How do i get my son to skip a grade through summer break?

Question

i have a son that is in 7th grade. he is sopposed to be in 8th grade. i dont want him to be in 8th grade next year because he needs to be where he belongs, a freshmen (9th grade). so is there any possible way i can teach him his 8th grade year throughout the summer? and enroll him as a freshmen after summer break? if so i need to know how and what site they will allow me to teach his 8th grade year through summer. thanks

Answer 1

I think you should meet with his principal and/or vice principal, and ask if there are any online courses that he could take to let him skip a grade. Your son also has to want to work really hard all or most of his summer so he can skip a grade.

Answer 2

There aren't any laws pertaining to double-promotions. The school board only requires a letter of intent at the beginning of home school, an annual evaluation, and a letter of termination at the end of home school. The school board has too many students to thoroughly analyze each student.

Answer 3

I just answered your other question, where you gave more details about this.

Since it's apparent your son has had either attendance issues, or behavioral issues with school, I highly doubt you, or anyone else, would be able to cram 9 months of work into 2.5 months.  Is it something he's even willing to do?  He'd have to spend a LOT of hours a day doing the work.  If it was an elementary grade, then it could be done, but middle school work is just too in-depth.

Will the "contract" the school made with your son even allow him to "advance" to the 9th grade?

Answer 4

Funny, I just had an IEP meeting for my Talented and Gifted son....he was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome.  The team wants him to skip eighth grade next year because he is so under-stimulated now.  They believe he shows low motivation and gets into trouble (makes "witty" remarks during class) because he is so bored.  They are worried if they don't do this to stimulate him, he will eventually drop out of high school, as many talented and gifted kids do.

According to other parents of gifted kids, there's not a lot you really need to worry about when skipping a middle school grade.  Many have found that it's generally a holding pattern as the kids are so focused on social issues, that little learning actually occurs.  One point made up at our meeting, though, was that while my son will be in Algebra next year, whether he is in 8th or 9th grade, at middle school, Algebra is where the "smart" math kids are, whereas in 9th grade, it's more of an average intellegence group.

I have also heard that the high school freshman teachers don't necessarily expect their students to have any "8th grade specific" knowledge or skills....if you child is a critical reader and articulate writer and knows a few things about general science and social studies topics, he should do OK.  

I know this doesn't specifically answer your question, but I just thought it interesting that we are today exploring the same issue...skipping our sons past 8th grade.

Answer 5

It's doubtful that a high school would accept a student who was in gr. 7 at the end of the previous school year. You could talk to the principal of the school he'd go to and see what would have to be done for it to happen. It might require summer courses rather than just allowing you to do it. 3 months to cover 9 months of material is not something most principals are going to expect a 'behind' student to be able to do.

Answer 6

Homeschooling is another option. Although I don't find it a realistic goal trying to "recover" a whole school year in 2 1/2 months; and unfortunately too much stress at this age may have him think he "failed" or  there is something wrong with him, when there is nothing wrong and he is ( I assume) a very smart guy. visit www.californiahomeschool.net for more information and to explore all your possibilities.