Early Childhood (Preschool)
WHITE RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT INCLUSIONARY PRESCHOOL PROGRAM
The White River Inclusionary Preschool is an early childhood program that combines specialized approaches and related services tailored to meet the needs of children with special needs. Our preschool serves children ages three to five. Placement is based on need and is determined by the IEP (Individualized Education Plan) team. The purpose is to provide a developmentally appropriate environment for children to develop their language, social-emotional, cognitive/pre-academic, and motor skills necessary for future school success. Placement in our Preschool Program is determined through an evaluation process, and students must meet eligibility requirements as mandated by IDEA.
The curriculum used in White River’s Inclusionary Preschool is Creative Curriculum, which was developed around TS Gold Objectives for Development & Learning: Birth Through Third Grade. Each classroom has a consistent and highly predictable schedule that incorporates a learning environment featuring small-group, whole-group instruction, exploration centers, outside recess, and either lunch or a snack.
White River School District’s preschool is housed at the Early Learning Center. The preschool consists of a half-day program, Tuesday -Friday, and follows the WRSD Calendar. The morning session runs from 8:55 am to 11:55 am. The afternoon session runs from 12:25 pm-3:25 pm. Transportation within White River boundaries is provided for students who meet special education eligibility criteria for the Preschool Program.
Who Do We Serve?
- Kindergarten students from the Foothills, Mt. Meadow, and Wilkson service areas
- Preschool, Kindergarten, and students with IEPs from the entire district
CHILD FIND
What is Child Find?
The process of locating and evaluating children with disabilities is referred to as Child Find. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 2004 requires all school districts to locate, evaluate, and provide services for individuals 3 through the 22nd birthday who may have a disability.
WAC 392-172A-02040: School districts shall conduct child find activities calculated to reach all students with a suspected disability for the purpose of locating, evaluating, and identifying students who are in need of special education and related services, regardless of the severity of their disability.
Child Find in the White River School District
The White River School District offers regularly scheduled, free developmental Child Find screenings for children aged 3 to 21 years old. Child Find screenings are an opportunity for early childhood professionals to evaluate a child’s development and compare it to that of children of a similar age.
What happens during a Child Find Screening?
The purpose of a Child Find screening is to identify issues that may affect a child’s learning, growth, and development and to help parents identify their child’s strengths and weaknesses.
During the screening, children will be screened in the following skill areas:
- Speech/Language: A speech/language pathologist will screen the child's ability to produce speech sounds and understand and use language.
- Fine Motor Skills: An occupational therapist will screen the child’s fine motor skills (eye-hand coordination, reaching, grasping, object manipulation).
- Gross Motor Skills: A physical therapist will screen the child's gross motor skills (running, jumping, stairs, balance).
- Concepts: An early childhood special education teacher/school psychologist will screen the child's reasoning and problem-solving skills, as well as various pre-academic skills, including counting, sorting, and colors.
- Social-Emotional/Adaptive: An early childhood special education teacher/school psychologist will consider the child's play skills, interactions with others, and self-help skills.
- Vision/Hearing: A school nurse will conduct vision and hearing screenings and review the child's health history.
After the screening, a team member will analyze the screening data and connect with the family to discuss any next steps. The next steps may include suggestions for the family and/or initiation of a special education evaluation.
What steps do I take to schedule a Child Find Screening?
To request a Child Find Screening:
- Please contact us at (360) 829-3959 (prior to a screening, the District will need to verify residency)
2025-2026 Child Find Screening Dates
October 6, 2025
November 17, 2025
January 12, 2026
February 9, 2026
March 9, 2026
April 20, 2026
May 18, 2026
BIRTH TO THREE
For infants and toddlers, birth to age 3, the White River School District has contracts with local agencies to determine if your child is following a typical pattern of development. If your child demonstrates developmental delays, he/she can receive intervention services through the birth-to-three agency. Please contact the Birth-to-Three Developmental Center at 253-874-5445.