CRESC’s Early Childhood Program provides special education services for preschoolers on behalf of the 22 member school districts in 6 counties. These services may begin at age three and continue until the child enters Kindergarten or turns 6 years of age. These services are provided at no cost to families. Preschool special education services may include speech therapy, specialized instruction, and occupational therapy, physical therapy, and behavior interventions. These services are offered in accordance with IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) of 1997. Preschool Disability Categories include: autism, deaf/blindness, traumatic brain injury, visually impaired, orthopedically impaired, non-categorical, hearing impaired, other health impaired, multiple disabilities, and speech/language impaired.
The initiation into our program begins with a screening. Screenings include short tests of vision, hearing, speech, and general development. The results provide a small sample of a child's skills. Screenings do not determine if a child needs special education, but rather aid in determining whether or not further evaluation is needed. If further evaluation is recommended, a meeting is scheduled with the child's parent to discuss the evaluation procedure and the program's services. After eligibility is determined, children are placed and served in our program at no cost to the parent until a child enters kindergarten or turns 6 years of age.
To request a screening for a child, complete this form and fax to our office at 870.578.6005
To request a behavior observation, complete this form: behavior intervention form