ECSE

What is ECSE?

The Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) program is a free educational program that serves children ages 3-5 year old who meet the state and federal guidelines for developmental delay or disability that reside within the Warrensburg R-VI School District.  The services address developmental delays in one or more of the following areas, Communication (Speech and or Language), Cognitive (pre-academics), Physical (fine and/or gross motor), Social/Emotional/Behavioral and Adaptive Behavior (self-help skills).  Services are set up based directly on each child's area of eligibility. Services will be addressed through working with a Speech Language Pathologist,  Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist and/or Special Education classroom teacher.

We have six ECSE classrooms within our district that provide services to PreK-3 thru PreK-5 year old students with special needs.

 

Early Childhood Special Education Staff

Amy Dapron
ECSE Process Coordinator

 Maple Grove Elementary School
950 Hamilton Street
660-422-5770 
Ridge View Elementary School
215 South Ridgeview Drive
660-747-6013  

Shelbie Dalton
Director Special Services

    

Maple Grove Elementary
Tracy Hull
Early Childhood Special Education Teacher
Alex Palmer
Early Childhood Special Education Teacher
Sarah Williams
Early Childhood Special Education Teacher
Jennifer Owens
Maple Grove Speech/Language Pathologist
Theresa Slana
Occupational Therapist

 

Ridge View Elementary
Kristie Dickey
Early Childhood Special Education Teacher
Lauren Skeens
Early Childhood Special Education Teacher
Joan Collins-Rigby
Early Childhood Special Education Teacher
Megan McClanahan
Ridge View Speech/Language Pathologist
Paige Gunter
Physical Therapist

 

What are typical milestones?

At the age of 3:

Social/Emotional Milestones:
Calms down within 10 minutes after you leave them, (at child's drop off) 
Fewer tantrums
Able to show a wide range of emotions
Notices other children and joins them to play
Participates in Make-believe or pretend play

Language/Communication Milestones
Uses phrases/sentences of at least 3 words
Has a vocabulary of 250-500 words
 Talks with you in conversation using at least two back-and-forth exchanges
Asks “who,” “what,” “where,” or “why” questions, like “Where is mommy/daddy?”
Says what action is happening in a picture or book when asked, like “running,” “eating,” or “playing”
Says first name and age, when asked
Talks well enough for others to understand, most of the time
Follows 2-3 step directions

Cognitive Milestones  (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
Draws a circle, when you show them how 
Able to complete simple puzzles
Sorts items by color, shape or size

Adaptive Milestones
Avoids touching hot objects, like a stove, when you warn them
Using fork or spoon to eat
Drinking out of an open cup
Assisting with dressing/undressing
Starting to indicate the need to use the restroom

Movement/Physical Development  Milestones
Strings items together, like large beads or macaroni
Navigating their environment without frequent falling
Alternating feet when ascending/descending stairs
Jump with both feet off the ground
Stack blocks
Manipulates a ride on toy
Manipulate handles
Move small objects from one container to another
Trace simple shapes (circle, square, Triangle) 

At the age of 4: 

Social/Emotional Milestones:
Changes behavior based on where they are (school, home, friend's house)
Is able to name friends
Able to identify a wide range of emotions
Comforts peers who are hurt or sad ( hugging a friend that is crying)
Enjoys pretending, has a vivid imagination 
Takes turns, shares, cooperates with peers

Language/Communication Milestones
Uses phrases/sentences of at least 4 words
Has a vocabulary of 250-500 words
Talks about at least one thing that happened during the day
Answers simple  “who,” “what,” “where,” or “why” questions, like “Where is mommy/daddy?”
Sings simple songs, says some words from a story, or nursery rhyme 
Understands same and different
Follows 4 step directions

Cognitive Milestones  (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
Draws a person with three or more body parts 
Names some basic colors and shapes 
Tells what comes next in a well-known story
Understands number and space concepts (more, bigger, under...)
Starting to develop critical thinking 

Adaptive Milestones
Avoids common dangers (jumping from tall heights at playground)
Able to play in another room 

Using fork to cut soft food
Dressing/undressing independently
Use the restroom independently (help with wiping okay)

Movement/Physical Development  Milestones
Catches a playground ball and throws with relative accuracy
Stack 9 or more blocks
Holds pencil or crayon between fingers (not a fisted grasp)
Able to serve food or pour water with adult supervision
Copies 
simple shapes (circle, square, Triangle) 
Walks forward and backward
Running with controlled, fluid motion 
Cuts on a line
Starting to print letters
 

Do you have concerns about your child’s development?

Do you have concerns about your child’s development? Are they reaching their childhood milestones like you thought they would? If you have concerns, give us a call.

What’s first?

First, give our process coordinator a call at Maple Grove or Ridge View to set up a visit. 

What’s next?

At the first meeting, a Review of Existing Data, we will discuss your concerns and decide what areas, if any, need to be evaluated. At the Review of Existing Data, if a disability is suspected, we will complete testing.  Within 60 days we will review the testing results and determine if your child is eligible for ECSE services.  This meeting is called the Eligibility Determination meeting. 

 Your child is eligible for ECSE. What's available?

Within 30 days of the Evaluation Meeting, we will develop an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) based on the areas of eligibility.  This meeting will determine the areas of services, the amount of services and your child’s placement in the Early Childhood Special Education program.  


References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), (2014). Learn the signs: Act early campaign. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/milestones-3yr.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), (2014). Learn the signs: Act early campaign. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/milestones-4yr.html

Feigelman, S. The preschool years. In: Kliegman, R.M., Behrman, R.E., Jenson, H.B., Stanton, B.F.,eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 19th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011: chap 10.

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