Wilmette District 39 offers a continuum of special education services to meet the unique educational needs of the three to five year old students with disabilities. The range of available services is designed in compliance with the federal and state guidelines supporting the least restrictive environment in which services can be provided.
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 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.
Identification Procedures
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 the District 39 Student Services office (847-256-2450, ext: 253). 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 nurse. The preschool screening is designed to identify developmental lags or areas of concern and is not a tool to determine eligibility for advanced placement in school. Further assessment in one or all of the domains may be indicated from the results of the screening.
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 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.
District 39 is responsible for providing services to preschool children who have been identified and received support through a birth to three early intervention agency or program. A transition plan is established between the early intervention agency and District 39 in order to provide appropriate services without interruption when the child turns three.
The Early Childhood Education team reviews records and meets with the family of the preschool child who has participated in Early Childhood Education services in another district and is transferring to District 39. After the family establishes district residency, the existing IEP is reviewed and implemented as written by the previous district. Further assessment and changes may be recommended at the initial IEP meeting.
Finally, a preschool child may be brought to the attention of the Early Childhood Education team by parent referral. Parents may contact the District 39 Student Services Department (847-256-2450) to discuss concerns and determine an appropriate response.
Early Childhood Education Service Options
Wilmette District #39 offers a continuum of special services to meet the unique needs of three to five year old children with identified disabilities while supporting least restrictive environment options. Program determination is made by the educational team, which includes the parents, in an Individualized Education Plan meeting. The appropriate level of support necessary to meet established goals and objectives is the primary consideration when determining placement.
Students exhibiting mild to moderate delays in speech and language skill development may participate in Itinerant Speech and Language Services. Itinerant services are provided at a district school by a certified Speech and Language Pathologist. The child is brought to the therapy sessions by their parent. Therapy is generally provided from thirty to one hundred twenty minutes weekly.
For students exhibiting difficulties across more than one developmental domain, several program options may be considered. District 39 offers classroom placements through the Inclusion Preschool Program, and through District 39 and North Suburban Special Education District (NSSED) Early Childhood Programs.
District 39 is piloting an Inclusion Preschool Program in cooperation with area preschools. Students are registered and participate in the preschool with typically developing peers. Support is provided to the child and preschool team by an early childhood educator. In addition, related services, such as speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy are provided at the preschool site.
The Early Childhood Programs (ECP) provide half-day or full-day classroom options for students exhibiting significant delays in more than one developmental domain. The early childhood classroom is a language rich environment. Students participating in an ECP class generally need and benefit from smaller class size and multiple related services. Related services may be integrated into classroom instruction, and goals and objectives are addressed by all classroom personnel.
Resources
- Additional questions or concerns about a child who is three, four or five years old and not in kindergarten may be directed to Mara Meyer, 256-2450.
- To register a child for a preschool screening, contact Julie Baumann at 256-2450, ext 6022.
- Concerns for a child under the age of three years should be directed to the NSSED Early Intervention Program, 291-7905.
