Well, the meeting wasn't as bad as it could have been.
Basically we got the official gifted designation (important for PA). The GIEP that was developed was largely nebulous, didn't have strong present levels established and was focused on the pull out program. We expected that. Meeting with the GT teacher (who was at the meeting) we clearly communicated that we thought that the enrichment program was a good thing, that encouraging going deep in supplemental areas was great, and thought it was good for DS5 3/4 to socialize with "peers". A nice benefit is that since he's the only 1st grader, he'd actually be with the 2nd graders.
There were some tense talks surrounding the day-to-day curriculum which is really where our big issues are. We focused on the math part of it (although we could have easily made the reading an issue). We're not all on the same page yet, but we did get them to agree to do a better PLEP assessment on math so that we can address at least that subject area. Baby steps.
My impression is that the current homeroom teacher is thinking that DS will just skip the basic review of the math subject and then do the enriched math (same curriculum). What we really need, though, is subject acceleration. I am hoping that if the do follow through with the math assessment our point will be taken.
The principal seemed to change her tune a bit mid-way through the meeting. I'm not sure if she's getting it yet, but she was being more helpful by the end. Recall that she was very against DS's early entrance into 1st. At the beginning of the meeting she was acting more of a roadblock, but by the end of the meeting she was chiming in to have the math specialist help with the PLEP portion. DW went a little off at one point, so I wonder if that had something to do with it :-)
We didn't sign the NORA on the spot and we didn't give a verbal agreement. The good thing was that it was the GT teacher that suggested we have a second, follow up meeting. They were mildly pressuring us to sign/agree, but as I pointed out, we waited this long, let's meet again and make sure we get it "right." Not sure how "right" we'll get it, but we'll make it better.
So not a total disaster. Mixed results. Plenty of more work to do. We're still digesting it all.
JB