PreSchool Program for Children with Disabilities (PPCD)
Plano Independent School District offers services for preschoolers with
disabilities ages three through five. Some children with specific disabilities
such as deaf -blindness are served from birth.
The Preschool
Program for Children with Disabilities (PPCD) provides educational and
support services for children ages 3 to 5 with identified delays in one
or more of the five developmental areas. These developmental areas
are: motor, social/emotional, self-help, communication, and pre-academic.
Students are eligible for services on their third birthday, regardless
of when the birthday falls within the school year.
Special education services through PPCD are offered at no cost to parents.
Learning Through Play
The PPCD classrooms in Plano ISD support and teach developmental
skills through active play. Play is an important vehicle for children's
social, emotional, and cognitive development (Bradenkamp & Copple,
1997). It is important to understand
that children are active constructors of knowledge and that development
and learning re the result of interactive processes. Play gives children opportunities
to understand the world, interact with others socially, express and control
emotions, and develop early literacy skills. Children are able to practice
newly acquired skills, attempt novel and challenging tasks, and solve
complex problems through play. Play provides the opportunity to
explore the environment. Teachers support this exploration in the
environment by modeling language and appropriate play skills. Child-initiated,
teacher supported play is an essential component of developmentally appropriate
service.
PPCD and Plano ISD
There are approximately 625 students served in the Preschool Program for Children
with Disabilities in Plano ISD.
Special education services are individualized for each student. Instructional
objectives and strategies are customized and are based on the information
provided through assessment and observation.
Plano ISD uses a play-based assessment in order to determine eligibility.The
transdisciplinary asssessment team consists of a teacher or educational
diagnostician and a speech/language pathologist. The assessment
team will meet with the parents during a pre-assessment meeting to gather
information and determine the need for assessment. Other specialists,
such as an occupational therapist, a physical therapist, and licensed
specialist in school psychology, are added to the team as needed.
During the assessment, the child is observed interacting with one of the
team members as he plays with materials designed to demonstrate his or
her skills in all developmental areas. Materials include typical
preschool toys, adaptive devices, switch toys, and other special pieces
of equipment.Parents are an integral part of their child's assessment.At
the conclusion of the assessment, the team reviews the findings with the
parents and proposes a course of action.
What is the play-based assessment like?
The
play-based assessment evaluates a child's abilities in each of the five
developmental stages. Parents are present throughout the process.
One assessment specialist acts as the play facilitator and interacts with
the child while the other assessment specialist acts as the parent facilitator
and observes the child playing. The parent facilitator will also
communicate with the parents throughout the asessment to determine if
the child is demonstrating typical behavior. Parents may have the
opportunity to play with their child while both assessment specialists
observe. A report is written and mailed to the parents upon completion
of the assessment. The report documents observations and makes recommendations.
If the student appears to be eligible for special education services,
an Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) is scheduled. It is the ARD
committee who will review assessment data, discuss eligibility and
determine educational need for special education services.
If the child speaks a language other than English, the play-based assessment
is done with the use of an interpreter.
What preschool services are provided through PPCD in Plano?
The resources used by PPCD are as varied as are the student's needs.
The classrooms foster a team environment where specialists work together
with parents to develop an Individual Education Plan (I.E.P.). Each classroom
has a teacher, a speech/language pathologist, and a teaching assistant.
Related services such as occupational therapy, physical therapy, and music
therapy are provided to the student as established by the I.E.P.
The PPCD team values parents as partners in their child's education. The
team works collaboratively throughout the year with families in order
to promote home/school partnerships. The Practical Parent Education maintains
a book & video lending library that parents are encouraged to use.
Practical Parent Education is a unique partnership between the Plano community
and Plano ISD designed to provide a parent support network.
Where are the assessment centers?
The assessment centers and the neighborhood campuses that flow into them are
listed below. Click on one of the following links to visit the
school's website within the district.
Beaty Early Childhood Center
Isaacs Early Childhood Center
Pearson Early Childhood Center
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Special Education Services 