Who can attend the program?
The Garfield Heights Preschool serves children with special needs and typically developing children who live in the Garfield Heights City School District. Children with special needs ages 3 - 5 are eligible along with tpically developing children ages 4-5 (as long as they are not 5 years old before August 1st of the current school year).
Can any child sign up for preschool?
No. Unfortunately, we have a limited number of spots available for typically developing children. Parents of typically developing children who are interested in preschool should fill out the Preschool Request Form and return it to the district. Spots are available for children with disabilities. The preschool can evaluate your child to determine if he/she is eligible as a child with a disability. If you think you may have a child with a disability, please fill out the Preschool Request Form or contact Rosie Daddario at [email protected].
What are the program hours and days?
Preschool Half Day Program
The Garfield Heights Preschool program is four days per week (Monday-Thursday). The morning session is 8:15-10:45am and the afternoon session is 11:40am-2:10pm.
Four Year Old Full Day Program
The Four Year Old Full Day program is four days per week (Monday-Thursday) from 8:20am - 2:10pm.
Where is
the preschool?
The
district’s program is housed at William Foster School which is located at 12801
Bangor Avenue, Garfield Heights, Ohio 44125.
Does the
preschool provide transportation?
The preschool provides transportation to children whose disability
requires specialized transportation. Not all disabilities require
transportation. Typically developing children are not eligible for bussing.
How do I get my child evaluated for preschool?
If your child receives Bright Beginnings services (formerly Help Me Grow), your benefits coordinator will assist you with the evaluation process, which starts with a transition meeting between Bright Beginnings, the parents and the school district. Bright Beginnings is a public program that serves infants and toddlers birth-age 3. See http://www.esc-cc.org/BrightBeginnings.aspx for
details.
If you suspect your preschool aged child has a disability, you can
attend a once a month screening at William Foster School, September through
May. This requires an appointment (please call 216-475-8123). This screening
will determine if your child needs a full evaluation.
What do I need to do to have my child evaluated?
First, contact the preschool program to set up a screening at (216)475-8123. You will receive a call a few days after the screening, letting you know if a disability is suspected. If it is, you will need to register your child with the district. This occurs at the Garfield Heights Board of Education and an appointment is required. You cannot register before hearing from the preschool about a suspected disability. Registering your child does not necessarily mean your child will attend the program; it establishes residency in Garfield Heights. Once you are registered, the preschool will contact you about the evaluation. Evaluations occur on Fridays during the school year. It requires 2 appointments that the child must attend. Then it takes 1-2 meetings (multifactored evaluation and individualized education program meetings). The entire process can take from 4-6 appointments depending on the individual child’s strengths and needs (1 screening, 1 registration appointment, 2 evaluations, 1-2 meetings). The Procedural Safeguards outline
the special education process. Once consent is signed, the district has 60 days
to complete the multifactored evaluation (MFE) and 30 days to present the
individualized education program (IEP).
I do not suspect my child has a disability. My child is typically
developing. How do I get my child on the waiting list?
Please complete this Preschool Request Form and mail
it to the Preschool Psychologist 12801 Bangor Avenue, Garfield Heights, Ohio
44125. Please understand that completing the form does not guarantee a space in
preschool, but it does guarantee that you will get an invitation to the yearly
April screening.
My child is already enrolled in the preschool program. What additional information is available and what is required of me as a parent?
Immunizations and yearly physicals are required. Please see
the Preschool Handbook for additional information. The Ohio Department of Education requires the Preschool Physical Form for Preschool Students to be updated each year. This form is available under the Registrations Forms tab in the registration section of the district website.
What are the staff qualifications?
All teachers have a bachelor and master’s degree in education and are certified to teach both regular and special education preschool students. The preschool also has a speech/language therapist and school psychologist on staff.