While we wish you and your child a successful academic year, keep in mind that signs of learning difficulty are not always readily apparent. In such cases you will want to be closely attuned to your child. An obvious red flag that your child is not progressing in school could be poor academic exam grades or report cards, but grades do not always tell the full story. You should pay attention for the following signals either in school or at home:
If your child presents with any of these issues, speak with his teacher immediately to explore whether something deeper might be at play. If you suspect that your child might have a disability but are not sure, you should explore the idea of having a qualified professional conduct a comprehensive psychological assessment to better understand your child’s areas of strength and weakness.
In addition to the above, there are a number of broader policy considerations for the coming school year. Some parents might be wondering, How will the DOE's new push for inclusion affect their children. See:
http://www.schoolbook.org/2012/08/09/special-ed-reform-brings-city-more-in-line-with-national-trend/
Others might be wondering, What teachers' union reform can be expected and in what ways will that affect the quality of teaching in New York City's public schools? See:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/19/opinion/sunday/bruni-teachers-on-the-defensive.html?pagewanted=all
(For those interested in the movie referenced in the article above, Won't Back Down will be in theaters starting September 28, 2012.)
Best wishes for a successful 2012-2013 school year!