PBS and Daniel Tiger: Getting Ready for Preschool

Preparing Your Child for Preschool - Click to find ways to help a young child get ready for preschool.

Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood - Grownups Come Back Song (Babysitter) Video | PBS KIDS

Free Webinars for Caregivers

RCADD (Resource Center for Autism and Developmental Delays) provides support for those who care for, teach and serve children with an autism diagnosis or other developmental differences. In addition to free virtual webinars, their website offers a wealth of resources that may be of interest to your family. Click on the link below to see what topics will be covered in these webinars through summer, 2024. There are opportunities to learn more about your child's diagnosis as well as how to create a supportive educational plan (Individualized Education Plan - IEP) for your child before attending preschool. 

2024 Virtual Webinar Series 

A New School Year Awaits!

The Resource Center for Autism and Developmental Delays (RCADD) has put together  Back to School Resources which include:

• A Back to School Social Story (Eng), Back to School Social Story (Español)- to help your child better transition to the new school year
• Visual Supports (Eng), Visual Supports (Español) to help with routines at home, bus schedules, and weekly school/no school schedules
• Tip Sheets for families and caregivers to learn how to use visual supports
• Structured activities Back to School Check List, Back to School Check List (Español) to help your child review basic skills prior to returning to school
• An entire IEP and Special Education Resource section to help with understanding of the IEP process and your child's Special Education Rights

Getting Ready for Preschool Transition

Would you like to learn more about the transition from early intervention to preschool? The informational video above will outline the general process. If you are interested in participating in a live webinar hosted by Chicago Public Schools please join us on the last Tuesday of each month to learn more. 

There is no need to RSVP, simply use the link below to join. Here you can ask questions and get immediate answers related to your child's preschool journey.

The links always remain the same and no rsvp is required. Meeting are held in both Spanish and English on the last Tuesday of the month.

ENGLISH 1-2:15 PM meet.google.com/fkt-jyqk-qgc 

SPANISH 2:25 PM  meet.google.com/kpu-yjjc-fmh 

 

Preschool: Getting Ready for the 2023-2024 School Year

Will your child turn three before September 1, 2023? Are you interested in a preschool application? Chicago Public Schools will be opening their online application April 11th. Below are links for more information. You can also call (312) 229-1690 if you prefer to speak with someone live.

Children in Early Intervention can apply for preschool through this website while simultaneously pursuing evaluation through Chicago Public Schools. 

How To Apply 

Chicago Early Learning Preschool Application

Application Walk Through (video)

Preschool

Thinking about preschool for your child? Below is a resource that can be helpful in thinking through the process.

 When I'm 3, Where Will I Be?

Why consider preschool? Preschool offers instruction built on social skills, imaginative play, art, music and movement, taught alongside learning to count and matching letters to sounds and words. Both benefit kids' readiness for school and teaches them how to be learners. Children learn independence, flexibility, listening and problem-solving skills. 

What if my child continues to need therapy supports? Are they ready for preschool enrollment?

Chicago Public Schools are equipped to work with children that are not yet walking independently, are still learning how to express themselves or need help with toileting or diaper changes. When children need additional supports to get through the school day, Chicago Public Schools determines eligibility and an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is created. This document is very similar to the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) that you created with your therapy team in Early Intervention except that it focuses on what supports and therapies are needed in the educational setting. In addition, you may want to consider connecting with therapies in an outpatient clinic setting. Please click here to get a listing of resources. 

What is an IEP (Individualized Education Plan)?

An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a plan that describes the special education instruction, supports, and services that students with disabilities are legally entitled to receive.  An IEP is developed by you, the caregiver and the school staff members (CPS evaluation team). The contents of an IEP are determined by the student's needs and may include a variety of therapies (speech, physical, occupational), social work supports a one-on-one aide or paraprofessional, nursing supports, assistive technology and possibly other accommodations (support with toileting, sensory breaks, etc.). 

What is an IEP?

What if we change our mind and decide our child won’t go to preschool?

Although preschool is highly recommended for almost all children, you can always change your mind! It is commonly advised that you have your child evaluated and an IEP created even if you are not sure if your child will attend Chicago Public Schools. The IEP will be good for one year which means your child may enter into the school system with supports in place should you decide to eventually enroll them. You may also be interested in getting an evaluation and IEP created even if you decide that your child will be going to a childcare setting or private school. 

