Preschool

The South Hadley School District Preschool Program was established in 1988 as a special education program that educates students with and without disabilities and is housed within Plains Elementary School. Kindergarten and first grade students also attend Plains Elementary School, making it a true early childhood school setting. The preschool program follows the South Hadley Public Schools District Calendar and operates during the typical school year from September through June.

Children three years of age are potentially eligible for preschool. However, unlike other grades in the district, children three years of age residing in South Hadley are not automatically eligible to attend our program as it is a special education program with specific eligibility criteria for both students receiving special education services and those who are peer partners. Eligibility for special education for all preschool aged students is determined by a multidisciplinary team that includes the student’s family. To be considered for our program as a peer partner, your child must pass the preschool screening and meet the criteria for eligibility. For more information, please see our  Application and Enrollment Process section.

The Plains Preschool Program runs Monday through Thursday, with no preschool on Fridays. Our sections of preschool include half-day programs; a morning and an afternoon session. There is also a full day option that is based upon the needs of our student population. There are currently four preschool classrooms in operation at Plains Elementary School.

The majority of our preschool sections are inclusive meaning that students with and without identified disabilities learn alongside each other. Each inclusive section has a maximum of fifteen students. In order for our program to be successful, peer partners from the community are invited to learn in our specially designed, integrated early childhood classrooms, where all benefit from effective and engaging experiences tailored to meet the needs of all students. The district does charge tuition for our peer partners. Peer partners are selected through our screening process.

All sections of preschool are taught by licensed teachers and highly qualified support staff. In addition, students in preschool have the benefit of being supported by clinicians and service providers who are experts in their field and who work closely with the classroom teacher and student teams to ensure the success of all students in the public school setting. Such providers include speech language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, behavior analysts, a school psychologist, and an adjustment counselor.

The Plains Preschool team continuously assesses the needs of the current and incoming student population and plans appropriate and meaningful programming to meet those needs. At this time, we currently have one section of preschool that is considered substantially separate and is specifically designed for students who require intensive support in the educational setting. The instructional methodology in the substantially separate setting includes Applied Behavior Analysis, ABA, and is taught by a special educator in collaboration with a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, BCBA.

Preschool Information Guide

To ensure a smooth transition into preschool, we have developed a checklist to guide the transition process.

Preschool Checklist

Preschool Program Days & Hours of Operation
Days	Morning (AM)	Afternoon (PM)	Full Day (FD)
Monday  Tuesday Wednesday Thursday	9:00 - 11:30 a.m. 9:00 - 11:30 a.m. 9:00 - 11:30 a.m. 9:00 - 11:30 a.m.	12:30 - 3:00 p.m. 12:30 - 3:00 p.m. 12:30 - 3:00 p.m. 12:30 - 3:00 p.m.	9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Applying for Plains Preschool Program

Who is Eligible for Preschool?

Children three years of age are potentially eligible for preschool. However, unlike other grades in the district, children three years of age residing in South Hadley are not automatically eligible to attend our program as it is a special education program with specific eligibility criteria for both students receiving special education services and those who are peer partners. All children who are considered for enrollment are screened by the preschool faculty before beginning the program.

Peer Partners

To be considered as a peer partner for our program, your child must pass the preschool screening and meet additional criteria for eligibility. For more information about our preschool screening, please click the preschool screening tab above.

Space in our program is limited. If the number of interested families should exceed the available slots, students will be selected via a lottery system.

Additional Criteria

• Toilet Trained (during the daytime hours)
• Ability to separate from caregivers with some support 
• Willingness to interact with others and follow adult directions

We understand that the first preschool experience is tough for many young children and encourage families to discuss entering preschool with their child to prepare them for the transition.

Special Education Eligibility

Eligibility for special education for all preschool aged students is determined by a multidisciplinary team that includes the student’s family. The South Hadley Public Schools follows state and federal mandates pertaining to special education referral, evaluation process, and eligibility determination. To learn more, please see our Special Education Referral Process tab.

Enrolling in Preschool

Once your child has been accepted to the preschool program, you will need to complete registration. Registration forms are available for pickup at Plains Elementary School. Along with a completed registration packet, you will also need to supply the office staff with proof of residency, birth certificate, immunization & physical record. 

