Developmental Preschool
Philosophy
Port Angeles Special Services’ staff members consider providing appropriate services and educational opportunities to the children of the district as their primary responsibility.
Each student’s educational needs are unique. Those specific individual needs which are more extensive than can be met by the regular program may be provided for by the Special Services programs.
Special Services programs are a supplement to, not a replacement for, the regular school program.
Developmental Preschool
The Port Angeles School District developmental pre-school programs are located at Hamilton Elementary School, 1822 West Seventh Street, and Jefferson Elementary School, 218 East Twelfth Street. Each program serves children between the ages of three and six years who have special needs.
These programs includes children who are developmentally delayed in one or more of the following areas:
- cognitive skills
- communication skills
- fine and/or gross motor skills
- adaptive skills
- and/or social/emotional skills
We serve children with other disabilities such as:
- visual impairment/blindness
- hearing impairment/deafness
We serve children with significant behavioral and social communication difficulties through an Intensive Early Intervention Component (IEIP).
A transition meeting is held each spring for children who are age eligible for kindergarten in the fall.
A number of different recommendations may be made based on the needs of the student:
- Another year in the preschool program
- Intensive resource support
- Kindergarten placement at the home school with resource room support, or
- Kindergarten placement
It is imperative that all concerned parties participate in the decision making process. The home school kindergarten teacher will be invited to this meeting, as well as special education teachers who might be serving the student.
If you have questions about the programs, please contact Amy Lawrence, Hamilton pre-school teacher at 360.565.1681 or Margi Ahlgren, Jefferson pre-school teacher at 360.565.1921.