What is the mandatory start age for students in Texas?

I wonder if your husband needs to speak with an attorney about getting full custody of his son, so you can keep him out of the bad environment he seems to be in. I'm not sure if posting your question on www.lawguru.com can help (it's a site where you can ask free legal questions) but it seems like it couldn't hurt, in addition to contacting all the local agencies like DCFS where he lives. Your efforts to help are commendable. Goodness knows kids don't ask to be born into difficult situations, but the boy and his dad are fortunate to have you trying to assist.

Hi....just an update. We are having a hard time getting any help with our problem. The school system in Iowa will not do testing for this little boy unless he will be attending school in Iowa. They would then test and evaluate his level, any disabilities he might have and set up a plan of action. The problem we have is the mother has custody in El Paso. El Paso school system says they have no record of him and would not if he has not ever attended school. They say he may be attending a private school to check those schools. There are hundreds of private schools which makes this impossible. The mother had told the father that he was attending a private school. The father called that school but he had not attended. It is evident that he has not been in school from his level of understanding and he also says he is not going to go to school. His comments "I don't want to go to school. Bullies are at school. They will hurt me." He is afraid of many things...any and all bugs, clowns, doctors, dentists and anything new. The list is almost endless. We have overcome some of these fears. Over the summer, I have figured out through conversations that he watches many inappropriate movies and an older step brother may be "scaring" him to control him. I do not believe that he is in a healthy atmosphere. ALSO...In my opinion, it is neglect when a child has not started school at his age especially when it is evident that no one has even been trying to introduce the basics to him. Most three year olds have a better understanding. We are helping him with his colors, numbers, shapes and some ABC's. He has made progress but not being teachers we have no idea if he has any learning disabilities or is just behind because he has not been introduced to this information. He, at times, has a very short attention span. We are trying to learn from fun and not force feed him so he will not be turned off. The father was told by a pediatrician he may be slightly autistic but needed to be tested. The doctor suggested the father should contact DHS or Child Protective Services in Texas. The father has called and left messages with the Attorney General's Office since they oversee this department. No one returns calls. The little boy returns to his mother in 10 days. The main problem is we do not know where to turn for the help that this little boy needs. Someone needs to oversee that he gets enrolled in school, has his doctor and dental appointments and is living in a healthy household. He was clean and fed so we know those areas are covered. I was thinking of helping dad write a letter listing his concerns for the child and sending copies to Child Protective Services, the Attorney General, the Police Department and the Public School System where he lives. Hopefully someone will follow through and not allow this little guy to fall through the cracks. Any other suggestions?

blond89, I think you might have only read the title of the post before you commented, without reading the details that followed....This situation isn't about a younger child where anyone has a choice, it's about an older boy whose parents didn't seem to know any better. Nobody is doubting he would have been better off if he started school earlier.

I am a teacher with the Head Start program in El Paso and I believe that children benefit more when they begin school at a younger age and research proves that children that start school (a quality school atmosphere- not a daycare) at three or four years old get better grades when they get older. I have a daughter who is 14 and she began Head Start at age three and she is still on the A/B honor roll and getting Commended on her TAKS tests. She is one of many that can prove the theory I stated above.