schools

called Young 5's and Woodlawn, the charter school we are trying to get him in, to find out about assessments and dates and what-have-you.

So, for young five's we would need to go down to the elementary school (Brendel) and set up a "3 light assessment" for him and fill out paper work, marking (if we want young 5's) young 5's as our first choice and kindergarten as our 2nd.  This would hold him a kindergarten spot if he is unable to go to young five's.  Children with birthdays between Sept 1st and Dec 1st are placed in young 5's first and then the other kids.  If the classes fill up then David would be bumped to kindergarten.

Woodlawn:  I called and they said that they do an informal assessment for kindergarten--which I think can be interpreted  as "really nothing."  I asked when we would know if he is actually accepted.  She said that they are allowed 22 kids per class.  If more kids than that apply, a lottery is done.  However, she said that she doesn't think that they have ever had to do a lottery.  It would be pretty unheard of if they did.  So, David is basically in, but they cannot say that just in case they get a flood of applications.

Technically we can not be sure if he is "in" until after Kindergarten Roundup which is at the end of the month.  So, if he is not, we would immediately have to go to Brendel and do all that paper work crap, because these schools fill up quick.  Or I guess we could do all of that stuff now just to get his place held just in case.

So, I think our first choice is still Woodlawn.  According to the "brochure" they teach the kids phonics which I feel very strongly about.  And from what I have heard Brendel does "sight words."  I believe learning to read/write based on "sight" is a terrible way to teach and is the cause for so much illiteracy, because children are not taught to "sound it out."

Dave and I will talk more about it later today.