Preschool Inclusion in a Public School System

1. Preschool Inclusion in a Public School System A Road Less Traveled, But Worth Every Bump!

2. Granite School District • Set in the heart of Salt Lake City, Utah • 70,000 students Pre-K through 12 • Ranks as one of the nations 40 largest school districts • 20.5% Hispanic • 3.4% Pacific Islander • 3.3% Asian • 1.7% African American • 1.2% American Indian • 69.9% Caucasian

3. Granite Preschool History • Preschool happening – but not together! • Long standing district sponsored parent co-op preschool for 3 and 4 year olds. • Hit and miss Title 1 funded preschool at some but not all Title 1 schools – no standard for services/curriculum • Long standing segregated preschool special education classes • Once upon a time – Head Start Grantee

4. Preschool - THEN • 16 self-contained classes in 15 schools • 17 Title 1 classes in 16 schools • 16 Co-op classes in 14 schools • Serving 1800 children • Curriculum – teacher made • Head Start eligible children received SpEd services only in district preschools • Very little collaboration, cooperation, communication between preschools – even those located in the same building • Preschool under separate leadership & departments • All professional development done separately and sporadic

5. Granite School DistrictPreschool Options • Community Education Preschool – Parent Co-op – Tuition based • Title I Preschool • Special Education Preschool • Head Start • Children’s Center • Carmen Pingree School • Utah Schools for the Deaf & Blind • Even Start • High School Applied Technology – Child Development

6. Timeline for ChangeThe Early Stages 2002 – • July-October – gathering information about existing preschools (separate departments within district) • October-December – newly formed Leadership Team to discuss future Preschool Department Members: Co-op, Sp Ed, Title 1, Even Start, Applied Technology

7. Timeline Continued 2003 • January – Preschool Advisory Committee formed (included preschool representatives from different departments plus parents – 25 members) • February-March- 1)Advisory and Leadership groups met 2) meetings with district level administrators to intro proposed inclusion model 3)focus group meetings held with: School level Title 1 specialists, preschool teachers, related services staff, classroom teaching assistants and principals

8. Timeline 2003 continued • March – Co-op teachers started “anti-inclusion” campaign with parents Parent meeting was held to address concerns Question/Answer sheet developed and sent to all Co-op parents • May-June – Advisory Committee and Leadership Team developed proposed plan for the 2003-2004 school year Letters to the school board and newspapers caused much up-roar – board questions the purpose of the “Big Change”

9. 2003-2004…A year of compromise • Preschool Department formed • 2 schools to “pilot” inclusive preschools side-by-side with self-contained classes • All other schools with multiple classrooms are “encouraged to provide inclusive opportunities” (13 schools identified) • Creative Curriculum adopted district wide • All professional development will be done as a department – focus on literacy, numeracy and social development • Development of department policy/procedure manual • Continue to develop the “phase in” plan for inclusion

10. Enter New Director… 2003 August-October – “pilot” implemented at 2 schools Department struggles to come together – a mix of philosophies, curriculum, education background etc November – New director hired…the pilot and phase in plan gets overhauled December – parent meetings held – all 3 were well attended Principal meetings held to get feedback, input, and ask/answer questions Dialogue with district superintendency – parent and principal meeting outcomes shared/discussed

11. Parent Meetings • Brief introduction of current preschool programs (Co-op, Title 1 and Special Ed) • Brief introduction of laws, regulations, and state rules that govern preschools • Brief introduction to proposed plan • Open dialogue without judgment…all responses from parents are recorded – the good, the bad and the VERY ugly

12. School Board Presentation • January 2004 – Closed session with the school board and upper administration. Presentation centered around IDEA statute, regs and state rules regarding LRE and placement. • Open meeting with School Board – attended by numerous parents and staff members • February Board unanimously supports full inclusion for preschool to begin August 2004

13. Fast Track to Inclusion District-wide • Multiple meetings with staff to prepare for 2004-05 school year – colorful dialogue with staff – many threats to leave program, fears were revealed, but mostly anticipation and excitement • Coordinators worked all summer to ensure that professional development was ready to meet the needs of staff • New pay scale was approved – all staff received a raise • Work with transportation to get children from 14 schools to 34 schools

14. Preschool - NOW • Preschool at 38 elementary schools • 64 classrooms – 180+ sessions of preschool each week • 250 staff members • 2500 children served • 18 children per session – 3-5 children with disabilities • All lead teachers have minimum of CDA- Many with BS or higher • Teacher Assistants – number per class dictated by children’s needs • Secured increased $$ support from Title 1, Special Education and tuition increase approved

15. Special Education teachers/consultants assigned to each classroom • Related services provided based on children’s needs • Head Start eligible children receive all services at Head Start • Professional Development each month + special education staff meetings/trainings • Teacher resource library • Department Coordinators have “gelled” – work together toward a common end – network support • Great new department location – together + evaluation center…very visible

16. 1 year under our belt… • Effective communication continues to be a struggle within the department • Monthly Professional Development was successful – “Share Fair” was very popular • Those who were the loudest doubters have become die hard supporters…and very vocal about it! • Year end “Celebration of Our Successes” was very emotional – so many stories to share

17. Questions still surround roles of each staff “team” member – a bit of the “turf wars” • Zero parent complaints received by Board of Education – a first for preschool! • District support is more evident – transportation, upper administration, human resources, buildings/boundaries… • Word is getting around…we have had the largest number of high quality applicants in preschool history!

18. What’s Next? • Continue to improve communication within the department • Continue monthly professional development – staff have now identified areas of needed training/information • Look forward to preschool classrooms in each elementary – all children would then attend their neighborhood school • CELEBRATE our SUCCESSES, LEARN from our CHALLENGES!

19. Need More Information? • brenda.broadbent@granite.k12.ut.us • maryann.fetzer@granite.k12.ut.us Granite School District Preschool Services Department 2500 South State Salt Lake City, Utah 84115 801-646-4670