Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Another Law?

When I tell people that our school district told us they would separate our twins in preschool without our consent, people are shocked. Most people just assume that parents will be included in any decision regarding their children.

Given the number of people we talk to about flexible placement of their multiples, it is clear that too many elementary schools still think twins should be separated. Why? It's a mystery to us as all the research points to a need for flexible placement.

We know that not all parents want to keep their children together. In our school district, most of the parents want their children in separate classes. We felt strongly that our children would benefit from being together. And, that's the point of our effort, really. Parents should be able to work with the schools to decide what is best.

You might be surprised to learn that we do have a resolution in Illinois. The problem is either it is ignored or school districts ignore it. And, let's face it, a resolution is nice, but it doesn't have any teeth. A law means the school district needs to follow the rules or face the consequences.

What's funny about all this is that having a flexible placement policy costs schools nothing. It's simply a meeting with parents and the principal to determine the best course of action. Even in these difficult economic times, a meeting is free, yet the outcome could make a difference between a child's success in school and his/her difficulties.

We invite you to join us in our effort to educate and legislate. Tell us your story and we'll try to help each other do what is best for our children's educations.