Pre-K program

AmyB. · **Pre-K program**

Does anyone know about the federally funded pre-K programs in the public schools? In Texas, there is no state funded program. It is a 1/2 day Pre-K program. I thnk DS would benefits greatly from this as it would offer more structure than his current preschool. Besides his speech delay his all boy and borderline ADHD and I think he will need a year of practice before starting Kinder.

Is the federal program Head Start?

I am trying to do some research about what qualifications are required for this program. DS has verbal apraxia, thus a speech and language delay/disability. Our schhool district information states that to qualify for hte Pre-K program you must be (1) low income or (2) have a language problem. When I asked the Speech Therapist about this she said this meant Spanish speaking kids.

I am trying to reserach the federal law to find out exactly what "language" means.

If you have any expereince with the federally funded Pre-K program or if you were able to get you child in based on a speech delay I would love to know more. I know before I approach the subject with the school district I will need to be prepared.

Thanks.
Amy

desertmom · 05-18-2007, 04:10 PM

I had to have my son tested through the district. They were the ones to see if he would qualify - at that time I had no Dr. diagnosis - that only happened after the preschool teacher recommended I get one (since his ped had said he was fine for years). It was through that testing, which showed some motor delays, but not speech delays, that he qualified. I would start at the school district level - they probably can answer your questions about the federal laws and where to see them, too. I never saw anything that shows which disabilities qualifiy for help, but you would think there would be something!

Suzeecue · 05-18-2007, 04:28 PM

In the town I live in in Wisconsin we have a program that sounds like what you're looking for. My son is a peer in this program, and most of the kids in the class are developmentally delayed for one reason or another, or have speech problems. There are a few peers in the class to set an example for the other kids to follow. I'm not sure if other states have this program, but I love it. Our school just calls it early childhood, and it's not dependent on the kids being low income, but we had to get our application in the day they started accepting them to get him a spot in the program.
Sorry this isn't more helpful, just wanted you to know there are programs out there for your son. Good luck, I hope you find one in your area!

eap8898 · 05-18-2007, 04:56 PM

I am Erica, I'm new to this group. I am friends with Ember (the scrapbooking queen!)Anyways I am in the process of registering my youngest for the state funded pre-k program. I'm in Fort Worth Tx, and like you said; it's for low income and Spanish speaking children who need help to learn English as a second language. I am qualifying for the low income bracket; but it has been pure hell. They need all kinds of paperwork and documentation and I'm so frustrated right now that I'm wondering if it's all worth it. My little one already goes to a private Christian school and is learning everything quickly, his teachers are wonderful, and he is thriving. I wanted Trin (my 3ro) to to attend the public pre-k so that he could go to school with his "bubba"; and of course then I wouldn't have to pay for the private daycare. Ugh!! The public school already has most of my information from my oldest that goes there; and I've just been running ragged trying to get all of this extra documentation they need for Trin. I know they need it, but I'm just tired and frustrated with the whole thing.

Happymom · 05-18-2007, 07:23 PM

In order to qualify here for the ECSE program (early childhood special ed) a child needs to be assesed by the school district staff. My son came up as developmentally slightly below average, but not enough to qualify, so they helped me get him into the low cost ECFE program.