Ridgefield ELC reports growth in inclusive preschool, says 50% of attendees identified with special needs

Jamie Heim, principal of the Ridgefield Early Learning Center, presented the ELC annual report, emphasizing inclusive practices, early screening and family engagement that the district said help prepare preschoolers for kindergarten.

"Every child in our program feels valued and supported," Heim told the board during the meeting. She reported the ELC served 108 students this year, that about 50% of those students were identified as having a special need, and that 37% were tuition‑paying families. Heim described an "early threes" playgroup that served up to 10 families weekly and said the program offered scholarships that enabled low‑income families to attend at no charge.

Heim described classroom and service delivery models: providers (occupational therapists, speech pathologists, special education teachers) push into general education classrooms where possible and collaborate through student support teams and MTSS processes. She said the ELC achieved roughly 95% fidelity on an inclusion framework assessment at the end of spring.

When board members asked how the ELC handles transitions to kindergarten, Heim said buildings hold spring transition meetings, amend IEPs where necessary to move a child from half‑day preschool to full‑day kindergarten support, and make concrete recommendations (for example, seating near a nurse or playground supports) to set students up for success. "We come together with the team ... and make sure that we just kind of get as prepared as possible," Heim said.

Board members praised the program and its staff; the board president and members thanked Heim for the report. The presentation concluded with recognition of staff partnerships with high‑school students who volunteered in the ELC and with plans to continue refining MTSS and PLT practices.

The board did not take action on the presentation; Heim's report was received as an informational item.