Before your child's early intervention program ends, your service coordinator will discuss procedures about entering pre-school. A list of schools in your area will be given to you to look over and make appointments to visit. Most important is the location. Today many schools have different locations within a wide radius. However, some of the locations will not be as accommodating as another. For example: larger or smaller facility, more or less classroom options or the rehabilitation center may not be equipped for your child's specific needs. Form of transportation is also another consideration. Is there bus transportation? What is the furthest distance you will want your child to travel to and from school? If your working or stay at home, do you want your child in a location closest to work or at home? All these questions and more need to be thought through.
Classroom options vary fromm school to school. The integrated 9-1-1, is a class with no more than 18 children. There are nine children with disabilities and nine without, along with a special education teacher, a certified early childhood care professional and one assistant. Child - teacher ratio is 1 to 6. Another setting is a 6-1-1. This is a more specialized class. It is for children with behavioral disorders and cognitive disorders. The class includes approximately 12 children. Again, the ratio is six children with a disability and six without. One teacher, one early childhood teacher and an assistant. Ratio of children to teacher is 1 to 4. Your child's pre-school evaluations will be thoroughly analyzed and a decision of class placement will be set. Also, another decision may be made whether or not your child needs a one-on-one aid. The perosnal aid is hired by the school. The job of an aid is to be with your child the entire school day, to help with transport, feeding, and any other special needs. Personal care aids are assigned to a child with a physical disability.
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