Planning Ahead for Next School Year

Print this page print this page

By Mary Robinson, MS Ed
updated on 06/20/2007 at 11:06AM

Article reproduced from The Pediatric Network

While flowers are just beginning to bloom, and summer vacations are on our minds, why would we want to devote our energy to next year's school issues now? I mean September is over 3 months away. Right? You may be asking yourself, "Why waste my energy now thinking about what might be next year? My child may be much improved by September."

Many parents probably feel this way, especially if they have spent this past year striving to get their child the services they need to succeed in school. I admit that I am one of those parents. We have just recently been able to secure our 3rd grader the services under the educational plan that will best meet her needs now and in the future. It was an uphill struggle to convince the school that her academic needs could be better met under an IEP than under her 504 plan. I will not go into all of the ramifications of these 2 educational options at this time. But if you have questions on what your child's options are in this area, please refer to the references at the end of this article (1) or email me at CFS-DSBELL@juno.com with specific concerns.

One thing my husband and I like to do each spring is to look ahead to the coming school year with a best case/worst case scenario in mind. This is the time of year when the school personnel are making up class lists and schedules for the coming year. It is far easier to honor a request for a specific teacher or teachers at this time of year, than to try to rearrange things in the fall. Let me give you an idea of how we did this when our son was in Middle School.

We first looked at all of the subjects that he would be required to take and the possible electives for the coming year. We then looked at the master schedule that the school had planned for the coming year. We considered that the most important classes he would need would be Science, Math, then English and Social Studies. We then discussed that his best time for consistent attendance was after 10 AM. With this in mind we built a possible schedule listed below.

8:00   Study Hall 8:40   Art 9:20   Music 10:00  English 10:40  Math 11:00  Science 11:40  Lunch 12:20  Social Studies 1:00   Study Skills/Computer Lab 1:40   Study Hall/PE 2:20   Dismissal

We began with his minimum of 1 class at school to a maximum full schedule. By requesting his most important classes (Math, Science) at his optimum time he was able to get in for at least one of them all year. During his good months he was able to make it from English through Social Studies. Sometimes I would bring him home for lunch, other times he stayed at school.

The 2nd year we did this we were able to arrange this full schedule for him and he tolerated it for the first 10 weeks, before we had to go to a shortened day. This plan of outlining options in the spring, along with teachers who are the most accommodating really has helped both of our children to be successful. When we first requested to talk to the counselor about this, we explained that we knew our requests could not be guaranteed at this time, but we just wanted to have an opportunity to voice our ideas. If the school personnel feel that you have faith in them to do the best that they can for your child, and that you are only coming in to share ideas, they may be more willing to listen and to brainstorm solutions with you.

When you take the time at this point in the year to start thinking ahead, and share your ideas with the school about possible scheduling arrangements for the fall, and you have an accommodation plan in place, you can relax a bit. You can ease your mind that things are as set as they can be for the next schoolyear, and enjoy your vacation. Near the end of the summer we contact the school again to let them know how our child is doing, and what to expect from them when the year begins. Sometimes they plan to start out full-days, and other times an amended day is needed right off. This is a good time to share any notes from your child's doctor on any needed accommodations, such as a shortened day, home tutoring, or Physical Education changes.

I realize that these ideas in the article may not work for all of you. I would love to hear new ideas and solutions that you have found. It is our hope to discuss the options surrounding homeschooling in a future issue of the Lyndonville News. If you have experience or opinions on this option, please write to us at cfs-dsbell@juno.com.

For more information on these educational programs and your child's right to a Free and Appropriate Public Education check out these references below:


The Parent's Corner
Planning Ahead for Next School Year by Mary Robinson, MS Ed
http://www.pediatricnetwork.org/parenting/parentscorner/LN99-Plan_for_School.htm
(Published in Lyndonville News, May 1999)

Suggestion Box

Your comments can help make our site better for everyone. If you've found something incorrect, broken, or frustrating on this page, let us know so that we can improve it. Please note that we are unable to respond directly to suggestions made via this form.


DISCLAIMER: The statements enclosed herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The products and information mentioned on this site are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Information and statements made are for education purposes only and are not intended to replace the advice of your treating doctor. Global Healing Center does not dispense medical advice, prescribe, or diagnose illness. We design and recommend individual nutritional programs and supplements that allow the body to rebuild and heal itself naturally. The views and nutritional advice expressed by www.fibromyalgia-support.org are not intended to be a substitute for conventional medical service. If you have a severe medical condition, see your physician of choice. This web site contains links to web sites operated by other parties. Such links are provided for your convenience and reference only. We are not responsible for the content or products of any linked site or any link contained in a linked site.

Hope is here ... Fibro-Hope .: home :: search :: bookmark :.