Re: Pre-K question

January 10, 2007

In NJ once your child ages out (5 years old) of the preschool disabled

program, he has to go to the next level (5-9) if they are still

classified. I chose to research the LLD (Language and Learning

Disabled)class (5-9) and attended the classroom to see for myself. I

found it not to be appropriate for him, but continued through the

evaluation process and at the end of the meeting when I was allowed to

speak I requested them to continue services, but that he would be

attending a regular preschool where I would pay the tuition, they

(special ed) would have to provide the services at their district

school where my child would have normally attended. I did not have a

problem in transportation, I was able to take him to and from

services. His regular preschool hours were in the afternoon from

12:30 to 3:00. I went to the public school 3x a week in the morning

for OT and speech for 35 minutes each. It worked out well, and we got

the best of both worlds.

All the best,

Joanne

January 10, 2007

I'm not sure what you mean by " classified " class. My son attends the

Pre-school Disabled program in NJ and these children don't have

difficulties learning they have difficulty speaking and some need OT. My

son has benefited a great deal from being in this program. He is in a class

with 11 other children of all different abilities as well as the teacher,

teacher's asst. and a teacher's aide for those children who need 1:1. He

gets pulled out for Speech 3x a week and OT 3x a week. I can't tell you how

he went from completely non-verbal and could not focus for more than 2

minutes to a child who speaks in sentences, knows his alphabet, numbers and

colors. Has trouble with writing because of his low-tone in his arms and

hands but tries real hard. Anyway, my point is that he is not in a learning

disabled class but rather in a developmental delay class primarily speech.

Just another side note, his teacher says that these children end up

learning more and know more than those entering Kindergarten without prior

instruction.

" "

<trapptrio@...

m> To

Sent by:

childrensapraxian cc

et@...

m Subject

[ ] Pre-K

question

01/10/2007 12:30

AM

Please respond to

childrensapraxian

et@...

m

Any advice or insight would be greatly appreciated.

I have two boys. A 7yr. old with apraxia and a 4 yr. old with

articulation disorder.

My 4 year old attends a regular (private) preK program 3 days and

receives speech therapy at the public school 2 days. The district

lets me take him to the school just for the speech therapy. However,

they told me they will not allow me to do it next year. My son does

very well in his regular preK class. He knows his alphabet, numbers,

writes letters, spells his first and last name.

My school district in NJ has a regular preK program but it is not

offered to everyone. It is basically for kids who need extra help

before entering kindergarten but it is with regular kids.

I asked the district if my son could attend that program and be

pulled out for speech therapy. They told me since preK is not

mandatory and since he is classified (has IEP) that he could not go

into the class but could be mainstreamed. I am confused because preK

is not mandatory in NJ at all as far as I know. When I read the

special education law for NJ, it says least restrictive enviro. for

ages 3 to 21.

Has this happen to anyone? Does anyone have any suggestions? I just

can't see putting him in the classified class just to get speech

therapy. I understand the speech is suppose to be infused into the

class but since he's making progress with the therapy, he should do

great in the regular preK class.

I am going to ask the district to see the policy that states a

classified child cannot attend the preK they have. Or I may have him

attend the class for only 2 days and keep him in regular preK the

other days. He turns 5 Oct 7 and misses the cut off for

kindergarten. Our cut off is Oct. 1. But I am ok with that

situation.

Any suggestions?

thank you

-----------------------------------------

This transmission may contain information that is privileged,

confidential, legally privileged, and/or exempt from disclosure

under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, you

are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or

use of the information contained herein (including any reliance

thereon) is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. Although this transmission and

any attachments are believed to be free of any virus or other

defect that might affect any computer system into which it is

received and opened, it is the responsibility of the recipient to

ensure that it is virus free and no responsibility is accepted by

JP Chase & Co., its subsidiaries and affiliates, as

applicable, for any loss or damage arising in any way from its use.

If you received this transmission in error, please immediately

contact the sender and destroy the material in its entirety,

whether in electronic or hard copy format. Thank you.

January 10, 2007

h jennifer,

we have a " intervention " class in my district in long island NY. its not a

pre-K program, they do it for K-3 grades. its the same set up, this class is

for non-iep chrildren. they put the children who just have speech/ot/pt in a

regular class. In my opinion I think these classes are just for the borderline

kids. Maybe they think if they put children who just have speech etc in there

that then parents of children who kids with more special needs want their kids

in there.(i hope that made sense) I think kids who have just one or two

services who don't have cognitive problems should be allowed in the

intervention class.

this is strange though, they will however put high functioning autistic/Pdd

children in the typical classes, which is great! but I think they would socially

do better in the intervention classes. Just my opinion though....

chris

[ ] Pre-K question