Celebrating 30 Years of the Right Beginning!

Today, the Prekindergarten Program for Children with Disabilities serves Miami-Dade students in 185 classrooms in 103 schools! But it wasn't always this way - much has changed in the past 30 years. In 1978, the focus for a family with a child with a disability was on gaining access to schools and services. Today, the focus of not only families, but our whole community, is to raise standards for all preschool children in included settings.

The Education for all Handicapped Children (P.L. 94-142), landmark legislation that mandated programs for all children with disabilities from 6-18 years of age, was passed in 1978. This paved the way for provisions to serve 3-5 and 18-21 year olds (which had been optional) to become mandatory in 1988.

Early childhood special education had its start in our community in private agencies such as the Debbie School, United Cerebral Palsy, Easter Seals and Association for Retarded Citizens. In 1976, Bill and Diane Bricker at the Debbie School received a federal grant, Toddler Early Education Program (TEEP), to develop a program for children with disabilities ages 3 to 5. The first year, a model demonstration preschool classroom was established at the Debbie School. In the second year, a second classroom was opened at Kensington Park Elementary. In the third year, the program was expanded in the public schools throughout the district - Norwood Elementary, Everglades Elementary, Tropical Elementary, West Homestead Elementary, and Arcola Lake Elementary.

As our program has grown in size over the last 30 years, one thing has never changed - our commitment to provide high quality programs to the children and families we serve. We are able to do this thanks to the dedicated work of many teachers, paraprofessionals, therapists, administrators and families. But above all, the commitment and leadership of two very important individuals has made our Prekindergarten Program for Children with Disabilities a standout program in the state of Florida, and, indeed, across the country -

Thank you Roni Bader-Tables and Dolores Mendoza - we love you and appreciate all you have done for the children of Miami-Dade for 30 years!

What's New?

8/20/08 - Coming Soon - Photos from our 1st Annual Classroom Preparation Day and a feedback survey for attendees...

8/12/08 - The Extra Equipment page will be continually updated as teachers notify us of available materials.

7/22/08 - New 20-choice picture boards for Art, Block, House and Toy Areas added to Boardmaker Activity Specific page. Thanks to Paula Blair!

7/22/08 - "Encouraging Communication" Power Point added to Speech and Language page and to Power Point Downloads page. Thanks to Dolores Mendoza!

7/22/08 - Updates posted to the Boardmaker Flip Chart page. Thanks to Paula Blair for the new graphics and boards!

7/14/08 - First Then Board Templates added to Boardmaker Behavioral/Social page.

7/8/08 - Keep an eye on the Teacher Handbook page as we post updates throughout the summer. Updates are indicated in red.

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