Innovation Initiative in D49 vs. D20

[MrsMac]

Originally Posted by captain_hug99

Since you are a military family, you should consider a Core Knowledge school. The Core Knowledge curriculum states what each child in each grade should learn. This way, you won't have the one fourth grade teacher that teaches the states and capitols and then the one fifth grade teacher that teaches it again. All students in each grade level learn the same basic things in every core knowledge school around the country.

This way, when you move to another school district you can find another core knowledge school and your child(ren) won't have any education gaps.

My oldest daughter is going into 9th grade (her sisters will start 8th and 5th grades); she's gone to school in 4 different states in 9 years and we've never had a problem with knowledge gaps or repeating curriculum. None of my girls have ever attended a core knowledge curriculum school and their transitions from school to school and state to state have been relatively easy. (They can get cranky about the differing grading systems, though. My youngest was really not pleased to move to CO and receive "Proficient" or "Not Proficient" instead of letter grades!) Being involved with our girls education (which is really helped by online access and the ease of email nowadays) and finding schools where we liked the teachers and administration will always be more important than curriculum choice with us.

[1doglover]

I do think you can find moving from one "type" of school or "grading system" can be difficult but we are just begining. I have a 3 year old on an IEP and a 6 year old starting kinder. so I'm more concerned today with the fact that I can't find an all day program b/c we are just arriving and they are all full; if they even had them at all. I'm contemplating starting her in first grade b/c she will be 6 this Sept. and is already reading some and knows almost 50 sight words. However, I'm torn b/c I held her back b/c I didn't want her to be socially young or fall behind. Does anyone have a recommendation on how to find an all day kindergarten program? We would be willling to pay but not the $5000 I've seen at a few Christian schools. She is at a Christian school now and we love it but I could really only see paying about half that.

[Luke9686]

Here's an idea: Move where you feel comfortable, regardless of schools. If school is lacking, find out where it is lacking and do your part. Sort of a combo between public schools with a homeschool twist. There are many resources outside public schools to help your children.

[1doglover]

Luke9686 that sounds good in theory but if I'm purchasing a home I want to retain some type of home value and schools play a major factor in home pricing-like it or not. We are taking a significant hit with this current forced move and we financially can't sustain another. I DO agree that being involved in your school and the district is key to success for your children and the schools.

[otowi]

D11 has all-day kindergarten in all of their schools, for free, as far as I know - did you look there?

[hollyt00]

I waited for my daughter to be six before she was in kindergarten- her birthday is in September, so she was going to be either the youngest at just barely five, or the oldest at barely six. I think it was the best decision for us as she needed that social aspect. I feel that kindergarten serves an important role- socialization and the basic rules of the classroom. She has much more success in school because I put her in kindergarten when I did. Her first grade teacher pushed us to have her skip a grade, but I would much rather my daughter be the oldest in the class, mature, ready to lead, rather than be someone younger, less mature, less able to make those big maturity jumps (thinking from sixth to seventh grade, etc), and be more of a follower...

course, not everyone is like that. My daughter was very shy and quiet, and not ready emotionally for kindergarten. I just... as a former middle school teacher, seeing some of those kids who were put in higher grades but were more socially and emotionally immature than their peers... it is very rough for them at later ages.


D11 has great full-day kindergarten classes. I believe that d20 has some full-day kindergarten, and there is a tuition with that. I requested info from d20, and got a response within a day, and lost that email, but I believe it is $1800 for the year... or semester... important info, I know, but easy to verify on your own

[otowi]

I agree with you about age from my personal experience as a student. I was in the same situation age-wise as your daughter, but I was not shy at all. However, it was really an advantage socially and academically all through school and especially in high school to be the oldest in class rather than the youngest. And my brother was on the other end of the spectrum and it made a huge difference for him, too, negatively; he was really into sports but was one of the smallest in his class which affected him socially in many ways all through school. The year after high school he was 6 feet tall, but up to that point he was always in the smallest weight class in wrestling, etc. He is SO happy that his son hasn't had the same problem; I think it REALLY affected him, to the core of who he is. Therefore, my philosophy has always been that if there is any doubt, err to the side of kids being older in their class.

[camesquibel]

Originally Posted by kristie73

I live in D49 with a son in the 3rd grade and one in preschool. It's only school/district we've been to. I think it all really depends on the school and teacher. It's not fair to blame the whole district, although they have their issues...I don't feel it has impacted my son's education. He is on an IEP and has been working with Special Education for his reading and ADHD issues. At first it took time but by the end of the year, I was pleased with their response. I have been disappointed in the lack of technology and computer but I think that is just within his school. Hopefully this Innovation Initiative will be something. At least for his school, I've been seeing improvement over the last few years.

I agree with Kristie. My four kids go to school in District 49 and have loved the school they attend and the teachers.

[S&AMOM]

I was not impressed with D20. My daughter attended first grade and had a horrible teacher. She went from a happy go lucky child...loving to learn, looking forward to school, etc. to being fearful of attending each day and had major anxiety about it. I withdrew her from the school and it took awhile to get her to bounce back. I think it's more about the teacher than the district.