ECSE

The Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE, formerly known as PPCD or Preschool Program for Children with Disabilities) program in NISD is located on elementary schools throughout the district. The classrooms are staffed with teachers who are certified in special education and who have received continuing professional development in early childhood education. NISD utilizes the TEA PK Guidelines as the preschool curriculum both for the ECSE classrooms and the PK classrooms. The HighScope instructional framework is the foundation for the daily routine, adult child interactions, and the classroom learning environment. Many instructional resources, including Welcome to Frogstreet PK, Handwriting without Tears, and Second Step are provided to the teachers to develop engaging, hands-on activities. A continuum of services is available for children ages 3-5 years old who meet disability criteria for special education services. Those services could include drop-in speech, inclusive preschool classrooms, self-contained classrooms, and related services. All placement decisions are made by the Annual Review and Dismissal Committee (ARDC), which includes the child’s family.