Will
Senior Member
Joined: 24 Oct 2008
Last Visit: 18 Jun 2013
Posts: 142
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 Posted: October 22 2012, 4:39 PM Post subject: Checking out a school before you move
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We're considering a move, within our city. Liam is not yet in school. We're in the US; we want to consider school quality for him.
How do I find out if the school is OK? Can we move him to a different school in the same district if there's a problem?
This school is in a middle- to upper-class area. On a page ranking schools, it was C for the state (most schools in our city are D or F!). But one comment was from a mom who said they let her special-needs child wander off the property.
Mostly I want to know: how do you check out a school for your DS child before he's in it? I'll be calling the school system tomorrow and want to be armed with the right questions. Because moving's pretty permanent for us, I think.
_________________
Father of Liam (DS, '08 ) and Charles ('10).
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Dylans_Mom
Senior Member
Joined: 29 Oct 2008
Last Visit: 03 May 2013
Posts: 286
Location: Illinois
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| Posted: October 22 2012, 4:52 PM Post subject:
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Request a visit to the school to discuss the different programs they offer and ask to observe classes. You also want to know the teacher to kid ratio, teacher aides ect. Ask if they can give your name to another parent so you can talk to other parents. But I think the school visit would be huge and how much time the principle spends with you. Before Dylan started Kindergarten I was still on the fence on what "program" to place him in. I asked to speak and meet with the principle. He spent hours with me, taking me through the school, going into multiple classes so I can observe the classroom settings. I could have spent the entire day there if i wanted  I think that alone would show you how the school operates in how much time the principle is willing to spend with you. Good Luck. Check to see if they have a special needs PTA group? You could contact the PTA as well to get parent feedback. _________________ Sandy (Dylans_Mom)
Mom to Hailey 3/2002, Dylan (ds) 12/2005
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Tigger
Super Member
Joined: 28 Jan 2006
Last Visit: 19 Jun 2013
Posts: 7484
Location: NSW, Australia
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| Posted: October 23 2012, 7:36 AM Post subject:
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I went and observed the kinder class, talked to the principal, spoke to other parents, talked to the kinder teacher, the special needs coordinator and took Talitha there on a few occasions to see how she felt about it and how they reacted to her. We discussed things like absconding, behaviour management etc. She has had a great year this year (our school year is Feb to Dec).
_________________ Karyn
Mum to Nikki (Jul 89), Stefanie (Sep 96), Joel [June 98] and Talitha (DS) (Nov 05) AVSD/PDA repaired 23 March 06
"I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well." Psalm 139:14
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