Agenda - 04-23-20; Item 3 - Next Steps on the Inclusion of Pre-K Students in School Capacity Calculations

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•ry The Orange County Schools' Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K) Programs There are three types of Pre-K classrooms in Orange County Schools: 1.Title 1 Blended Pre-K 2. Exceptional Children (EC) Pre-K; and, 3. Head Start Title 1 Blended Pre-K Classrooms The OCS Title I Blended Pre-Kindergarten Program provides a child-centered, developmentally appropriate educational experience for four-year-old children in need of developmental, academic and emotional/social support. The program stresses an environment that motivates learning through exploration and discovery.The goal of the program is to prepare children to enter kindergarten ready and excited to learn and succeed.The design of our program is to support children with the greatest need, so that they will be emotionally and socially ready to be active participants in their own learning. An application process is used to determine which children will benefit most from the kinds of developmental experiences we offer in our preschool classrooms. Our program is grounded in the National Association for the Education of Young Children's philosophy of developmentally appropriate practices (NAEYC). Classrooms are child centered and designed to promote the development of the whole child, including all developmental domains described in Foundations, North Carolina's early learning standards (approaches to learning, emotional and social development, health and physical development, language development and communication, and cognitive development). Learning experiences are meaningful and relevant for every child and reflect his or her developmental, cultural, and individual circumstances. Our curricula also emphasize the areas of self-regulation and emotional awareness, early literacy and math skill building. Every effort is to ensure that each child feels welcome at school and is helped to develop a strong sense of self as a successful learner.The indoor and outdoor classroom experiences include many opportunities for hands-on active learning with real materials and nature.The students spend time each day working in several learning centers, including science, math, writing center, reading corner, block play, manipulatives, dramatic play, sensory play,the safe place, where they make choices and use materials in creative and thought-provoking ways. Our Title 1 Blended Pre-K classrooms are inclusive, serving children, ages 3-5 years, who receive special education services. Placement is determined by need of services indicated on the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) by the OCS IEP Team. Our classrooms offer opportunities for children of all abilities to play and learn together.We believe that adaptations that make an experience accessible for children with learning barriers can enhance other children's experiences, as well as developing respect, understanding, appreciation and empathy in all children. The Title 1 Blended Pre-K program believes that children learn best when families and schools form a respectful, trusting partnership and work together. Families are encouraged to get involved from the beginning with our DIAL 4 assessment clusters, home visits, visiting the school and classroom, on-going, daily communication, volunteering, parent conferences, Children as Teachers Family Days, field trips, newsletters, all with the goal of keeping the parent as a partner to help the child be successful. Open and honest communication between teachers and families is important in making sure we are working together to support the child at home and at school. The Title 1 Blended Pre-K program is for children who are four or who will be turning four by August 31st of each school calendar year. It is a requirement that families and their children live within the attendance