Pre-K question

[Guest guest]

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