Many of my parents ask me this important question – so much so, that I thought it would make
the perfect post.

“Kerri, what questions should I be asking my child’s school?”

I have firsthand experience teaching special-needs kids at various schools in NYC. I understand
what kids need to be successful in the school setting, and I also understand the anxiety that
parents feel when sending their preschoolers off to school – especially if it’s the first time!

Below are questions that I recommend asking your child’s teacher/school. These include
questions to ask if your child is transitioning into CPSE (Committee on Preschool Special
Education), or if you are simply evaluating preschool choices. You are your child’s advocate, so
you want to learn as much as you possibly can and make sure that your questions and
concerns are addressed.

General school questions:
How many kids are in the classroom?
How many teachers?
Is my child’s teacher a certified teacher?
Is there a music teacher at the school?
Is there a nurse on staff?
Will they have gym time?
Is there a class list so parents can arrange for playdates outside of school?
Do the kids get to be “helpers” in the classroom – for example, weather watcher, line leader, etc?
What will my child’s day look like? Can you give an example?
Does the room have a “quiet area” that my child can go to if they get overwhelmed?
How is Social Emotional Learning incorporated into the curriculum?
How do you recommend handling separation anxiety at the start of the school year?
Can my child visit the classroom and meet the teacher prior to the first day of school?
Are snacks/lunch provided?
How often will we discuss my child’s progress? Will there be parent-teacher conferences?

Bus questions:
Is there a bus matron?
Who greets the kids when they arrive at school and makes sure they know where to go?
Who walks them back to the bus after school and makes sure they get on the right one?

Communication questions:
Will the teacher reach out to new families prior to the first day of school?
How will I know how my child did during the day? Who will communicate with me?
Is there a “communication notebook” in my child’s backpack that will go back and forth to let me
know how his or her day went?
I would like to know what my child is learning during the day so I can carry over the material
learned in class. How often will this information be provided to me?
If there are concerns about my child’s behavior at school, will I be notified?

Potty Training/Accidents:
What if my child is not potty trained yet – can the school change diapers?
Will I be called if there is an accident?
Should I send in a change of clothes?
Is the bathroom connected to the classroom or is it down the hallway?
Are there set bathroom break times throughout the school day?

What I did as a teacher was have each family bring in a shoebox, and decorate it with stickers
and pictures. This was a great way to get the kids excited about their first day of school! Inside
the shoebox was a change of clothes, a few pictures of the family to help with separation
anxiety, a comfort item, etc.

IEP/Services:
How do you address his/her IEP goals?
Do you break kids into small groups for group instruction?
Will he be pulled out for services, or will services be push-in?
How often will goals be updated?
Can parent training be included as a goal in the IEP? (Parent training can be provided but
needs to be part of the IEP)
My concern is social skills – will there be an adult to help facilitate age-appropriate play skills?
How is problematic behavior handled?
Does your school have a Social Worker I can connect with?

These questions will give you a good understanding of the school. However, make sure that you
are also listening to your gut. As parents, you know your child better than anybody. You know
what type of setting will make them feel comfortable and safe, and what type of environment
they will thrive in. Remember that you are advocating for your child. Your presence and voice
will help the teachers to understand your child’s needs, and will help your child thrive
academically, socially, and developmentally!