this type of schedule typical for preschoolers? Am I expecting too much from the school system?

Thanks in advance.

I have worked in three states. All of the places I have worked in have children attend four to five days a week for 2 1/2 hours a day. Current preschools I work at the children attend four days a week. They typically work on all areas even though the IEP may state otherwise. It is considered developmental preschool so they do need to touch on all areas in the classroom setting.

Can you request a sensory profile?? If the OT didn't do one of those and is just basing it on observation, then I would question the results.

When you say all the other children stay the whole day, what do you mean? Do you mean all of the kids without dx disabilities. If so, I would have a serious issue with that.

Sorry I wasn't more specific. We have been going to a sensory integration therapist for the past two weeks. In her assessment, she noted that there weren't any obvious sensory issues and said that once we find a speech therapist (who has a background in sensory integration practices) that we only need check in every month with her.

And yes, all the other preschool children without dx disabilities get to stay 5 days a week all day long.

Wow. I have never ever worked in a program where the kids without disabilities stay full day. They probably pay for that. If so, they should give parents who have children with special needs that option. If they don't, they are discriminating - completely against the law.

Did the school do a comprehensive assessment. If the previous OT assessment was outside, you have every right to request additional evaluation from the school setting. I would do that, especially if you disagree. If you don't like the teacher, is there another school you can request?

No, they don't pay for it. I asked if I could pay a fee to allow him to stay. They are going to do a full evaluation for his IEP. He has one other option for preschool within the city but it's not the 'designated special needs' school. It's a pre-k program that goes from 7:45 - 2:45 every day. We're meeting with the head of the special needs department for the city school system on Tuesday.

When he does enter kindergarden, he would actually be zoned for this other school (not the special needs one).

Wanted to update ya'll on what we found.

My husband, our son and I went to the head of the special needs department with the school board and, bottom line, said that preschool was not mandatory for the school system but they decided to implemented it for the sake of the children. After discussing our options, we decided that our son would do better if he stayed at the daycare/preschool he's currently at. Although it's 30 minutes from our home, he said that he would offer Jake speech therapy through the school system for free one to two days a week. This is fantastic. I thought that you had to be in the school to get this therapy but he said so long as we live within the city limits, they will provide free speech to him

He also said that when we decide to enroll him in kindergarten that we can choose which one of the three schools to enroll him at and they will provide any and all therapies he'll need. He said even if they need to send someone for training or hire more people to meet these needs, they'll do it.

I can breathe.....

It is actually mandatory for kids with disabilities. It's called child find. I could be wrong but I will look up the law and see what I can find.

Check out wrights law. You may be able to find some good information there. Preschool is not required for children without disabilities. School districts are required by law to serve children age 3-21.

http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/ei.index.htm

The requirement it called Child Find. Call your state education department. They must give children services that DO qualify. They don't have to give services for children who are at risk and don't qualify

Usually the state does birth to three. Districts usually take over from there.

http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/child.find.mandate.htm
Mandated to do childfind!!

thank you so much for directing me!

See?....this is why this place is so wonderful. I appreciate your guidance and now I'm off to better educate myself!