Curriculum Concerns in New School

My son started third grade this year in a public school, as we can no longer afford to keep him in private school. I find that he is doing the same work as he did in first grade when he was in private school. How can I make sure that he will actually learn something new this year? -- Dissatisfied
Answer: The first few weeks of the school year involve a lot of review. This might be what has been happening at the new school. On the other hand, it's certainly possible that the curriculum at this school might not turn out to be as challenging as at the one he previously attended.
You need his teacher's answers to these questions: How is your son doing right now in the classroom? Does his work show that he has completely mastered the current curriculum? What is the teacher's assessment of his skills?
Find out also what the curriculum is going to be like during the rest of the year. Has he learned all this material previously? If so, he is going to need an enriched curriculum this year. Determine if the teacher will be able to provide it in the regular classroom or if your son should be moved up to the fourth grade for certain classes. Would skipping third grade at this school be an appropriate solution? All of these options should be discussed.
Besides talking to the teacher about your concerns, it is important to talk with your son about how he is doing in school. Try not to put words in his mouth about how challenging the previous school was as you discuss together how much he is learning this year.