Not ready for kindergarten... Please advise.

[Guest guest]

Much to me and my family's surprise yesterday, the ARD committee suggested that

my 5yo son (diagnosed 1.5 years ago as severe verbal apraxia, diagnosed recently

as moderate verbal dyspraxia w/ motor planning difficulties) start kindergarten

in the fall. They reviewed several test results that indicated average to above

average cognitive skills (not sure how someone who doesn't speak to him on a

regular basis understood his passage comprehension--I understand approximately

50% of what he says and am with him every day??), a wonderful improvement in his

speech (he was non-verbal 1.5 years ago), and a more noticeable lag in his motor

planning skills (=more OT than previously). It was interesting for the

principal of the elementary school he would be attending to tell me she has

several kids enter kinder each year who are far behind my son when she has never

had a conversation with him.

My son cannot spell his name, much less write his name. He knows a couple of

colors inconsistently, he does not know his alphabet with the exception of the

letter E (his name begins with E). Most importantly, my son cannot adequately

communicate to be placed into public kindergarten. I believe it presents a

dangerous situation for him (not to mention the fact that he is going to hate

it). His disability has improved enough that I believe a special ed kinder will

be much too limiting for him. Our district does not have a transitional

kindergarten program.

He needs another year to prepare, and I would really like to keep him at the

public preschool he is currently attending (and where he receives his ST and

OT). We do have an option of enrolling our son in a private preschool or

Montesorri. However, can anybody tell me what my legal rights are to keep him

in his current placement? My husband and I refused to accept their propose at

the ARD yesterday, so we meet again next Friday. Thank you for any insight.