Apple Montessori School of Kinnelon

Review: My daughter was not allowed to finish out the school year 2013 at the school. We were told that we could no longer stay because she could not keep up with the work. Apple Montessori's policy is that children learn at their own pace. They made me have her tested, which I did. They did not agree with the testing and wanted to retain her. The testing doctor said that she should not be retained and that she needed continued extra support. Montessori could not give her 5 days only 3 days of extra support. I said I would get a tutor for the other days. I did not want to move her with only 2 months of schooling left. The Head of the School, Mrs. [redacted], said I had to. She put her back in Kindergarten classes back in January. I paid for the whole year for first grade. I said I had no problem with her being in the kindergarten reading group because she had reading issues, but I did not want her to be in kindergarten. That is when they insisted I get her tested on my own. I did and in February I told them to move her back into first grade. Mrs. [redacted] refused. Finally after much back and forth she said I had to keep her back in kindergarten or remove her from the school. I tried numerous times to contact someone above Mrs. [redacted] and no one ever returned my phone calls. Against my knowledge, Mrs. [redacted] put in for a refund for May and June when I never agreed to leave. She also took it upon herself to call the [redacted] School System and find out if they would take my child in their first grade program. I did not feel it was in the best interest to move her out of a school that she has been in since the age of 2 with only 2 months to go. What benefit would she get from that. I tried calling the "owners" but was told I had to leave a message for them and they would refer the message. When I checked back I was told they got the message to call me. They don't know why they didn't return my calls. I sent 2 other children through the Montessori school system.Desired Settlement: I paid in advance for an entire year of first grade. I did not get that. I said from the beginning that I did not want her held back and to repeat kindergarten. I kept stressing that Montessori's policy is a child "learns at their own pace". They have 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders all in the same class because they learn at their own pace. In Kindergarten, they are mixed with nursery and pre-k children. Every child moves ahead at their own pace. Some are ahead, some are behind. That's their policy... That is what I signed up for. I knew she needed extra help and I wanted her in a private small class environment not in a public school. Even though public school can offer 5 days of extra help it is not what I wanted. I paid for and wanted a private education. I was refunded for May and June. I feel that they moved her into kindergarten and I paid for first grade. She was moved for at least 4 - 5 months. I only got 2 months if that of 1st grade and should be refunded.