Early Intervention Program offers three ½ days per week center-based programming for toddlers with disabilities in combination with home-based services as indicated on each child’s Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP).  The Onondaga County Department of Health funds the toddler program with additional funding from the District.   

 The Early Childhood Evaluation Center provides comprehensive psycho-educational evaluations of children, ages birth to 5 years, suspected of having a disability.  These evaluations are conducted either in the child’s home, child care center or at the District’s evaluation center located in Beard School.  174 evaluations were completed during the 2004-05 school year.

Even Start Family Literacy Partnership Program provides comprehensive early childhood and adult educational services to 35 families in the District through center-based and home-based instruction in partnership with Partners for Learning, Inc. 

Early Reading First (ERF) is a U.S. Department of Education funded project aimed at providing preschoolers with child-centered, scientifically based reading research literacy instruction which will prepare them to enter kindergarten with the necessary language, cognitive and early reading skills to ensure future school success. 

 Parent Involvement   Parents are their child’s first teacher and an integral part of all the District’s early childhood programs.  Parents are welcome to volunteer in their child’s classroom at any time and/or participate in the parent aide training program.  The program receives feedback for use in continuous improvement planning through the Pre-k Parent Advisory and Early Reading First Parent Advisory Committees.  Every center provides a family involvement activity each month to encourage interactive parent/child learning.  Parents are actively involved in the “Raising Readers” and “Literacy Tree” initiatives to encourage their child’s

MISSION

           To ensure that all children develop the necessary cognitive, social, emotional and physical skills that build the foundation for life-long learning and early literacy; this is accomplished by providing a high quality, safe and nurturing environment, responsive to the culturally diverse and unique needs of each child, through individual and interactive learning opportunities, supported by excellence in teaching and research-based instructional practices aligned with the NYS Learning Standards and the District’s curricula, in partnership with parents, staff, policy makers and community organizations.

Early Childhood Program Goals

1.   Enact a research-based, child centered curricula in alignment with the NYS Learning Standards and District’s content area curricula to ensure continuity of programming and a seamless transition to kindergarten.

2.   Create and sustain classrooms that develop critical thinking, cognitive, language, preliteracy and motor skills, and social emotional growth.

3.   Establish strong parent/school  partnerships.

4.    Implement research-based best practices in early childhood instruction, supported by effective professional development, across all programs.

5.    Work collaboratively with community early childhood educators to provide high quality educational programs for all resident  preschoolers.

6.    Systematically measure children’s growth in the critical areas of child development and early reading to identify students who are in need of more intensive instruction and to modify instructional practices.

Targeted Prekindergarten Program (TPK)  is offered to 820 three and four year olds who qualify for free or reduced meals at 19 locations within the City.  Funded through the NYS Education Department and the District, the TPK grant requires at least an 11% local share in funding.  This program provides effective standards-based instruction for preschoolers and comprehensive services for their families.  Operating since 1966, this program has received national and State recognition for its innovative parent involvement and inclusion programs.

Universal Prekindergraten Program (UPK)  Initiated in 1998,  UPK has grown from 230 students to its present 552.  This program is supported by NYSED grant and District funding. In addition to half and full day sessions offered in school buildings, the District contracts with 19 community based organizations to operate UPK classes within their facilities.  Currently, UPK classes are operated in 26 locations around the City including 7 elementary schools, 3 Head Start sites, 10 child care centers, 5 nursery schools and a privately operated inclusive special education preschool. 

Inclusive programs for preschoolers with disabilities One of the early childhood program’s strengths is inclusive education.  There are no self contained special education classes for preschoolers with disabilities as all children are either included in our District pre-k classes or provided special education services by District early childhood staff in their home or child care provider site.  The Onondaga County Department of Health funds these services as determined by NYSED Program Services Reimbursement Unit. 

For more information call the Syracuse Early Childhood Office at (315) 435-4276