Home Site map and contact information.

Early Childhood Curriculum An explanation of the curriculum and daily routine.

Early Childhood Programs An explanation of programs, including Head Start, Title I, Birth to Three, and Special Education.

Child Find A description of the preschool/developmental screening and evaluation.

Developmental Milestones What to look for at different stages of development.

Early Childhood Programs in the Sioux Falls School District include the following:

HEAD START

The Sioux Falls Public Schools is the grantee of this federally funded child development program for children and their families.  It provides education, nutrition, health, and family services to preschool-age children whose families meet income eligibility guidelines.  

School Based:  A 9-month program that runs concurrent with the Sioux Falls Schools' calendar.  Classes are held 4 days a week, Monday through Thursday, for three and one-half hours a day.  Bussing to and from school is provided.  This program is designed for children who have turned three or four years old by September 1st of the current year.  

 

Community Based:  A 12-month program offered through a joint effort of Sioux Falls Head Start and various community child care providers located at different agencies in Sioux Falls.  It is designed for families who are:

• Seeking training or education

• Involved in a community service program

•  Seeking employment or are working 20 or more hours per week.

Community based programs are located at one of the following agencies:  

•  Circle of Hope

•  Scarbrough Center

• Youth Enrichment Services

• Volunteers of America/Dakotas/Parent Child Learning Center

• Volunteers of America/Dakotas/Family Literacy Center

• InterLakes Community Action

TITLE I PRESCHOOL

Through Title I funds, free preschool classrooms are provided at select school sites for families.  Education services are offered for three and four year old children for four half-days per week.  Classrooms operate throughout the school year.

EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION

A free comprehensive program providing services to children aged three to five in need of services because they experience a developmental delay or have been evaluated as having a disability.  Services may be needed due to a delay in any one of a number of developmental areas, including cognitive, physical, communication, self-help, and/or personal-social skills.  Children in early childhood special education programs have delays or disabilities ranging from mild to severe.

Various program options include:

• Speech Only Services:  Delay is present in the area of speech and/or language only.  Seen on an outpatient basis; usually in an elementary school. 

• Itinerant Specialized Instruction:  Child is enrolled in a preschool with specialized instruction provided on a regular basis. 

• Language Stimulation Classroom:  Primary focus is to increase the ability to understand and use language.  Parents may tuition preschoolers into these classrooms, as space is available.

• Specialized Classroom:  To meet the needs of children with disabilities that prevents them from succeeding in a language stimulation classroom.

BIRTH TO THREE PROGRAM

Available to children birth to age three, determined to have a developmental delay through a multi-disciplinary evaluation.  Services are provided in the home or day care setting.

Through the Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) process, the committee will consider the services that will meet the individual child's needs.  Examples might include early childhood special education, speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, or others as outlined in the law.