Special Needs: Caldwell-West Caldwell Introduces Integrated Pre-School Program

West Caldwell, NJ – The Caldwell-West Caldwell School District announced on Monday that applications for its new Integrated Preschool Program (IPS) at Harrison School in West Caldwell are now available.

The program will be available for morning or afternoon sessions and run five days a week, and will be limited to fifteen students per session, school administrators stated in a release.

The state-approved curriculum focuses on a full array of social and academic skills, and the IPS program incorporates the education of general education preschoolers with preschoolers who have been found eligible for special education.

Students with special needs are placed in the class as determined by the district’s IEP team, school administrators stated.

According to school officials, unlike a traditional pre-kindergarten program, the IPS focuses on a wider range of skills, including motor skills, social skills, technology infusion, and social speech, integrating students with special needs into classes with their typically developing peers.

“Research has shown that for children with special needs, there are many benefits to an integrated learning environment,” school officials stated. “Regardless of their ability level, kids learn from one another. In an integrated classroom, children with special needs have the opportunity to observe typically developing children, who serve as positive role models by demonstrating the skills that the teachers and therapists are trying to teach.”

According to school officials - for children with typical abilities - some benefits of an integrated classroom include:

• Learning tolerance
• Developing empathy
• Gaining an appreciation for diversity
• Having the presence of a wide variety of professionals, which leads to high teacher-student ratios

“This program is something that our families have been asking for,” Director of Special Services Paul Palozzola said. “Now, the timing, need and demand have all fallen into place. We are excited to be able to bring this program to our towns.”

“We want our students to grow into adults who lead independent and satisfying lives,” Palozzola added. “The real world is a diverse mix of people with a wide range of abilities. The sooner we start preparing these young individuals for that, the better."

Applications for general education students will be accepted until Monday, April 18, at 3 p.m. If the number of applications exceeds the available space, accepted students will be selected by a lottery.

Parents will be notified of acceptance into the IPS program by Monday, April 25.

The program fee is $400 per month. Students who qualify for free or reduced lunch are eligible for reduced tuition rates.

Applications are available on the district website at www.cwcboe.org/preschool. For more information on the pre-school programs offered by the Caldwell-West Caldwell School District, visit www.cwcboe.org/harrison.

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