My son attended Village Charter K through 1st grade where his Aspergers was ignored. He is on the spectrum with autism. I had no idea, as I was clueless to the hallmarks of autism, and my son was high functioning. My son moved to Forestville School for second grade. Within two weeks I was invited to a meeting with the principal. She kindly explained he had autism, and ADD. Of course, I was stunned, and asked how sure she was. She told me she sat in the back of his class, and he stood out to her within 3 minutes. The school phycholigist met with him and confirmed his challenges. Ed is a FABULOUS resource. If it was this obvious to them, then Village Charter CHOSE to ignore the obvious to save money. He was enrolled in two special classes to help him with his learning. In third grade, the school hired a FULL TIME gal who specialized in his issues. She had special teaching techniques for ADD, and shadowed him in class, and on the playground to help with socialization skills. This went on for SIX months!! I was so impressed. I had also learned that the earlier the intervention, the better the chance of overcoming these issues. Twice a year I was in a meeting with all involved in his education-they did more than meet their obligation-their care from the heart was over the top!! Of course, I learned all I could regarding his challenges. Once I was up to speed on Aspergers, it was painfully obvious he was on the spectrum. I was able to look back at some of his body language when first in school, and it was a HUGE red flag. NO teacher could have missed it. I was livid he had lost two early years at Village Charter. What they did borders on criminal, and will affect him to some degree the rest of his life. They cost him that crucial early intervention chance. Why? MONEY!! It would have cost the school a significant amount of money to meet their LEGAL OBLIGATION to provide special learning. Forestville School continued to support him through 6th grade, at which time it was decided he was ready to drop special help. He just graduated 8th grade with all A's and B's and was #1 in science for the two 8th grade classes! He has friends, and passions. I thank the pros at Forestville school every day of my life!
MOST IMPORTANTLY this school rigorously enforces their no bullying policy-all schools claim to do this, but THIS school walks their talk on no bullying-and it is done with kindness turning the ugly behavior into a learning opportunity!! All the same applies to the new West County Charter, now 7th and 8th grade seperated from the elementary school! read more