for Young Children with Special Needs

for Young Children with Special Needs

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!

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 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

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 2

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Itinerant Services Parents bring their child to their neighborhood school to receive services such as speech and language therapy. 3- and 4-year-olds 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. 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, 5 days a week 3- to 5-year-olds 4

CITYWIDE PRESCHOOL SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS 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 and kindergarten students 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 5

CITYWIDE PRESCHOOL SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS (continued) 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 Pre-k and kindergarten students 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 Pre-k and kindergarten students 3-year-olds to kindergarten students with multiple disabilities and medical needs 6

Early Therapeutic Environment (ETE) 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 7

CITYWIDE PRESCHOOL SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS (continued) Early Learning Environment Autism (ELE-A) This program offers a smaller separate class for young children with autism or related communication, social and behavioral needs. Routines- and behavioral-based instruction, and high levels of visual supports 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 Pre-k and kindergarten students 8

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 hearing impaired 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 Pre-k and kindergarten students with hearing aids/cochlear implants Preschool Adaptive Curriculum Environment (PACE) 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 3-year-olds to kindergarten students with multiple disabilities and medical needs 3- and 4-year-olds, pre-k and kindergarten students who experience little benefit from hearing aids/cochlear implants 9

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 21202 Phone: 443.642.3990 Email: EarlyLearningPrograms@bcps.k12.md.us