EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS. for Young Children with Special Needs

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1 EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS for Young Children with Special Needs

2 WELCOME to Baltimore City Public Schools! As a parent or guardian, you have an essential role to play as your child s first teacher. And, as a parent or guardian of a young child with special needs, you are also an important advocate for your child s education. City Schools is your partner as you and your family start on this journey of learning and growth with your child. This booklet describes the special education programs available through City Schools for infants to 5-year-olds. There are many options, with programs designed for children with a range of developmental, language, behavioral or medical requirements. Browse these pages to find out about the programs available to meet your child s needs. We look forward to including you and your family in the great things that happen every day in City Schools classrooms!

3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Programs for Young Children with... Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs) or Extended IFSPs 2 Services in the Natural Environment 2 Parent and Infant Early Stimulation 2 Bright and Ready 2 Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) 4 Itinerant Services 4 Services at Head Start 4 Services in Pre-kindergarten or Kindergarten 4 Citywide Preschool Special Education Programs 5

4 Programs for Children with Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs) or Extended IFSPs 2 Services in the Natural Environment (IFSP and Extended IFSP) Working with the Baltimore City Health Department and in collaboration with families, City Schools provides special instruction and related services in the home or at childcare centers, Head Start or pre-k. Instruction focuses on meeting goals described in each child s IFSP. Infants to 4-/5-year-olds (for the Extended IFSP, services run until the beginning of the school year following the school year in which the child turns 4) Parent and Infant Early Stimulation (IFSP) The family-focused Parent and Infant Early Stimulation (PIES) program takes place within a structured classroom environment. Parents attend with their children, who are supported in developing play, communication, social and adaptive skills. 1- to 3-year-olds (services run until the end of the school year in which the child turns 3) 2.5 hours once or twice per week, plus a home visit from the teacher each quarter Garrett Heights Elementary/Middle (9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 3:30 pm); John Eager Howard Elementary (8:30 to 11 a.m. and 12 to 2:30 p.m.) Bright and Ready (Extended IFSP) At this half-day program, a special educator, paraeducator and related service provider(s) work collaboratively with parents of participating children and staff at a library or children s museum. Goals and objectives for each child are embedded in activities that focus on learning by exploring, with particular emphasis on oral language and development of the senses and motor skills. 3- to 4-year-olds (services run until the end of the school year in which the child turns 4) 2.5 hours (10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.), once or twice per week Monday at the Enoch Pratt Free Library, Reisterstown Road branch; Wednesday at Port Discovery Children s Museum

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6 Programs for Children with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) Itinerant Services Parents bring their child to their neighborhood school to receive services such as speech and language therapy. 3- and 4-year-olds who are too young for pre-k Services at Head Start Children who attend Head Start receive services at their program sites. Children with more intensive needs can receive transportation to attend a half-day program at Head Start and a half-day program at City Schools. 3- to 5-year-olds Services in Pre-kindergarten or Kindergarten City Schools students in general education pre-k or kindergarten programs receive special instruction or related services during the school day. IEP goals and objectives become part of daily classroom routines and instruction. Services are provided in or outside the regular classroom, in accordance with each child s IEP. Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students Full day (start and end times vary by school), 5 days a week Most City Schools elementary schools 4

7 Citywide Preschool Special Education Programs Bright and Ready At this half-day program, a special educator, paraeducator and related service provider(s) work collaboratively with parents of participating children and staff at a library or children s museum. Goals and objectives for each child are embedded in activities that focus on learning by exploring, with particular emphasis on oral language and development of the senses and motor skills. 3- to 4-year-olds (services run until the end of the school year in which the child turns 4) 2.5 hours (10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.), once or twice per week Monday at the Enoch Pratt Free Library, Reisterstown Road branch; Wednesday at Port Discovery Children s Museum Promoting Engagement, Emotional Regulation and Social Skills (PEERS) For students with developmental delays who have needs in the areas of attention, emotional regulation and social skills, PEERS uses routines-based instruction, targets social skills and provides multiple opportunities to learn with the senses. The program, which benefits from a partnership with the Johns Hopkins University, is fully aligned with the City Schools pre-k curriculum and includes children with and without IEPs. Pre-k students Full day (8 a.m. to 2:40 p.m.), 5 days per week Lakewood Elementary Discover with Me Children with and without IEPs work together, learning in a rich environment with effective teaching strategies designed to help them meet developmental milestones. The curriculum focuses on developmentally appropriate skills of order, concentration, coordination and independence. 3- and 4-year-olds who are too young for pre-k 2.5 hours, 5 days per week Armistead Gardens Elementary/Middle (9 to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 3 p.m.), Callaway Elementary (11:55 a.m. to 2:25 p.m.), Garrett Heights Elementary/Middle (9 to 11:30 a.m.), The Historic Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Elementary (8 to 10:30 a.m.), Rognel Heights Elementary/Middle (7:45 to 10:15 a.m. and 11:50 a.m. to 2:20 p.m.), Thomas Johnson Elementary/Middle (8 to 10:30 a.m. and 11:50 a.m. to 2:20 p.m.) 5

