quinn, these are kids who have *already* skipped grades. The message I'm getting from you is that Shea/Pawtucket isn't just anti-grade-skipping, it actually tries to undo placements that have already happened!
Are you seriously saying that the Pawtucket School Department routinely ignores former homeschoolers' existing placements? Really?
Also, quinn, I'm going to assume you have good intentions, but you're being awfully condescending. Do you really think parents wouldn't have done a *lot* of research and soul-searching before committing to any kind of unusual placement?
There's a century of research out there showing that some kids really do need placement with older intellectual peers. Particularly for the sake of healthy social development. (
For example.) Some kids are just too different from the norm to find peers just by seeking out a rich district or exam school. Unfortunately.
From my perspective as a parent, grade-skipping is only the "best of a bad bunch" of options...but then, that's kind of the definition of extreme special needs: Normal procedure doesn't work, and there are no perfect solutions, only acceptable compromises.
I'd go on, but the thing is,
this thread isn't about whether most kids should ever skip grades. It's about which RI school districts are willing to work with kids who have.
I appreciate the warning about the "tough environment" at Shea. That's the kind of info I'm looking for.
Can anyone suggest any other RI districts/high schools that might work with us?