Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy Approaching school for more subject acceleration

I am in the process of approaching DS' school for more subject acceleration and have an "etiquette" (for lack of a better word) question. Unfortunately, the vice principal who was in charge of this area and handled the last acceleration in 2nd grade is no longer with the school. I have the option of emailing the principal and one of the other vice principals (both of whom I know but who has not dealt with DS' acceleration issues) or emailing the replacement vice principal. Who would you contact first?

I just realized that I also have a direct line to the district's gifted specialists since two of them came to the school to assesed DS' ability after he passed the school's achievement assessment for 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade math. I am thinking about emailing them diretly (to get more ideas, etc.), but I don't want to look like I am jumping the gun since technically they normally don't get involved until the school's hurdle has been passed. I also don't want to look like I am stepping on the school adminstration's toes. What would you do?

Could you e-mail them all? Not the gifted specialists yet, since you've said that could be jumping the gun, but include the principal, vice principal and replacement vice principal in your e-mail? State that you're not sure who to contact, which is why you're contacting all. I'd feel comfortable with this approach in my kids' school, but each climate might be different.

Good luck

The Gifted Specialist is the one who SHOULD be handling any acceleration as they SHOULD be the most highly trained in assessing the need. This isn't true in all cases of course but the majority of the time. I'd be inclined to be e-mailing the Gifted Specialists first to get their thoughts on the looking into the possibility and assessing readiness. Once readiness is assessed then administration can get involved....if that's even needed.

Follow the Chain of command:
Classroom teacher (may not be applicable in this case)
Vice Principle (why not go with one who knows your kid?)
Principle
District Level staff
District Level leadership
School Board

Don't allow yourself to be stalled by any of the steps in the chain.
Send email attempting to set up a meeting to discuss child's educational needs.
If you don't hear within a week, phone call follow up.
If neither worked, send email to that step and one step higher, saying that you wanted to check if the first email was received, then repeat with the person you cc'd.

If time is of the essence - show up in person. Cry if it's authentic.

Love and More Love,
Grinity

That's what I am thinking of doing - just sending the school administration a blanket email before school starts just to open the dialogue sooner rather than later.

You are correct in that acceleration cannot proceed without the gifted spcialist doing her assessment and making the recommendation, which is then rubber-stamped by her superiors in the district office. However, the school administration serves as the gatekeeper in adminstering the end-of-year type assessments to determine whether the student is at least a couple of grades above level to warrant as assessment by the gifted specialist.

In thinking it over the last few days, I think that it would be okay if I send them an email, not so much requesting assessment/acceleration, but perhaps asking for their ideas/suggestions/possibilities in the district.

I am skipping the teacher because I am trying to get this started before the school year begins. It would be great if the vice-principal who went through the last accleration were still here so that I don't feel like I am virtually starting all over.

My iniital thought was just to request the assessment but it may be better to request a meeting to discuss it with them first. Unfortunately or fortunately, I don't think that I can cry as the situation is that bad - not like with 2e kids. :-)

If there is one thing I've learned about public education it's that teachers / administration is often over sensitive and often don't see what we'd see as common sense in cutting out the middle man. Not using the proper chain of command or not involving the proper parties can result in someone being sour that will be working with you child. I'm sure this isn't true in all schools, I've just seen it happen too many times in my area. There is too much candy coating in public education for my personal taste....but then again I'm a grumpy old man!

I guess I'm just saying be careful not to burn bridges in attempt to expedite the process.

Yep - I hear you. One reason that I have had so few problems from the school system is that I have always "worked" with them and have a reputation for doing so.

I agree with the others that it's good to send an email to all who may be involved in the decision, including the teacher. Your email will be forwarded to the teacher anyway. I discovered that if I didn't include everyone touching the situation, the person responding to my email would always CC everyone. (So make sure you don't care if whatever you say is forwarded to everyone!)