Enrollment of children with Special Education Needs
Children are enrolled through a variety of ways. Usually, the Special Ed. Coop refers parents to our program. The parents are then given information about the Special Children's Center. Parents are offered the opportunity to walk through the center and to spend some time in the classrooms meeting the staff and the director. The parents are asked to complete a child care enrollment packet and an SRS subsidy application if they will be needing tuition assistance. After the paper work is completed and the child has a current physical, the child is able to enroll in the center.

Development of the IEP or IFSP
Individual Education Plans (IEP) are completed by the Special Ed. Coop.

Special Education Services at St. Benedict's
At St. Ben's, special education services are provided by Early Childhood Special Educators (ECSE), ECSE paraeducators, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, an audiologist, a behavior specialist, a consulting social worker, and a school psychologist through a cooperative agreement with the Wyandotte County Special Education Cooperative through Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools, USD # 500. St. Ben's provides an early childhood regular education teacher and an assistant teacher for each classroom. USD # 500, parents and/or St. Ben's share responsibility for transporting students to and from home and the Center. Each child receives breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack at the Center. Foster Grandparents provide additional support in the classroom. The Center is open from 7:00 AM until 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, twelve months a year. Special Education services are provided four days a week from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM during the school year. Extended School Year services are provided for six weeks each summer in June and July.

Family Involvement in the Program
If families transport their children, they are able to see the classroom staff daily. Letters are sent home to parents to notify them of any special events. Monthly newsletters and calendars are sent home to parents. Parents meet with the staff during their IEP updates. Bi-monthly parent meetings are held with a variety of speakers and topics. Parents are also given information about other district parenting activities and meetings.

Child Specific Accommodations in the Classroom
The team identifies what each child needs. The case manager is responsible for carrying out the accommodations.

Program Funding
The program has funding from a variety of sources. Most families are eligible for child care assistance through the state welfare department Social and Rehabilitative Services (SRS). We are also a United Way agency and receive some funding through the Archdiocese and through Federal, State and local grants and foundations.

Transportation for Children
Transportation is provided to the center by the special education coop. Many parents provide their own transportation, because of work schedules. Transportation home is provided by the Special Children's Center.

Inservice Training
Training is provided by the Special Education Coop. as well as the Special Children's Center. The staff are required to have a minimum of ten hours per year inservice training. Staff are encouraged to take part in other training offered locally.

Peer Interactions
All participate in every activity. . . that's the point of inclusion. . . treating all equally letting all children know that being different is okay.