SCHOOL READINESS PRESCHOOL SERVICES STATE HEAD START Presented

SCHOOL READINESS & PRESCHOOL SERVICES (STATE & HEAD START) Presented by Florence Costamagna, Director

2 LUSD State & Head Start Preschool Programs • Three funding streams fund the preschools: • CA Department of Education • Title I • U. S. Office of Head Start • Programs are funded with grant funding and have eligibility requirements • Serve children 3 -5 years old, before Kindergarten eligibility • Preschools follow the district’s Modified Traditional calendar

State Preschool Program Head Start Preschool Program • Eligibility is based on family size and income • Eligibility is based on family size, income and family criteria • 3 hour program • 3. 5 hour • 15 classrooms • 26 classrooms • 6% of students have IEP’s • 11% of students have IEP’s • Current Enrollment: 303 • Current Enrollment: 317

State Preschool & Head Start Locations 4 Beckman (1 S, 1 HS) Clairmont(2 S, 2 HS) Creekside (2 S, 2 HS) Heritage (1 S, 3 HS) Lawrence (3 S, 1 HS) Live Oak (2 S) Oakwood (2 S, 2 HS) Parklane (3 S, 2 HS) Wagner-Holt (1 S, 1 HS) Washington (2 S) Academy (2 HS) Westwood (4 S) Lincoln Tech Plaza Robles (2 HS) All Classrooms are licensed by the Department of Social Services Continued funding is dependent on all areas of compliance specific to the funding source

Preschool Benefits 5 q Early Preparation for school success q Advantages to low income students & English Learners q Quality programs and prepared teachers q Instruction program designed to promote developmentally appropriate skills

6 q LUSD State & Head Start Preschool Programs Services Promote school readiness of children ages 3 t 0 5 years old q Early learning opportunities: home to school q Health: good habits, health services, etc. q Family well-being: family support services

Head Start & State Preschool Performance Standards/Funding Terms 7 q Examples of performance standards and funding terms include: mandates of completion of child development assessments Ø site and district-level parent committees Ø teacher to Child ratios Ø research-based curriculum Ø manage and maintain fiscal accountability Ø

Department of Social Services (Licensing) Citations from: CA Code of Regulations, Title 22, Division 6. Licensing of Community Care Facilities 8 Examples of licensing provisions: Ø Room and yard size (Room 101238. 3. Yard 101238. 2) Ø Health & Safety Standards (various) Ø Adult-Child Ratios (101216. 3) Ø Record-keeping (101212) Ø Monitoring visits (101201)(a)(b)

SPECIAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT (PRESCHOOL SERVICES) Presented by Jonathon Martin, SELPA Director

LUSD Sp. Ed Preschool at a Glance 10 The population of preschool-aged students with disabilities has steadily increased each year The national incidence of Autism Spectrum Disorder is 1: 68 Nearly 80% of the students referred to the preschool assessment teams for a comprehensive evaluation are referred due to a suspected ASD. Preschool Programs have been added to LUSD school sites each year to accommodate the increase of preschool children with disabilities

Special Education Eligibility 11 Children can be eligible for special education services in the following disability areas: 1. Autism 2. Deaf-Blind 3. Deafness 4. Hearing Impairment 5. Emotional Disturbance 6. Mental Retardation 7. Multiple Disabilities 8. Orthopedic Impairment 9. Other Health Impairment 10. Specific Learning Disability 11. Speech and Language Impairment 12. Traumatic Brain Injury 13. Visual Impairment.

12 q Spec. Ed. Preschool Programs: LUSD operates 24 Preschool Special Education Programs These programs are designed to serve students who have a disability and require specialized instruction. Least Restrictive Environment mandate of “Students to be educated with their typical peers to the greatest extent possible. ” IDEA

Spec. Ed. Preschool Programs within LUSD 13 Students with disabilities are being served within: Ø General Education Preschool Classrooms Ø DIS Services (ie. speech, OT, APE) Ø Special Day Classes for students with Mild/Moderate Disabilities Ø Special Day Classes for students with Moderate/Severe Disabilities Ø Special Day Classes for students with Intensive Structure needs Ø Special Day Classes for students with Hearing Impairments

14 Spec. Ed. Preschool Programs within LUSD 8 Special Day Class Programs serving children with Mild-Moderate Disabilities Ø Ø Ø Clairmont (2) Lawrence (2) Nichols (1) Wagner Holt (1) Washington (1) Woodbridge (1)

15 Spec. Ed. Preschool Programs within LUSD q 3 Special Day Class Programs serving children with Moderate-Severe Disabilities Ø Nichols (1) Ø Wagner Holt (1) Ø Washington (1)

Spec. Ed. Preschool Programs within LUSD 16 q 10 Intensive Structured Preschool Autism Programs serving approximately 110 students ages 3 -5 yrs Ø Ø Ø Ø Beckman (1) Nichols (1) Lawrence (2) Live Oak (1) Parklane (2) Clairmont (1) Creekside (1) Westwood (1)

17 Spec. Ed. Preschool Programs within LUSD q 1 Phonology Program serving preschool children with severe phonological processing challenges Ø Nichols (1)

18 Spec. Ed. Preschool Programs within LUSD q 1 Deaf/Hard of Hearing Preschool Program Ø Larson (1)

19 Spec. Ed. Preschool Programs within LUSD q Speech/Language Therapy serving preschool children with Speech and Language delays Ø All Elementary School Sites Ø Dorothy Mahin School

Mainstreaming & Full Inclusion 20 q Mainstreaming May provide a part day general education experience for special needs students ü q Full Inclusion Decided through the IEP process ü Students receive a full day experience along side general education students ü Currently 7 students in full inclusion State Preschool classroom at Clairmont along side 17 general educations students ü

Full Inclusion Classroom Model 21 q q Special Education Students fully included in the State Preschool instructional environment One classroom supported by 2 preschool teachers and three para-educators serving 24 students (7 Special Ed. & 17 State Preschool Students) State and Special Education Preschool teachers collaborate and co-teach (lesson planning, instructional delivery, etc. ) All students participate in all activities (social, educational, etc. ) Student IEP goals and objectives are addressed throughout the day by both teachers

22 Other Spec. Ed. Preschool Program Options At times, a child’s needs will not be able to be met within our school-based programs/services. These children are being served outside of LUSD boundaries or at home due to their unique needs: Non Public Agencies (serving children with ASD) Non Public Schools (serving children with severe behavior an emotional challenges) Home Instruction (serving children who are not released to attend school due to their health)

23 Areas to Address and Next Steps Full Inclusion Model Ø Identify program needs Ø Clearly articulated written plan and procedures Ø On-going training for staff (teachers, para, admin. ) Ø Designated responsibilities (District Departments) Ø Parent Education Ø Include staff input in planning process Mainstreaming Ø Identity additional opportunities for mainstreaming for non-full inclusion students Ø Clearly articulated procedures/expectations Ø On-going training for staff (teachers, para, admin. )

Questions? 24