I find over and over words that mean one thing to parent-ears mean something totally different when coming out of school-mouths.

You example of 'Differentiation' fits.

I'm really glad that the first grade teacher 'gets' your son, because thats an amazing experience. Don't give up on the gradeskip idea just because there is policy. My son's 4th grade summer camp also had a 'no gameboy' policy and that had no relationship to the number of campers who brought gameboys to camp!

Smiles,
Grinity

Coaching available, at SchoolSuccessSolutions.com