Excelling Teaching & Learning : Special Education : Preschool
	PANDA Brochure - Peer Models 258k PANDA Brochure223k

All PANDA preschool classrooms are licensed and monitored by the Arizona Department of Health-Childcare Licensing Division

Typically developing preschoolers are encouraged to enroll to provide strong language and behavioral models for their special needs peers.  Children must be 3 by Sept 1, toilet trained and be screened (see preschool screening info).  Enrollment is open, transportation must be provided by the parent, fee is $30 per week.  

	Preschool Special Needs Screening
	Parents concerned about developmental delays they observe in their children who live in the Scottsdale Unified School District are welcome to participate in preschool screenings for children from 33 months through 5 years of age. The screenings will be conducted at Mohave District Annex at 8505 E. Valley View Road in Scottsdale. This is about 2 blocks south of McDonald, between Granite Reef and 86th St.. The screenings will be in the "Kachina" room on the Mohave Middle School campus from 8:00 a.m.- 11:30 a.m.. It will be on a first come, first served basis. There are no appointments. The dates of these screenings are: September 17, 2008                                            October 1, 2008 October 15, 2008   October 29, 2008 November 12, 2008 December 3, 2008 January 7, 2009 January 21, 2009 February 4, 2009 February 18, 2009 March 4, 2009 March 18, 2009 April 1, 2009 April 15, 2009 May 6, 2009 May 20, 2009   Please refer to the Arizona Department of Education, http://www.ade.az.gov/ess/ChildFind/Cf3To5.asp, to see developmental milestones for children from 0 to 3 and 3 to 5. Please note: the last screening will take place at 11:30 a.m.

Scottsdale Schools PANDA Preschool Program Description
PANDA is an acronym for Program for Assessed Needs in Developmental Areas (P. A. N. D. A.). This program provides preschool intervention services for 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old children with special needs who are not yet eligible for kindergarten. The program is designed to facilitate the growth and development of young students with special needs through early intervention. The curriculum is based on the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) and is focused on the development of skills in communication, cognition, social, motor, adaptive and other developmental areas. PANDA programs may have up to 12 students in each class. The adult/student ratio may vary depending upon the class make-up. The program is offered in seven of our elementary sites. PANDA brochure.

The goals of the Preschool Program are to:

• Provide preschool experiences that are developmentally appropriate for students who are 3-5 years of age and have special needs.
• Identify the needs, abilities and interests of each child.
• Develop and implement an appropriate individualized plan for each child with special needs.
• Provide a caring, enabling and enriching environment that encourages growth through independence.
• Assist and support families through parent workshops, home visits, conferences, shared decision-making and the use of parenting resources.
• Monitor, assess and report the progress of each child.
• Facilitate a smooth and effective transition for each child into an appropriate program for kindergarten aged children.

Registration/enrollment qualifications
In order to participate in this program, a child must meet eligibility criteria in one or more of the following areas:

• A significant developmental delay in the areas of cognitive, physical, social/emotional or adaptive development
• Speech or language delay
• Visual impairment
• Hearing impairment
• Child lives in the attendance area designated for the PANDA site.
• Child has a legal birth certificate confirming that the child is at least three years of age and not age eligible for Kindergarten.
• Child meets legal requirements for immunizations and other health-related issues.
• Parent or legal guardian has participated in an Individual Education Plan meeting and has agreed to placement in special education by signing the IEP form.
  

School schedule for the PANDA Program
The school day consists of two and a half hours of instruction four days a week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday). Children are assigned to a morning or afternoon session depending upon enrollment and the related services that need to be provided. Bus transportation is available for children who require it.

Concerns about child development?
Free preschool screening will be conducted at the Mohave District Annex during the school year. These screenings will determine if further evaluation is appropriate. If the screening indicates that a full PANDA evaluation is needed, we will call you to schedule one at the earliest possible date.