Early Childhood
What are the services?
Early Childhood Special Education services are provided to children who are found eligible and who demonstrate developmental delays. These services are for children ages three through five. They are designed to meet the needs of pre-kindergarten students who experience significant delays in any of the following developmental areas: cognitive, social-emotional, adaptive behavior, motor, or communication.
Wichita Public Schools serves the majority of its pre-kindergarten special education students through the Developmental Delay Pre-Kindergarten (DD-PK) program.
Where are these services located?
Once a child has been identified as a special education student who is in need of Developmental Delay services, the child is assigned to a school. DD-PK services are located at 19 of the district elementary schools. These services are designed to provide educational benefit while providing typical pre-kindergarten opportunities to the maximum extent possible.
The majority of our DD-PK students are served at the campuses listed below:
Allen Elementary
Black Traditional Magnet
Bryant Core Knowledge Magnet
Buckner Performing Arts Magnet
Cessna Elementary
Chisholm Trail Elementary
Clark Elementary
Cloud Elementary
Colvin Elementary
Enterprise Elementary
Griffith Elementary
Kensler Elementary
Lawrence Elementary
Linwood Elementary
Little Early Childhood Education Center
Minneha Elementary
Spaght Accelerated Magnet
White Elementary
Woodman Elementary
What if my child’s unique needs can not be met in a regular PK-DD classroom?
Some children need a more specialized environment. For instance, children who demonstrate a need for a more structured teaching environment may be served at one of the 3 campuses housing Self-Contained Autism services. Other children who experience multiple disabilities paired with significant health care needs may be served at one of our programs for children with multiple disabilities. Children with more involved cognitive needs may be served in one of our programs for students with mental retardation. All of these services will be driven by your child’s Individual Education Plan.
What if I still have questions or want to visit a program?
If you have questions or would like to visit one of the District’s PK-DD classrooms, please contact Shonda Hayes, Early Childhood Special Education Coordinator either by phone at 973-4487 or through email at shayes@usd259.net