What will the school do about these behavioral issues in kindergartener?

Question

My son whom has a mood disorder is starting kindergarten in a couple weeks. I am wondering if the schools will be able to handle him. I do not think they will be able to accomodate him. I requested an IEP, they did the testing, told me he did not seem to be delayed and they needed to get to know him so they would see how his disability effects his education before they can give him one. He does have a 504 plan in place for when school starts which includes a 1:1 aid, behavior intervention plan, therapeutic hold if necessary, a safe place, and meds.

I am wondering what they will do though when he hits, kicks, bites, licks, spits on teachers and kids? What will they do when he innapropriately touches little girls as he has been doing at preschool? (Children with early onset bipolar disorder are often hypersexual.) What if he tells teachers that he is going to touch them as he has said in preschool? What if he rages, cries, or is manic? What if he has anxiety issues and says his belly hurts, his stomach is sick?

Would they send him home? This would be the wrong thing to do because he would quickly learn that when he says these things Mommy will come get him and he would continue to say and do things to be able to come home. He does not want to go to kindergarten. He is depressed and anxious about this. I am worried about him too. Can somebody please answer these questions for me?

Like I mentioned he has the 504 plan in place, and will be reviewed for IEP eligibility in October. He is six years old so he has to be in school. Last year we delayed it until this year. Home schooling is not an option for us as I need to work full time, and dad is disabled. My son gets SSI for his mood disorder.

Answer 1

How about you relax. It is kindergarten. Not 9th grade. They can handle it. No one is or has a "perfect" child.

Answer 2

The school has a responsibility to keep your son and the other students (and staff) safe as well as provide an education for all students.  It is possible that if he becomes violent and threatens the safety of others he may be sent home at times.

Although this is not ideal, the school is not made for only one student, and it sounds as though they are providing him with as much support as possible - very few kids get a one on one assistant, especially with only a 504 and not an IEP.  It sounds as though the school is going to do all they can, but you need to realize that there are limits as to what they can do and handle and still take care of all the students.

If your son becomes uncontrollable or chronically disrupts class the school may want to consider a special class for children with severe behavioral issues, a special school, or an alternative educational program such as homebound, where the school provides a teacher to come to the house for a certain number of hours per week, or having him stay at school for only a few hours a day, gradually lengthening the time he's able to remain at school as his behavior becomes more controlled.

It may not be ideal to have him sent home, and I understand that you need to work, but you also have to understand that the school is capable of only so much, so unless you put him at a therapeutic day school, or therapeutic boarding school, you need to be prepared to come get him when the school calls.

Think about it - if your child wasn't having any behavior problems, and there was a child in his class who was disrupting his education and threatening his safety on a daily basis or several times a week, wouldn't you want him removed from your child's class?  

Answer 3

I think you should look into a therapeutic day school. It is possible the school district will help pay for it and you can use his SSI checks for that.

Does he go to a board certified pediatric psychiatrist? If not, why not? You could alternatively use his SSI checks to travel to one if there is not one in your locale.

His meds should be working a lot better than they seem to. You can't just rely on your pediatrician or family physician or a psychologist for this. He needs more specialized treatment than he's getting. He also needs a therapist, whether it is one who can visit him at school or whatever, to work on his behavior issues to augment the program you have him on at home. You do have him on a behavior system at home, right?

I agree the school is doing all they can possibly be expected to do, and if his behavior does not improve then I do believe your son belongs in a therapeutic day school that can focus on him and his behavior issues.

Best of luck to all of you.