Visitors focus on early childhood
Nancy Horst, Special to the Gazette
Originally published 02:43 p.m., October 3, 2008
Updated 02:42 p.m., October 3, 2008
Emporia’s state legislative delegation got a first-hand look this week at the early childhood services offered by the Emporia Public Schools. Representatives Don Hill and Peggy Mast and Senator Jim Barnett were guests Tuesday at Maynard Early Childhood Center.
Teachers in the Flint Hills Infant-Toddler Network and the 3- and 4-year-old early childhood program talked about the services provided for children and families, how the services are funded, and the educational benefits for the children. After the program, legislators had time to talk with teachers individually and visit classrooms.
The preschool program for 3- and 4-year-old children currently has 244 students enrolled, according to Diana Jones, early childhood education director for the district. The school has seven classrooms with morning and afternoon sessions.
The program is funded through a combination of district at-risk funds, special education funds and a Migrant Even Start Family Literacy Grant. Students must be receiving special education services or meet one of seven “at-risk” criteria to enroll. The funding sources also require that a portion of the students are “typical peers,” children who are language and behavior models for other students.
Elizabeth McCoy, director of the Flint Hills Special Education Cooperative, said the early childhood program at Maynard helps prepare approximately 70 percent of Emporia’s future kindergartners.
The Infant-Toddler Network serves children with developmental delays or disabilities from birth to age 3, usually working with the children and parents in the home. Some of the services include assistive technology, early childhood education, family service coordination, hearing and vision, nursing and nutrition, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech-language pathology and social work.
The Infant-toddler Team is headquartered at Maynard Early Childhood Center and they serve families in Lyon and surrounding counties. Services are provided at no cost to families and programs are funded through local, state and federal sources through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
emporia4life (anonymous) says...
What portion of the program must be typical peers? I know it is a very small portion.
October 3, 2008 at 8:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )