- Instructor: TNSTEP
What are the education options for preschoolers with disabilities and how can families help prepare their children for kindergarten? Learn what the law provides for early learners as well as how to participate in decision-making for your child’s education.
Learning Objectives:
- Definition of Preschool Inclusion
- Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) and Continuum of Inclusive Placement Options for Preschool Children with Disabilities
- What to Look for in a Quality Preschool Classroom
- Developmental Milestones and Planning for Kindergarten Readiness
- How to Share Information with the School Team
- Strategies to Participate Effectively in IEP Meetings
Presenters:
Colleen Van Dyke, IDEA 619 Consultant, East Tennessee, TN Dept. of Education, Division of Special Populations and Student Support
Colleen has worked as a special education preschool consultant with the Tennessee Department of Education for the past seven years and previously taught children with and without special needs for twelve years. She has presented at state conferences and provided training and technical assistance related to preschool special education for school districts at a regional and local level.
Karen Harrison, Executive Director, TNSTEP
Karen was appointed Executive Director of TNSTEP in 2009. She has more than 25 years of experience in the field of special education rights. She is the parent of a 26-year-old daughter with special needs and special gifts. Karen has personally navigated special education systems from early intervention through adult services with her daughter. Her first-hand knowledge has enriched her work with families across Tennessee since she became a TNSTEP employee in 1994. Karen holds a certificate in nonprofit management and excels at bringing awareness to parental rights. She works closely with families to develop strategies to improve educational outcomes for their children. She also focuses on systemic change in the areas of inclusion, disability rights, and parent empowerment.
This webinar is a collaborative project of the Tennessee Department of Education State Personnel Development Grant (SPDG) and TNSTEP, Special Education Support for Tennessee Families.
Archived webinar: Lunchtime Leaders: “Preschool Inclusion & Kindergarten Readiness”
Handouts and Resources
- TNSTEP and TDOE – Preschool Inclusion 2018 Approved PP
- Handout 1 – OSERS LREpreschool011017
- Handout 2 – Continuum of Services Handout
- Handout 3 – Preschool Observation Checklist
- Handout 4 – Format_Guide_Inst_Planning_Inclusion_Grid_2009
- Handout 5 – Entry Level Skills List – Rev 2016
- Handout 6 – Behavior Expected in Preschool Children
- Handout 7 – The Five Domains of School Readiness
- Handout 8 – One-Page-Profile Example
- Handout 9 – One-Page-Profile – Blank
- All About Me Booklet
- Handout 12 – Resources for Educators and Parents for Early Learning – May 2018
- TennesseeEarly Learning Developmental Standards for Birth – 48 months (TELD)
- Tennessee Early Learning Developmental Standards for Four-Year-Olds (TELD)
- Kindergarten Entry Inventory (KEI) – Readiness begins in Kindergarten
TNSTEP Lunchtime Leaders Webinar Recorded: 05/15/2018