8 Programs for Children with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) continued Citywide Preschool Special Education Programs (continued) 6 Let s Grow This program, for young children with autism or related communication, social and behavioral needs, was designed in collaboration with Kennedy Krieger Institute s Center for Autism and Related Disorders and is now supported by a partnership with the Johns Hopkins University. Children with and without IEPs experience age- and grade-appropriate instruction based on routines and behavior, high levels of visual supports and opportunities to use the senses. The program is fully aligned with the City Schools curriculum. 3- and 4-year-olds who are too young for pre-k 2.5 hours, 5 days per week Calverton Elementary/Middle (12:20 to 2:50 p.m.), Garrett Heights Elementary/Middle (1:20 to 3:50 p.m.), Moravia Park Elementary (9 to 11:30 a.m.), Westport Academy (8:45 to 11:15 a.m.) Pre-k and kindergarten students Full day, 5 days per week Furman L. Templeton Preparatory Academy (7:45 a.m. to 2:25 p.m.), Garrett Heights Elementary/Middle (9 a.m. to 3:40 p.m.), Heritage Early Learning Center (9 a.m. to 3:50 p.m.), Thomas Johnson Elementary/Middle (7:45 a.m. to 2:25 p.m.) Early Learning Environment Children with developmental delays and a need for more intensive special instruction receive that instruction within a grade-appropriate curriculum. The separate, highly structured, routines-based class incorporates learning through all the senses, with multiple opportunities to practice skills. 3- and 4-year-olds who are too young for pre-k 2.5 hours, 5 days per week Armistead Gardens Elementary/Middle (9 to 11:30 a.m.), Callaway Elementary (7:45 to 10:15 a.m.), The Historic Samuel Coleridge- Taylor Elementary (12:10 to 2:40 p.m.) Pre-k and kindergarten students Full day, 5 days per week Cherry Hill Elementary/Middle (8:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.), Dallas F. Nicholas, Sr., Elementary (8 a.m. to 2:40 p.m.), Liberty Elementary (8:45 a.m. to 3:25 p.m.), Walter P. Carter Elementary/Middle (9 a.m. to 3:40 p.m.) 3-year-olds to kindergarten students with multiple disabilities and medical needs Full day (9 a.m. to 3:50 p.m.), 5 days per week William S. Baer

9 Early Therapeutic Environment When a child s social, emotional or behavioral needs cannot be met in the general education setting, this program provides short- or long-term support. Instructional strategies within the grade-appropriate curriculum include specialized classwide behavior management, clear and consistent rules and routines, positive behavior supports, crisis intervention and therapeutic support from full-time clinical staff and behavior specialists. Pre-k and kindergarten students Short term, full day, 5 days per week Hilton Elementary (7:45 a.m. to 2:25 p.m.), Moravia Park Elementary (9 a.m. to 3:40 p.m.) Kindergarten students Long term, full day (9 a.m. to 3:40 p.m.), 5 days per week Sharp-Leadenhall Elementary 7

10 Programs for Children with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) continued Citywide Preschool Special Education Programs (continued) Early Learning Environment Autism This program offers a smaller separate class for young children with autism or related communication, social and behavioral needs. Routines- and behavioral-based instruction, high levels of visual supports and opportunities to use multiple senses are embedded throughout the day. Instruction, which is supported by a partnership with the Johns Hopkins University, is fully aligned with the grade-appropriate City Schools curriculum. 3- and 4-year-olds (who are too young for pre-k) 2.5 hours, 5 days per week Calverton Elementary/Middle (8 to 10:30 a.m.), Moravia Park Elementary (1:20 to 3:50 p.m.), Westport Academy (1:05 to 3:35 p.m.) Pre-k and kindergarten students Full day, 5 days per week Calverton Elementary/Middle (8 a.m. to 2:40 p.m.), Edgecombe Circle Elementary/Middle (7:45 a.m. to 2:25 p.m.), Heritage Early Learning Center (9 a.m. to 3:50 p.m.), John Eager Howard Elementary (8 a.m. to 2:40 p.m.), Westport Academy (8:45 a.m. to 3:25 p.m.) 8

11 Early Learning Environment Auditory/Oral This full-day program provides a language-rich environment, where children experience an academic curriculum while concentrating on communication and thinking skills. Teachers are specialists in working with hard-of-hearing children and make use of ear-level FM systems that help students develop speech, language and auditory skills. 3- and 4-year-olds (who are too young for pre-k) with hearing aids/cochlear implants Full day (8 a.m. to 2:40 p.m.), 5 days per week John Eager Howard Elementary Pre-k and kindergarten students with hearing aids/cochlear implants Full day (8 a.m. to 2:40 p.m.), 5 days per week Gwynns Falls Elementary 3- and 4-year-olds, pre-k and kindergarten students who experience little benefit from hearing aids/cochlear implants Full day (8 a.m. to 2:40 p.m.), 5 days per week Gwynns Falls Elementary, John Eager Howard Elementary Preschool Adaptive Curriculum Environment For children with global delays (including adaptive functioning), this separate class provides an intensive focus on communication and self-help skills, embedded in an ageappropriate curriculum. Teaching strategies include routinesbased instruction, high levels of visual support, scaffolding and multiple opportunities to practice skills. 3- and 4-year-olds (who are too young for pre-k), pre-k, and kindergarten students Full day (8 a.m. to 2:40 p.m.), 5 days per week Dallas F. Nicholas, Sr., Elementary 3-year-olds to kindergarten students with multiple disabilities and medical needs Full day (9 a.m. to 3:50 p.m.), 5 days per week William S. Baer 9

12 City Schools staff are pleased to answer questions about early learning programs. Please contact: Early Learning Programs, Birth through Five Baltimore City Public Schools 200 E. North Avenue, Room 308 Baltimore, MD Phone: