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Early Childhood Education

Preschool Screening Information 2023-2024

Preschool Special Education

The Madison-Champaign Educational Service Center operates Preschool Special Education programming in both Madison and Champaign Counties. These programs are designed to meet the needs of children with disabilities, ages three through five, as required by the Individual with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA-2004).

Programs and services are offered to children who have been identified through an Evaluation Team Report (ETR) as having a documented deficit in one or more of the following areas:

  • Communication

  • Vision

  • Hearing

  • Gross & Fine Motor Skills

  • Social Emotional/Behavioral Functioning

  • Self-Help Skills

  • Cognitive Skills

A continuum of services is available ranging from itinerant services in the home or a child care environment to half day center-based services. Additional supportive services can include:

  • Speech therapy

  • Occupational Therapy

  • Adaptive Physical Education

  • Physical Therapy

  • Psychological Services

Specialized services for children diagnosed with autism (or whom benefit from additional supports) are also available in Champaign County. The specific services to be provided are specified in an Individualized Educational Program (IEP) which is developed for all students who have been identified as having a documented deficit. There is no program fee for students with disabilities. Services are provided in the least restrictive environment through innovative learning activities and environments that include young children both with and without disabilities. An adopted curriculum, The Creative Curriculum for Preschoolers, is in place that is aligned to the Early Learning Content Standards.

Programming for typically developing peers is also offered at all program locations. Early Childhood Education funding allows enrollment for income eligible 3 and 4 year old children and their families. A sliding scale fee schedule is in effect for this programming based on the family’s gross family income.

Services are currently available at Mechanicsburg Elementary in Mechanicsburg, Norwood Elementary School in West Jefferson, Urbana PK-8 in Urbana, and West Liberty-Salem Elementary in West Liberty.

Preschool Supervisor

Cathy Pappas
937.653.5214