To ensure a smooth transition into preschool, we have developed a checklist to guide the transition process.

Ready to Begin Preschool Checklist

All preschool students entering the public school are screened by a multidisciplinary team before enrollment. The purpose of the screening is to identify students whose development and learning should be monitored and/or students who may require additional support or services to continue to make progress. The screening process is in compliance with Massachusetts Department of Education 603 CMR 28.03.

The South Hadley Public Schools holds group screenings throughout the school year. The screening includes both formal and informal methods to gather information regarding each child's development and learning. 

During the screening, children are invited into the classroom setting to play and interact with adults and peers. This allows the screening team to gain information about your child's play and social skills. We encourage children to separate from caregivers, explore the classroom toys and materials, and interact with other children and adults. 

Participation in a preschool screening is the first step in enrolling your student as a peer partner in the preschool program. Screening is also often a first step for families who are concerned about their child's development or learning. Many families choose to participate in a preschool screening as a safeguard to ensure that their child is developing typically even if they are not applying to the preschool program. 

If a student is screened and the team has identified some areas of potential delay, the team will discuss these concerns with the family and determine next steps. At this time, the team may choose to monitor the child's development and plan to rescreen the child. The team may also choose to request further evaluations in the areas of concern. The district team works with families every step of the way to ensure that potential delays are identified as early as possible. Please refer to the section titled Special Education Referral Process for more information about referring your child.

DIAL-4 Screening Instrument

The formal screening instrument administered by the South Hadley School District and many surrounding communities is the DIAL-4. The DIAL-4 is a norm-referenced assessment that is designed to identify students who may be at risk or who may require further evaluations. The screener is administered to each child individually and students are assessed across developmental domains including gross motor, fine motor and visual integration, language, speech articulation, as well as pre-academic numeracy and literacy skills.

To participate in a preschool screening, your child must be three years of age. The district will need to secure your consent to screen your child. Please complete and return the Preschool Screening Consent Packet to the following:

Attn: Amy Landgon

Early Childhood Coordinator

Plains Elementary School

00 Lyman Street

South Hadley, MA 01075

A screening consent packet can be downloaded here. A packet can also be mailed to you or you may stop by Plains Elementary School to pick up a packet between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. *Please note: Office hours may be different during the summer months when school is not in session. Please call ahead to ensure that office staff are available (413) 538-5068.

Please note: For your screening application to be considered complete, you must submit at least one recent proof of residency with your screening packet. Once you have submitted your application, a confirmation letter will be mailed to you with the date/time of the screening. 

Preschool Screening Consent Form

Solicitud y Consentimiento Para Examen Preescolar

 

 

Tuition for Peer Partners

The South Hadley Public Schools offers half-day programming at affordable rates. There is also a sliding scale that is based upon parent/guardian income. 

Reduced Tuition Request Form

Solicitud De Matrícula Reducida

Tuition Sliding Scale - Half Day

Escala variable de tarifas de matrícula preescolar anticipada para estudiantes de medio dia

SHPS Tuition Agreement Contract

Students are referred to the South Hadley Public Schools Special Education Department when there are concerns related to a student's development or learning. Students are referred to the district from Early Intervention, parents/caregivers, as well as pediatricians and service providers. The preschool team may also refer a student based upon the results of a preschool screening.

Evaluation

A special education referral begins with an evaluation of the student's development, skills, and behavior. During this initial phase, the team will collect as much information as possible regarding a child's health and developmental history as well as assess the child's skills and ability in a variety of domains. 

Eligibility

Once all evaluations are complete, the team then meets for an initial eligibility meeting to determine if the student is eligible for special education. Parents and caregivers are a vital part of a child's team. The eligibility determination is two fold. First, the team will determine if the student has a disability. If a disability is identified, the team will consider how that disability impacts the student's education. If the disability is impacting the student's progress in the educational setting, the team will develop an Individualized Education Program, IEP, and determine appropriate placement for the student to ensure that the student is in the least restrictive environment where they can make progress. 

Contact Information

If you have concerns about your preschooler's learning or development, please contact Amy Langdon, Early Childhood Coordinator .

The Massachusetts Department of Education Individualized Education Program, IEP, Process Guide.

Click here to learn about the steps in the IEP Process.