Preschool Special Needs Program

A developmental evaluation of your child's language skills, fine and gross motor skills, cognitive ability, social/emotional skills, and adaptive skills is conducted. Parents are involved in the evaluation process. The preschool assessment will identify your child's strengths and weaknesses. Services and programs will be determined at a team meeting in which you will be a participant.

A certified preschool special educator or paraprofessional works with your child in the home setting.

 A certified special educator or paraprofessional may travel to childcare centers, Head Start centers, or other community settings to provide services to the child, consult with the staff, and/or modify curriculum or materials.

The child's program is provided in a special education preschool class. Classes are located at selected locations in Cherokee County.

Program staff works to ensure a smooth transition from Babies Can’t Wait to the CCSD Preschool Special Needs Program and from the Preschool Special Needs Program into kindergarten.

Our staff consists of psychologists, preschool assessment team members, special education preschool teachers, speech pathologists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists. Each child's assessment will determine which services are appropriate for his developmental needs, and the corresponding professionals will be working with him or her. Consultation from other disciplines is also available.

All services provided through the Preschool Special Needs Program are offered at no charge. Funding is provided through federal, state, and local sources.

If you answer yes to more than one of these questions below, your child could benefit from an assessment.

• Is my child's learning delayed, or does he seem to learn more slowly than other children?
• Does my child have trouble walking or using his arms?
• Does my child have trouble seeing?
• Does my child not talk or talk very little?
• Is my child difficult to understand when he speaks?
• Does my child often not respond when you talk to him or do I have to repeat things frequently?
• Does my child get upset easily, cry a lot, have temper tantrums, have sleeping problems, or have other behaviors that concern me?

CDC’s Developmental Milestones

To initiate the process please complete the Preschool Special Needs Referral Packet ( Printable forms Link found above).

You may request a referral packet to be mailed or emailed by contacting the Preschool Special Needs Office