Preschool Procedures

The following is the appropriate protocol for Speech and Language concerns regarding Head Start and State Preschoolers:

1. CST - Teacher will meet with parent and site CDP personnel to discuss the Speech and Language concerns regarding the child.  Recommendations/interventions will be done by the classroom teacher/parent for 4-8 weeks. 

   1. CST will meet again, recommended to meet with SLP also, to determine if the recommendations/interventions worked or not. If they were not successful then additional recommendations/interventions will be provided and tried for another 4-8 weeks.

2. SST at elementary school site

   1. If the CST process and recommendations/interventions were not successful, the preschool teacher will fill out SST paperwork (currently paper form) for the student listing concerns and tried recommendations/interventions.

   2. Site SLP will attend SST meeting and either make additional recommendations/interventions, recommend assessments, etc.

   3. Follow-up with recommendations

      1. Follow-up SST if additional recommendations/interventions were given

      2. Sign Assessment Plan if this was the recommendation from the SLP

Drop form for Walk-on preschoolers who have not attended scheduled speech sessions

• 3 or more consecutive missed sessions

• At least 3 phone calls have been made

• 2 letters sent home

PDF of procedures:

https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:94caa381-2844-4b1d-b913-2374e5deac82

sample letter to send to parents:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pr42wKJf2W8kAYLm3TQGDXozcbQcysFw8IhwhNkGEh0/edit?usp=drive_link

Speech Service Drop/No Show Form:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/17bMA3BCbRUaphdiQPAiRNvDKO_Gy9C2r/view?usp=sharing

MCS Early Childhood Education (ECE) website

• https://www.mcs4kids.com/o/mcs/page/early-childhood-education

ECE Contacts:

Heidi Nunes

Senior Director, Early Childhood Education

Nunes.H@mcs4kids.com

(209) 574-1625 

Preschool Assessment Referrals 2025-2026

1. Preschool Assessment assignment located at Robertson Road Elementary will only complete all Valley Mountain Regional Center, VMRC IFSP to IEP referrals.

a. Site: Robertson Road Elementary

b. PAT speech only SLP: VACANT

*Note: You may see Preschool Assessment SLP in Head Start or State Preschool assessing a student who is under three years old that was referred by VMRC and has an IFSP to IEP transition. 

2. Preschool Assessment Team (PAT) “Full” will complete VMRC IFSP to IEP assessments for students with comprehensive services or additional concerns as noted below.

Preschool Assessment Team Contact Information

Site: Robertson Road Elementary Room 20

Classroom Phone Number: (209) 596-0801

PAT Resource Specialist: Alicia Youngheim (youngheim.a@monet.k12.ca.us)

PAT School Psychologist: Danielle Bredicean (bredicean.d@monet.k12.ca.us)

PAT Speech Language Pathologist: Tiffany Fisher (fisher.t@monet.k12.ca.us)

3. All initial preschool speech and language assessments referred by parents, preschools, etc. will go through the site SLP. 

a. Ensure that the student lives within MCS boundaries prior to initiating an assessment plan. ( MCS Address Search). 

b. Enrollment Packet Documents: Enrollment Card, Birth Certificate, Proof of Address, Immunization (not required but recommended). 

c. Scan enrollment packet to Alicia Camargo and Alyssa Garcia (SEIS data entry specialists)

d. Complete student add form on SEIS. In the comment section include the date the AP was received and who referred the student.

4. Student NOT on an IEP and NOT enrolled in Head Start/State Preschool 

a. Parent/Guardian requests speech assessment. This may also include speech + behavior, speech + OT. Check medical history to determine if OHI needs to be looked at (e.g., extreme prematurity 35 weeks or below, congenital disorder, genetic conditions).

*Note: If a parent reports more concerns over the phone prior to bringing them in, send the referral to the Preschool Assessment Team (PAT) so they can schedule an intake appointment. If at intake it is determined that speech and language is the only area of suspected disability all referral documents will be sent back to site SLP for completion. 

• When sending phone referral over to PAT include:  Reason for referral, Students Full Name, DOB, Parents Full Name, Address (Please check that student lives within MCS school boundaries MCS Address Search). 

b. SLP brings the student in to complete assessments. 

c. IF SLP has additional suspected areas of disability after meeting with the student, SLP should consult with the site School Psychologist to determine next steps.

d. When additional assessments are warranted, SLP will amend the Assessment Plan and forward referral to PAT. PAT will REQUIRE:

• Enrollment Packet Documents: Enrollment Card, Birth Certificate, Proof of Address, Immunization (not required but recommended). 

• Referral Page and written parent request

• Prior Written Notice

• Assessment Plan

• Any assessments SLP has completed

• Any documentation parent has provided (e.g. Psychologist report, medical records, etc.)

5. Student NOT on an IEP, enrolled in Head Start/State Preschool with concerns more than Speech, Speech + Behavior, or Speech + OT. Check medical history to determine if OHI needs to be looked at (e.g., extreme prematurity 35 weeks or below, congenital disorder, genetic conditions).

a. Parent/Teacher raises concerns

b. ECE staff holds a CST meeting and either implements interventions (4-6 weeks) or progresses to SST

c. Site staff hold an SST with appropriate site team members (e.g. SLP, Psych, etc.)

d. IF site team agrees a referral for special education is necessary (beyond a speech-only assessment), PAT will REQUIRE:

5. 1. 1. 1. Referral Page

         2. Prior Written Notice

         3. Assessment Plan

         4. CST Notes

         5. SST Notes

         6. Classroom, Teacher Name, and child’s schedule (e.g. Robertson Road ECE, Teacher Michelle Hill, PM class)

6. Students on an IEP (may or may not be enrolled in Head Start/State Preschool) and additional concerns are raised

a. Parent/Case Manager/Teacher raises additional concerns

b. Case Manager schedules an IEP meeting to discuss concerns (inviting appropriate site team members)

6. 1. 1. 1. School Psychologist discusses possible areas of eligibility and works with the team to decide if the student needs additional assessments. 

         2. If the student needs additional assessments, Assessment Plan (AP) is created.

c. Case Manager completes Assessment Plan and sends a copy to Alicia Youngheim, RSP & Danielle Bredicean, Psych (and OT or anyone else listed on AP)

d. Alicia, Danielle or other providers will complete assessments. Case Manager is responsible for scheduling IEP and completing IEP documentations. A Program Manager will be required for the IEP meeting. 

 *Note: Program Manager and Providers schedules fill up quickly, please schedule IEP ASAP.

Head Start/State Preschool

• Students enrolled in Head Start and State Preschool programs with Speech services on an IEP will be provided at the site they are enrolled in.

***If you receive an IEP for student enrolled in your Head Start/State Preschool check the address for the student ASAP.

• Proceed with providing services if the student's address IS within MCS boundaries (can be a different elementary school than the site they are attending preschool, but must be within MCS boundaries)

  • https://www.locatemyschool.com/map/modesto

• If the student's address is NOT within MCS boundaries, notify the parent that they need to contact the school district they live in to provide the services. 

Walk-on Preschooler (not attending preschool)

• Student's services will be provided at the student's home site based on their home address.

Private Preschool

• When all efforts are exhausted to have the speech services provided at the student's home site, the student's attending private preschools may have their speech services provided at their preschool site.