The special education preschool program is based on the premise that individuals with disabilities expected to function within a typical world, must first learn to do so when they are children.  We also believe that typically-developing individuals must develop appreciation and acceptance of individual differences in all people.

The program strives to “live” this philosophy by its commitment to providing services to children with disabilities and typically developing preschoolers in an integrated setting.  This philosophy incorporates the physical, instructional and social integration of all youngsters as the fundamental goal of the program.

The Berlin School System offers a variety of services and programs for preschool children who are 3.0 years old or older. Our special education preschool program provides a full continuum of services ranging from itinerant therapies to attendance in one of our classrooms. Currently our preschool classrooms are housed at Willard School and student participation can range from three days to five days per week depending on individual needs. Our classroom programs provide a typical preschool curriculum as well as individualized instruction and therapies including physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech/language therapy and behavioral/psychological support. Our preschool classes provide students with an integrated setting with typically developing peers.

Our preschool classrooms utilize the principles of the Connecticut Early Learning and Development Standards (CT ELDS). Our classrooms provide students with opportunities for rich language experiences, academic skill development, gross and fine motor development, and facilitated play experiences that are developmentally appropriate. In addition, activities that encourage development of social and peer interaction skills as well as adaptive/self-help skills are embedded in all aspects of the day.

Dependent on an individual youngster’s needs and developmental strengths and weaknesses, an Individual Education Plan (IEP) is developed through the Planning and Placement Team (PPT) process. Parents are considered an integral member of the team and are encouraged to work with school staff to support student learning. A student’s IEP becomes the framework through which educational and therapeutic supports, accommodations, and modifications are developed in order to work toward the acquisition of goals and objectives for each child. These supports may include individualized and/or group speech/language, physical or occupational therapy, and direct teaching in one-to-one or small group settings. In addition, school staff has been trained in the principles and use of Applied Behavioral Analysis for our most challenging students.

Children become eligible to participate in our preschool programs in several different ways. The Berlin Schools offers a yearly town-wide preschool screening program. Through this screening process children who are identified as at risk for learning difficulties can be referred to the Planning and Placement Team (PPT) and may participate in a more individualized assessment process with school staff. Recommendations from this assessment may include participation in one of our preschool offerings. In addition to this process, parents can also refer their preschooler to the PPT at any time should they have concerns. Lastly, a number of our preschoolers have been identified with special needs before their third birthday through the Birth-to-Three System and may be referred to the public school as they approach their third birthday. Once a student is identified as eligible for special education services programming then is developed that includes special transportation.

Each of our preschool programs includes a number of typically developing peer models. Our peer models are chosen through a lottery system. Parents who wish to have their children be part of the lottery indicate their interest at the time of preschool screening in January. Children are chosen late in the spring before the start of the next school year and parents are notified by telephone. Transportation to and from school for our peer models is not provided by the school system at this time.