EARLY
CHILDHOOD PROGRAM
NACS offers early
childhood special education services for our students between the ages of 3-5 with disabilities.
Walk-in Speech and Language Services
A child, between the ages of 3-5
and living within the NACS district, may be referred for a speech and language
evaluation by their parent or by First Steps. If deemed appropriate, an evaluation will be
conducted to determine if speech and language therapy is needed for the child to access his or her education.
This service provides articulation
and/or language therapy, to qualifying children, on a scheduled basis by a NACS Speech
Language Pathologist. This service is for children demonstrating articulation substitutions
and errors that are impacting their ability to be understood or communicate
effectively with those around them, and/or for children who are unable to
understand or use language to successfully express their wants and needs.
A
parent may contact the NACS special education office at 260-637-7168 to inquire
about this service.
Developmental Preschool Classrooms
A child, between the ages 3-5
and living within the NACS district, may be referred for an evaluation by their parent or
by First Steps for possible placement in one of our developmental
preschool classrooms. If deemed appropriate, an evaluation will be conducted to
determine if the child demonstrates a moderate delay in two of the five areas
assessed or a significant delay in one of the areas assessed. The five areas evaluated include speech and
language, fine and gross motor, cognitive, social/emotional areas, and adaptive
functions. If a child demonstrates
qualifying delays and areas of concern that cannot be met in a community
preschool, he or she could be recommended to attend the NACS developmental
preschool. Children attending our developmental preschool must be eligible for special education services through an evaluation and subsequent IEP.
The developmental preschool addresses areas of need in a highly structured environment, led by
a licensed special education preschool teacher and paraprofessional(s.) The students are provided with a fun and nurturing
preschool experience that addresses communication, self-help skills, social interaction skills with peers and adults, behaviors associated with school routines, as
well as exposure to early pre-academic skills. If a student is found eligible and he or she demonstrates a need that may not be met within the classroom setting, speech therapy, physical therapy, and
occupational therapy may also be provided while the student attends the
developmental preschool.
A parent may contact the NACS special education
office at 260-637-7168 to inquire about this program.
FAQs
- EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM
How is this preschool different
from community preschool?
This program is a developmental preschool that supports students who are eligible for special education services and supports. These children have needs that require specially designed instruction and related services in order to access their education
successfully. A child must qualify through an evaluation process to
receive these services.
Is there a cost to attend the
developmental preschool?
Currently, there is no fee for attending the developmental
preschool. Teachers may request some school supplies and community snacks
to be provided when attending the program.
Is transportation provided?
Transportation is provided to and from the preschool program on a
bus, from within the district lines. Only preschool students ride this bus, and special safety harnesses approved for bus transportation are used to support the safety of our young students during transit.
What days/times is the developmental
preschool in session?
The developmental preschool offers a 3-hour AM or 3-hour PM
session Monday through Thursday at Cedar Canyon Elementary and Hickory Center
Elementary. The number of days, and the AM or PM session, is determined by the
case conference committee based on the age and needs of the
student.
Can peer buddies attend the preschool program?
Yes, we are always looking for appropriate peer buddies to join our preschool classrooms. Peer buddies should be at least 4 years old and have no developmental, speech/language, or social-behavioral concerns. Peer buddy placement is not guaranteed. Currently, transportation is not provided for peer buddies and is the responsibility of the parent.