Finding the Right Camp for A First-Timer
February 23, 2026
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Plan NOW for the New School Year
With summer winding down, it’s natural for kids to begin thinking about the new school year—some with anticipation and others with dread. Regardless of which end of the spectrum your child with learning issues tends toward, you’d be wise to use these last few weeks of vacation to make sure they have the best chance to succeed when the opening bell rings this fall.
Smooth the Transition
For some, that might entail nothing more than making sure the transition to a new school, higher grade, or different teachers goes smoothly. In all of those cases, you can allay your young child’s fears by planning a school visit and meeting the teacher before school starts.
The same applies to older children, stepping up from elementary to middle school. In many school districts, step-up transition planning is built into the school calendar, where incoming middle-schoolers tour the school as a group and are oriented by administrators and teachers. If your system doesn’t offer a formal orientation, you and your child can still plan a pre-school walk-through and teacher meetings, but you’ll have to make the arrangements yourself by working with the school.
Academic Advocacy
For children with learning issues, now is the ideal time to ensure that everything is in place to address your child’s academic concerns. Attorney Jeffrey Forte at Forte Law Group suggests taking the following measures before the new school year begins:
- Review your child’s IEP or 504 Plan to make sure that it’s up-to-date and reflects their current needs.
- Request a team meeting before school starts if changes are needed.
- Communicate early with your school district about goals, services, and supports.
- Know your rights—if your child was denied services, evaluations, or support last year, you may be entitled to remedies.
The time and effort you put into preparing for the new school year now can make the difference for every child, but it’s particularly important to ensure that your child with learning differences starts the school year off strong.