Eligibility
Preschool
children are found eligible to participate in district
services through an identification and assessment process.
The assessment of preschool children focuses on the expectations
and growth of the preschool child, and the evaluation of
developmental skills, which are the foundation for academic
and social learning. The assessed skill areas relate to
academic
functioning and are divided into five developmental domains:
cognitive skills, fine and gross motor skills, self-help
skills, social skills, and speech and language skills. Screening
District
39 provides preschool screenings on a regular basis throughout
the school year. Three, four and five-year-old
children,
who have not entered kindergarten, may participate in the
district screening. The child must be registered for the screening
through Kathy Hughes in
the District 39 Student Services office (847-256-2450 ext.
6044). Screenings are free of charge. The screening process
provides basic
information about the child in the areas of cognitive, motor,
social, and
speech and language development. A vision and hearing screening
is also completed by a certified school nurse. The preschool
screening is designed to identify developmental lags or areas
of concern and is not a tool to determine kindergarten readiness
or eligibility for advanced placement in school. Further
assessment in one or all of the domains may be indicated from
the results
of the screening.
Evaluation
When
further assessment is indicated, parents are contacted and
a meeting is held to discuss concerns and determine appropriate
components of the evaluation. After permission to evaluate
is obtained, the district attempts to complete the assessment
as soon as possible. However, the district has sixty school
days to complete the assessment and meet with parents to discuss
results. If the child qualifies for special education services
as a result of the evaluation and team meeting, goals and
objectives are written. An Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
for providing services is developed, and program placement
is determined. The Individualized Education Plan is reviewed
on an annual basis, adjusted, and revised as necessary. |
