Hi Cindi,
I think it's terrible that the school is reccomending that you 'make their life easier by taking him out' - there is no reason in the world why they shouldn't just subject accelerate him - OR are they suggesting that they will pay his private school tuition? Or maybe they will pay you to homeschool him?
I think you should email Sandra Kaplan right now and tell her what you told us (copy/paste) and see what she says, since obviously she is trusted by your school.
Some school offer 'partial homeschooling' so that he can attend music and PE with his agemates and still have time to learn academics at his 'readiness level' with you or a tutor at home.
I think that you might well be able to make homeschooling work for your son, if YOU believe it's what's right for him. Perhaps he will meet a few friends at the homeschool co-op who would want to get together for playdates on the alternate days? I think that if you are willing to work at it a bit, there will be no lack of social opportunities for DS, but it's a huge personal cost to you and your family. And you do pay taxes to the school, right? No one is offering to rebate that, are they?
I agree with your psychologist on the 'explain your answers' thing, he or she sounds like a reliable guide. Perhaps he or she could write a letter outlining proper placements. You have an advantage in that your school is already doing grouping, that means that with a year or two advancement, your son can work at levels that may be 'just right' for him. This makes your school more likely to be able to accomdiate him.
You say that in general 'they don't like grade skipping' - just ask them if they 'in general' have kids with IQ's like your son's. If they balk, remind them that homeschooling is of course always an alternative, but that they could at least have the decency to give multiple subject accelerations a try.
I have the feeling that you are going to 'win' on this one,if you just keep, smiling and saying, 'Yes that's true in general, But, in this situation the experts belive .........' Follow it up with 'The main thing that we have to do here, is to focus on what's best for the child and to stay flexible.'
Love and More Love,
Grinity
