It is great that you are looking into schools before he starts kindergarten, and your search is narrowed to two choices.
You can speak to the director of special education and kindergarten teachers at each school to help you make your choice. Make appointments with each school so you can speak to teachers in person. Sense if they are amiable to meet with you and how they behave at the meeting; if the schools are willing to accommodate you, you can sense if they would be willing to accommodate your son. If the school will not meet with you, then you know that they will not meet with you for an IEP meeting.
Some questions to ask teachers:
1). How would your school accommodate my son’s IEP? What specifically would you do to make sure all of his needs are met?
2). Would my son be included in the general classroom? Would he receive all of his instruction in a separate resource room? Would a special education resource teacher pull him out for additional help in a resource room?
***It is preferable that your son receives instruction in the mainstream classroom. You want him to be educated in the least restrictive environment.***
3). Would there be a special education teacher or an instructional aid in his classroom?
4). Would your school form an IEP team and meet with me annually to renew his IEP?
5). How would the general classroom and resource teachers communicate my son’s progress in class to me?
Here are questions for you to consider in the long-term:
1). What are the special education programs, services, and inclusion policies in the middle school and high school of the district?
2). Does the school district have the funding to accommodate your son?
If you can, talk to other parents of children with special needs who attend these schools. Ask about their experiences with the district.
Education.com’s school finder may also provide information for your search:
http://www.education.com/schoolfinder/
I hope you find this information helpful, and you find the school that is right for you and your son.
Best wishes,
Hayley