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I am the parent of a TAG child in Portland. When the TAG ACCESS alternative program began, I transferred him to that program. What I saw in the classroom before I transferred him was that teachers were overwhealmed. They saw a high achieving child and figured, "I don't need to worry about him." Their version of challenging him was to ask him to tutor the other students in math. Any work that he did at a higher level was the result of his own initiative or mine. For a third grader, deciding on his own to do more work with no encouragement or enthusiasm from a teacher is not very tempting. I have been happier with the ACCESS program, both on an academic challenge level and on a social support level. My son will be going to the ACCESS @ Grant high school program next year. I expect Grant could support his academic needs without the ACCESS program, but I really hope his being in the ACCESS community will support his social needs and provide the emotional support for his adjustment in the classes he will be taking with mostly Jr and Sr students.

posted 5 years, 3 months ago
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