Refferal Phone: 435-634-9487
Special Education Director Jim McKim jmckim@sped.washk12.org
Associate Director Karen Bess
Secretary Jan Stoddard (435) 673-3553 Ext. 221
Phone: 435-673-3553
Fax: 435-673-3216
Website: http://preschool.washk12.org/

121 W. Tabernacle
St. George, UT 84770

How the Early Childhood Special Education Program Works

The ECSE District Program is a special education program for children who have developmetnal delays.  All children within the program have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) with learning goals based on needs identified through formal testing.  The goals are guides to assist the staff in helping the child aquire skills that other children of their age already have learned.  Most children who participate in learning sessions have developmental delays in more than one area of development, and many children receive related services including communication, motor, behavior, hearing, and vision services.

Children may be Eligible for the ECSE District Program if they are:

  • Washington County Residents
  • Between three and five years old
  • Have a developmental delay or disability as determined through assessment meeting the criteria for one or more educational disabilities as defined by the Individuals with Disabiliites Act (IDEA)
  • Need special education services in order to make progress

Children are usually referred to the ECSE District Program directly by parents or through The Learning Center (TLC is an early intervention program that serves children ages 0-3 with developmental delays).  Parents usually call the ECSE Program and express the desire to have their child evaluated based on developmental concerns which may include social/emotional development, communication, learning, vision, hearing, motor, and self help skills.  ECSE Staff gathers information from the family regarding their concerns and fills out a Referral Document.  Based on the information documented in the Referral, ECSE Staff are able to make recommendations for areas to evaluate.

An appointment is scheduled for the parents to bring their child in for an evaluation.  At the first scheduled appointment, ECSE Staff provide each family with a copy of the Parent Procedural Safeguards for Special Education in Utah.  After the parents sign consent for evalutation, the assessment may begin.

After all areas of concern have been evaluated, an Eligibilty Meeting is held to review assessment results and to help determine if the child qualifies for services.  The Eligibility Meeting consists of Team of individuals including the Parents, a Teacher, the Preschool Coordinator, and any involved Related Service Providers (speech, motor, USDB, nurse, transportation, autism specialist, etc.).  This team helps to determine eligibility.

If the child qualifies for services, an Individualized Education Program (IEP) is developed which includes documentation of present levels of academic achievement and functional performance, goals to be addressed by program staff, and service delivery patterns (what services and how often).

Service Overview

Classroom: There are 3 different levels of classroom services.  As students make progress towards goals and classroom behavior, they are transitioned to a higher level classroom.  Some of the key behaviors we monitor for classroom changes include:  Attention, Participation, Behavior, and Receptive Communication (understanding language).  As students progress through each level, they are expected to improve in these areas and show more independence in learing.

Speech and Language Services: Services for children with delays in Receptive Language (understanding of language) and/or Expressive Language (child’s ability to produce speech).  Children are assessed using standardized assessments by a Speech and Language Pathologist to help the IEP team determine eligibility.  Communication services may be delivered by the Speech and Language Pathologist, by the Classroom Teacher or Para-Educators, or by the Speech and Language Para-Educator.

Motor Services:

  • Fine Motor: Children who have delays in their small muscle movements.  Children are assessed using standardized assessments by an Occupational Therapist to help the IEP team determine eligibility.  Motor services may be delivered by the Classroom Teacher or Para-Educators, or by the Motor Para-Educator under the direction of the Occupational Therapist.
  • Gross Motor: Children with delays in their large muscle movements.  Children are assessed using standardized assessments by the district Physical Therapist to help the IEP team determine eligibility.  Motor services may be delivered by the Classroom Teacher or Para-Educators, or by the Motor Para-Educator under the direction of the Physical Therapist.

Behavioral Services: Behavior Services are provided for children with delays in Social and/or Emotional Development.  Children are assessed using standardized assessments and behavioral observations by a Special Education Teacher to help the IEP team determine eligibility.  Behavioral services are provided within the classroom environment by the Special Education Teacher and Para-Educators.

Vision and/or Hearing Services: Services for children with Vision and/or Hearing impairments.  Children are assessed by USDB (Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind) Staff to help the IEP team determine eligibility.  Services are provided by USDB Staff.

Transportation:  Transportation may be provided to students attending the classroom sessions if parents are unable to transport the child to and from school.

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