Special needs preschool helps Valley children
October 16, 2008
By Laura Geggel
Each of Maxine Stokosa’s children attended preschool at Snoqualmie Elementary School, but neither of them are a special-needs student, the preschool’s target group.
“When we moved here from Seattle, I was concerned about the lack of diversity,” Stokosa said. “I wanted them to know it’s okay for people to be different.”
Children play at the Snoqualmie Elementary pre-school program designed for special-needs youth.
In accordance with Federal Law, the district created a free preschool for special-needs children ages 3 to 5 in 1988. The district has a partnership with Encompass to provide services for children ages birth to three.
“Usually parents call in because of problems with speech,” said Louise Rasmussen, preschool coordinator.
Rasmussen holds Child Find Screenings several times a year to identify children who have special needs. Rasmussen is accompanied by a flock of therapists, from speech and language to motor skills — who examine the child’s vision, hearing, social skills and pre-academics. About 60 percent of children who are screened are admitted to the pre-school.
To register for a Child Find Screening, contact Rasmussen at 831-8088 or rasmussenl@snoqualmiek12.wa.us.
The Snoqualmie Elementary has eight classes of special education preschool — four in the morning and four in the afternoon. Each class has eight to 10 children, amounting to about 50 children with special needs and 24 tuition-based children.
“We want a full range of skills in our classroom, so we also have three kids in each room who don’t have any delays,” Rasmussen said.
Tuition-based children are good role models for children who have learning or language-delays, and they also learn about student diversity.
“They get the benefit in realizing that not everybody has the same ability,” Rasmussen said.
Tuition for non-special needs children costs $225 per month for Monday through Thursday pre-school. Teachers use Friday to spend individualized time with higher-needs children.
As soon as a special-needs child enters the school system, certified teachers create an Individualized Education Plan, which addresses areas in which the child shows delays. The IEP is constantly updated as the child reaches new benchmarks.
“We’re going to support that child so that they can be learning to communicate with their peers or even better, interact with their peers,” Rasmussen said.
The pre-school at Snoqualmie Elementary is run like any other. Children have snack, song and circle time. While the crafts may appear the same for special-needs and tuition-based children, they actually teach a multitude of skills.
“Each child has a different set of skills,” said pre-school teacher Kirsten Barnes.
Rasmussen said the Snoqualmie Elementary pre-school is probably more structured than a typical pre-school and has a staff of therapists who work with each special-needs child.
Parents of pre-school students also come into the classroom. Stokosa, who started as a volunteer during her children’s enrollment, continues to spend her time in Snoqualmie Elementary’s pre-school wing.
Her younger son Brandon, now in fourth grade, remembered the pre-school as a warm and inviting place.
“I liked how there was the texture table and how we had free choice time,” Brandon said. “The kids were really nice.”
A group of pre-school students puttered around with brightly colored cars and Sesame Street puzzles on Oct. 8.
“I love working here,” Stokosa said. “It’s stressful at moments, but it’s rewarding. It’s nice to know you can make a difference.”
Pre-school graduates typically progress to kindergarten, once they reach age 5. Every school in the district has special-education teachers, but a select few have programs for children with higher needs. Cascade View and North Bend elementary schools have classes for students with higher special needs.
Of the three middle schools, Chief Kanim and Twin Falls have programs for students with higher special needs. Mount Si High School also has classes for special needs students, in addition to the Transition Learning Center for students up until age 21. The 18- to 21-year-old program at Mount Si High School currently has two students.
While the federal government mandates the district provide services for special needs students, the majority of the funding — about $2.8 million — comes from Washington state. About $884,000 comes from the federal government, said Nancy Meeks, director of Student Services.
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