Where will my child go to preschool?

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) offers preschool for qualifying children at the age of three. The program offers primarily half days for children based on the recommendation set by the CPS team. In accordance to federal law, CPS attempts to assign your child to the preschool closest to their home. There are instances when a child’s therapy needs cannot be met at their local, home school. The next closest school that has an opening will then be assigned. Busing is available for children who are eligible for a half day program, and that were not assigned to their home school. Please discuss this with the CPS evaluation team should you be interested.

What is Extended Services? (Click to read more)

Early Intervention recently implemented a policy for children that have birthdays between May to August to potentially qualify for extended services. Children may have the option to continue therapies until the beginning of the school year if they are eligible for an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) through Chicago Public Schools. To qualify for Early Intervention Extended Services (EI/ES), the child must: be determined eligible for early intervention, have an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP), have their third birthday between May 1 and August 31 and be found eligible for an Individualized Education Program (IEP).

Getting Ready for Preschool: A Timeline

When enrolled in Early Intervention, getting ready for preschool begins when your child is 2 ½ years old (30 months). With your written permission, your child’s Early Intervention service coordinator will share your child’s developmental reports to the Chicago Public School’s preschool evaluation team. These developmental reports will give the evaluation team some background on the progress your child has made as well as the areas in which they may need future, additional support. You will then receive an informational call from the School Entry Support Specialist (from CPS) and a representative from Early Intervention. This call aims to provide families with a brief overview of preschool and the transition process. Following this call, you will receive an email with a written summary of the conversation as well as a link to a virtual CPS informational session. This virtual session is offered to parents that are considering CPS preschools. It provides a more in-depth explanation of the preschool transition process as well as gives caregivers an opportunity to ask questions.

School Entry Support Specialist for Chicago Public Schools:

Gina Dalpra

Office Number: 773-553-1878

Email: gvdalpra@cps.edu 

Your service coordinator is available to answer any questions related to the transition from Early Intervention to Chicago Public Schools.

 Transition meetings are offered to families on the last Tuesday of each month via Zoom from 1pm - 3pm (Central Time)

Please use the link below to access transition meetings

Early Intervention to Early Childhood Preschool Transition Meeting

When: Monthly, the last Tuesday from 1-2:15 p.m.

Where: Google Meeting ID:  meet.google.com/fkt-jyqk-qgc

The meeting will also be hosted in Spanish, monthly, last Tuesday from 2:15- 3:30 p.m.

ID JUNTA en español :  meet.google.com/fkt-jyqk-qgc

Please contact Roberta Hansen or Iwona Parkel with any additional questions. 

Iwona Parkel (Parent Liaison): 312-942-8485

Roberta Hansen (LIC Coordinator): 312-942-7863

News and Policy

Extended Services The Illinois Early Intervention Program offers parents of eligible children, under the Early Intervention/ Extended Service (EI/ES) option, the choice to continue to be eligible for Early Intervention (EI) beyond their child’s third birthday until the start of the school year following their third birthday, when all of the following criteria are met. 

The child must: 

• have been determined eligible for early intervention with services identified and consented to on the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP), and 

• have their third birthday between May 1 and August 31 and 

• have been found eligible for early childhood special education services (ECSE) under IDEA and Section 14-8.02 of Public Act 102-0209 (Section 11h) and created an Individualized Education Program (IEP).

Please refer to the link below for more information:

https://providerconnections.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/EI-ES-Services-Parent-Notice-06-2022.pdf

Family Fee Information:

At present, family fees are waived. Families will still be asked to provide a copy of the most recent federal income tax return, two consecutive pay stubs from each wage earner in the home, or a current Medicaid/All Kids card.

Automatic Eligibility: Children with medical conditions which are not listed may be determined eligible for EI services by a qualified family physician, pediatrician or pediatric subspecialist (pediatric neurologist, geneticist, pediatric orthopedic surgeon, pediatrician with special interest in disabilities) who provides written verification that the child’s medical condition is associated with a high probability of developmental delay as listed in eligibility criteria.