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Statewide Parent Training Information Center (PTI) |
- School is about ready to start. What suggestions do you have to help me "cover all the bases" and get my child's school year off to a good start?
Summer break often flies by quickly, and, before classes start in the fall, we need to plan for and with our children to help them have an enjoyable and successful school year.
Here are a few ideas to help you get started:
1. Dust off the current IEP and take a good look at it. Is it appropriate to your child's present abilities and needs?
a. In what ways has your child grown and changed since this IEP was held? For example, has s/he made more progress than expected in some areas or has s/he had a hospital stay that has changed his/her abilities and needs?
b. Is your child entering a different school than s/he is accustomed to? For example, will there be multiple teachers in his/her day and the need to move from class to class for each period? Does the current IEP address the needs associated with the new situation?
c. Are needed supports, accommodations, services and equipment addressed on the IEP? Check with the school to see if the arrangements have been made for these necessities to be in place for the first day of school. If not, make sure there is an interim plan to appropriately meet the child's needs.
d. If there are behavioral concerns, make sure they are appropriately addressed on the IEP to help your child be successful throughout the day. This part of the IEP should include a behavior plan with proactive interventions. It should not be merely a discipline or punishment plan.
e. If you have concerns or questions about the IEP or about what or how your child will receive needed help, contact the school to work it out before school begins.
2. Visit the school and meet the teachers and staff. Your child may need or want to visit the school before starting classes, especially if it is a different school than s/he attended last year. If so, make arrangements for that visit.
3. Find out what time school starts and ends for your child.
a. Is it the same as for the other students of that age?
b.Is there a waiting period between bus times and school times? If so, how is that monitored, and what are the students doing then?
4. Confirm transportation details.
a. What is the bus schedule?
b. Will the child transfer buses?
c. If so, what supervision is there for the transfer times?
d. If appropriate, will there be a bus aide and is that person in place for the first day?
e. What is the district's policy about picking up and dropping off your child?
f. How long does the driver wait for the child in the morning?
g. If you are not home when the bus arrives after school, what procedure is the driver to follow?
5. Think about what went right last year and why it did. How can you use that information this year? Also think about what went wrong and how that could have been prevented. Implement ways to keep the positives and reduce the negatives for this year.
6. If you have not already done so, establish a partnership with teachers and staff to combine knowledge and skills for your child's benefit.
With everyone working together, communicating and focusing on the child and his/her individuality, this can be that young person's best school year ever!
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