About the Preschool Program

Image with pictures of preschool students.

The Hudson City Schools Preschool Program is an early intervention program for children with disabilities and typically developing children between the ages of 3-5 years. Children are identified as having special needs through a multi-factored evaluation which consists of a play-based assessment performed by the school team (school psychologist, special education teacher, speech pathologist, occupational therapist, and/or physical therapist). Children with disabilities in our program have a wide range of needs including communication, hearing, motor (fine and/or gross), vision, cognition, adaptive behavior (self-help skills), and/or social/emotional/behavioral functioning. Peer models are selected through a screening process that identifies peers who demonstrate typical skills in all areas and strong skills in the areas of social and communication. The program offers a 'hands-on' teaching approach to promote academic, social, communicative, behavioral, and motoric growth and development. Our curriculum is based on the Ohio Department of Children & Youth.

We believe the purpose of early childhood education is to enable young children to realize their unique potential. Through a variety of instructional strategies, children are taught to explore and develop in many areas, including physical, cognitive, social-emotional, self-help, and communication.

Referrals and Services

Referrals

If you have a preschool-age child (turning 3) with a disability or if you suspect that your preschooler may have a disability, please contact Jen Devore, School Psychologist, at 330-653-1322 or Jennifer Hall, Principal, at 330-653-1246.

Preschool Referral / Evaluation Flowchart

Services

The Hudson City Schools Preschool offers both a center-based and an itinerant program. The center-based program consists of morning and afternoon classes four days a week. Each class includes up to eight students with identified disabilities and from four to six typical peers, depending on the age and class needs. Classes are taught by licensed early childhood special educators and staffed with trained classroom aides. Speech/language therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy services are available to students who qualify. Other specialized services may be available based on individual student needs. The preschool curriculum seeks to help students develop gross and fine motor skills, social/emotional skills, and self-help skills, as well as all the preparatory academics for kindergarten. Each special needs student who qualifies for preschool services has an "Individualized Education Plan" (IEP) based on the child's specific needs.

The itinerant program provides eligible students with specialized instruction in a variety of settings based on what is appropriate. Students may be served in a private preschool program, at our school for therapy only, or in the child's home. A team approach is utilized to determine and meet each child's needs. Team members may include parents, a classroom teacher, teaching assistant/aide, speech-language pathologist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, school psychologist, school nurse and an administrator.

Peer Models

Peer models are selected through a mandatory screening process. The screening allows the preschool team the opportunity to observe and informally evaluate the children and select children who demonstrate strong development in all areas, a high level of independence, and compliance in a group setting. Peer spots are limited and students are placed based on their screening score, age, transportation zone, and needs of the class. Once chosen as a peer model, the student may remain in the program until they go to kindergarten.

The online application window for the following school year opens in December and remains open for one week. Winter applicants must be 3 years old by August 1st. A waiting list for additional screening will be created if necessary and applicants will be notified if screening spots become available.

Application information is announced on the district website, McDowell Early Learning School's website, the district's social media sites (Facebook/Twitter), and in the Hudson Hub.

Apply as a Peer

Tuition and Fees

Tuition is $1500 per year for peers. Special needs students do not pay tuition, but do pay $17.50 for school fees.

Tuition payments are available and due at the start of each trimester (August, November, and February). Each applicant will need to pay a deposit of $200 to secure the preschool peer spot for your child. The deposit will be required to be paid by February 15th. The deposit will be applied to the full tuition of $1,500.

Transportation

Hudson City School District is not required to provide transportation to preschool peers. At this time transportation is available for our peers; however, please note that our availability to transport could change in the future.

Transportation zones are based on location (AM is north of 303/PM is south of 303 and there is a grey area that is the section east of Rt 91 and also between Hudson Aurora and 303). If your child is placed in the correct zone they can receive transportation to and from school. Students residing North of 303 will be placed in the am session and students residing South of 303 will be in the pm session. Please call the office if you need clarification.

Students who attend daycare may be transported to/ from several daycare facilities to/from the preschool program. AM daycares include First Congregational Church, and TLC. PM daycares are Sweet Kiddles, A Place for Everyone, Goddard, Kindercare, TLC, Primrose and Le Chaperone Rouge. In addition, you may request that your child have a car seat placed on the bus so that they will be buckled into their seat. The car seat request can be made in August before school starts.

Class Times

The preschool program is half days, Monday through Thursday. We offer an AM session (8:55-11:40) and a PM session (12:55-3:40). There is no full day option. Fridays are reserved for testing, conferences, and teacher training.

Placement for peers is based on your area of residency. Students residing North of 303 will be placed in the AM session and students residing South of 303 will be in the PM session.

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