Early Childhood

The Early Childhood program at Blue Valley Schools serves children ages 3 to 5 who qualify for special education services. In addition, an application-only Peer Program is available for children without developmental delays. The Peer Program offers typically developing children the opportunity to join Early Childhood Special Education classrooms and serve as peer models for children with special needs. These peer model students support their classmates by fostering positive peer interactions, demonstrating play skills, and modeling appropriate language and behavior in the classroom.

Inside Our Early Childhood Program

There are 26 early childhood classrooms in Blue Valley Schools, with 15 located at Hilltop Learning Center. Most classrooms are known as reverse mainstream classrooms, meaning about half of the students have an Individualized Education Program, or IEP, and the other half are typically developing peers from the community.

When children are together in the classroom, we function as one community. We do not identify which students are receiving special education services and which are peers. This can sometimes be confusing—even for families participating in the program—when trying to understand how it works.

Each classroom generally serves three groups of children, as detailed below:

All students receive a high-quality early childhood education that is developmentally appropriate—both for their age and for each individual child.

Who We Serve

Children with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs)

Children with Individualized Education Programs, or IEPs, are eligible for special education services. These children typically demonstrate a need for intervention in more than one area of development and may also qualify for district-provided transportation.

Peers

Peer students must be at least 3 years old and not yet eligible by age to attend kindergarten. They must demonstrate age-appropriate skills in all areas of development, including speech and language, play, motor skills, social-emotional development, and independence. Transportation is not provided for peer students.

Children who are being evaluated to determine their eligibility for an IEP

Children who are being evaluated to determine their eligibility for an Individualized Education Program, or IEP, may ultimately qualify for special education services or enroll as peer students. They may also be eligible for district-provided transportation.