Early Childhood Special Education

Overview

The Early Childhood Special Education Program provides specific services for children with special needs in various public school and community settings. The program serves children ages 3 through kindergarten that have been determined, through an IEP team evaluation, to have an identified disability and meet the criteria to receive special education services. A child must qualify to receive these services.

A teacher working with children who are playing with blocks.

Goals

Our goal is for each child between the ages of 3 and 5 to experience a meaningful and inclusive early childhood education that addresses their individual needs determined by their IEP team. We implement quality special education services to children who qualify in a variety of natural environments, special education, and general educational settings.

Two of the service delivery models that are solely in the special education setting, within one of the KUSD school buildings, are the Early Learners program and the Speech Impact program.

Early Learners Program

The Early Learners program serves children who are three years old who have been identified as a child with a disability who requires early childhood services outlined in their Individualized Education Program (IEP). The Early Learners program provides services in a special education setting for two half-day sessions per week.

Speech Impact Program

The Speech Impact program serves children who are three years old that have an identified speech sound production need. Placement in this program is based on a formal special education evaluation. The Speech Impact program provides services in a special education setting for two half-day sessions per week.

Location for the Early Learners and Speech Impact Programs: 8518 22nd Ave. Kenosha, WI 53143

This location is the building site for the Ruth Harman Academy, the KUSD eSchool Program, and the Department of Special Education Early Childhood Services. The Early Learners and Speech Impact programs are not part of the Ruth Harman Academy Choice School.

4K Collaborative Classroom

For our children who are 4K eligible, and receive special education services as outlined in their IEP, there are different service delivery models. There are itinerant services and there are also services within a 4K collaborative classroom. The 4K collaborative classroom is an inclusive general education environment with a general education early childhood teacher, an early childhood special education teacher, and a classroom assistant. The 4K collaborative classrooms are located at several of the elementary schools but they are not located at each elementary site.

For more information contact:

Elisabeth Bischoff

Coordinator of Special Education & Student Support