ELKHORN AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
COMMUNITY CONNECTION from the cradle to the classroom Education is a lifelong pursuit, and it starts earlier than you may think. The Elkhorn Area School District is proud to offer early education opportunities for children from birth to five years old! Investing in early education is one of the best predictors of later success. EASD provides early learning opportunities and developmental screenings for all resident children. Developmental and health screenings are an essential facet of early education programming. Children are often referred for screening by their pediatrician, preschool and daycare providers, and district staff helping facilitate community events. The process of locating, identifying, and evaluating children with disabilities is called Child Find. “Early identification of potential challenges and early intervention is critical in the child development process because we know that a child’s brain develops most rapidly between the ages of birth to five years old,” says Emily Lynd, EASD Director of Special Education. Lynd received her bachelor’s degree in psychology at UW Eau Claire and her master’s degree and education specialist degree from UW Whitewater. She earned her Director of Pupil Services degree through UW Eau Claire. Lynd continues, “high-quality early educational programs that focus on early brain development and inclusion with peers in the child’s natural environment have a lasting positive impact on a child’s view of themself as a learner and overall school experience.”
Let’s Play
Two years ago, the Elkhorn Area School District introduced the Peer Model Playgroup for three-year-olds in our district. The Playgroup has several cohorts of regular and special education students who engage in play and literacy activities, develop fine and gross motor skills, and work on language development in an inclusive environment twice a week for two hours at Jackson Elementary. The program received the Wisconsin Council of Administrators of Special Services (WCASS) Region 2 Integration Team Award in May 2023. The Peer Model Playgroup provides all young children with the opportunities to observe, interact with, and imitate children who have acquired higher-level motor, personal/social, language, and cognitive skills in an inclusive environment.
Getting Ready for Kindergarten
As our littlest Elks get closer to school age, EASD offers a half-day fouryear-old kindergarten program to all residents who turn four years old on or before September 1 of the upcoming school year. EASD partners with three local child care centers, Lakeland’s Little Learners, Step Ahead Preschool, and Kiddie Kottage Learning Academy, to house 4K programming. 4K nurtures social, emotional, and early academic skills. Special education staff from the school district are also able to provide services to students directly at their 4K centers, be it speech, occupational, or physical therapy. Montessori 4K and 5K are offered at Options Virtual Charter School for families looking for a different approach to early education. Montessori is an educational method focusing on children’s natural interests and emphasizes a hands-on approach to learning. Options Montessori 4K is a half-day program, while 5K Continued on page 2