Full Day Kindergarten HELP! (Pittsburgh, Bethel Park: insurance, daycare, school district) - Pennsylvania (PA) - City-Data Forum

algia · 09-29-2011, 07:20 AM

Good Morning,

PLEASE Tell me which schools (close to Mt Lebanon IF ANY) have full day kindergarten.

I am actually having difficulty with my son who has PDD (borderline Autistic) because Watson told me he is "too high functioning", Wesley sent me to DART which is for kids younger than him, and the Pittsburgh School district tells me we have to pay tuition to have him in a full day somewhere in PGH!!!!

HELP PLEASE, this little guy is NOT doing well with half days (or 2 hrs). He is loosing all the progress he has made before we got here and I can't stand by and watch that happen.

I need to have him in a full day pronto and I don't care where I have to drive for it. Obviously we cannot afford to pay tuition since if we could we would have him in private school, in FL because he was special ed, he was able to go to any public school, seems that this is not the case here which is a huge problem.

So, please let me know if you know which schools (elementary/public) have full day kindergarten programs.

THANK YOU MUCH!

robrobrob · 09-29-2011, 07:55 AM

School Disctricts around Mt. Lebanon are Keystone Oaks, Upper St. Clair and Bethel Park. You can google them to find out which are full day.

Hopes · 09-29-2011, 08:46 AM

Contact the director of special education at the Mt. Lebanon school district. The district should be giving you better guidance. The school district should pay any costs for enrollement elsewhere if the district doesn't have the appropriate placement available. There are plenty of services available for young children (under elementary school age) on the autism spectrum---including full schooling throughout the summer. Have you looked into getting "wrap around services" from the department of human welfare? Basically you get a medical social worker to connect you to services you don't know are available and coordinate services. I believe there is also legal advocacy nonprofit organization that will help fight for any services you are having difficulty accessing. The wrap around social worker will know the name of the group and have the contact information. Good luck!

Iggymom · 09-29-2011, 09:31 AM

DART is the coordinator for children that are not yet in school..basically 3-6. They will act as the go-between for you and the school district. If your child is attending an elementary school, the school is responsible for his IEP. Is he not going to an elementary school for kindergarten?

If he is attending a daycare or private preschool, DART is who you need to deal with. If he is in your school district kindergarten, request an IEP in writing.

algia · 09-29-2011, 09:48 AM

He already started in Kindergarten as he was/is ready to be integrated (mainstreamed) the only problem is that kindergarten here as opposed to FL is only 2 hours a day, and that makes it impossible for him to progress, and for me to get a job!

His progress however is going downhill because 2 hours for him is just ridiculously short. Today he started crying again, as he does every day since we got here that he wants to go back to school!!!!!

I called DART and they told me he's too old! Plus, he needs (per his IEP) to be in class with regular kids now.

algia · 09-29-2011, 09:59 AM

I called Watson again to at least have him evaluated. They'll send me that packet and I know my hubby sent in all that paperwork for the state insurance (in case ours doesn't cover his services).

algia · 09-29-2011, 10:03 AM

I have tried to contact this person (Connie Lewis which IS the special ed director/liaison etc for Mt Lebanon) since July!!!! I emailed her like 6 times, and called several times left message after message and I have not heard 1 word back from her!!!!

Ok, in case I find something in the "city" of PGH, they'll pay for it? Interesting. Did not know that. His IEP clearly states that he should be in school full time in order to achieve his goals.

I can't get wrap around until he is evaluated by Watson etc.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hopes

Contact the director of special education at the Mt. Lebanon school district. The district should be giving you better guidance. The school district should pay any costs for enrollment elsewhere if the district doesn't have the appropriate placement available. There are plenty of services available for young children (under elementary school age) on the autism spectrum---including full schooling throughout the summer. Have you looked into getting "wrap around services" from the department of human welfare? Basically you get a medical social worker to connect you to services you don't know are available and coordinate services. I believe there is also legal advocacy nonprofit organization that will help fight for any services you are having difficulty accessing. The wrap around social worker will know the name of the group and have the contact information. Good luck!

robrobrob · 09-29-2011, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by algia

He already started in Kindergarten as he was/is ready to be integrated (mainstreamed) the only problem is that kindergarten here as opposed to FL is only 2 hours a day, and that makes it impossible for him to progress, and for me to get a job!

His progress however is going downhill because 2 hours for him is just ridiculously short. Today he started crying again, as he does every day since we got here that he wants to go back to school!!!!!

I called DART and they told me he's too old! Plus, he needs (per his IEP) to be in class with regular kids now.

Sounds like your only choice is to move into a district that offers full day kindergarten.

What about after school care? I know our district offers that at a cost.

alise007 · 09-29-2011, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by algia

I have tried to contact this person (Connie Lewis which IS the special ed director/liaison etc for Mt Lebanon) since July!!!! I emailed her like 6 times, and called several times left message after message and I have not heard 1 word back from her!!!!

Ok, in case I find something in the "city" of PGH, they'll pay for it? Interesting. Did not know that. His IEP clearly states that he should be in school full time in order to achieve his goals.

I can't get wrap around until he is evaluated by Watson etc.

If she won't contact you after that much contact/effort then I would go directly to the school board or whomever is her superior with your email print outs where she has failed to contact you and see if they can get you some assistance. Sounds like you need to show your FACE and get something that way.

melanie_pa · 09-29-2011, 10:36 AM

Brentwood School District offers full-day kindergarten. My children are not yet school-aged so I don't have any first-hand experience with the school. Good luck to you and your family.