QUALITY PRE-KINDERGARTEN OFFERED AT THE DISCOVERY LEARNING CENTER
 

 
The Discovery Learning Center is offering a quality pre-kindergarten program for children ages 3 to 5 years old. The pre-kindergarten program follows an inclusionary model, wherein typical children and children with special needs learn side by side in the same classroom. 
 

The Pre-K class is comprised of a balanced mix of typical children and children with special needs as are all Discovery Learning Center classrooms.  The maximum enrollment in our Pre-K classroom is 16 students.  
 

OVERVIEW

1. Is the Discovery Learning Center’s Pre-K a voluntary (universal) Pre-K?

2. What is an inclusion classroom?

3. What’s the difference between inclusion and mainstreaming?

4. Inclusion classrooms benefit ALL children with and without disabilities.

5. How do I apply?

6. Compare the Difference

 1.  Is the Discovery Learning Center’s Pre-K a voluntary (universal) Pre-K?

• No. The Discovery Learning Center’s Pre-K is a private Pre-K program. It differs in many ways from the voluntary Pre-K program. Read on to see a chart which compares the two programs.

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 2.  What is an inclusion classroom?

The Discovery Learning Center endorses and implements the philosophy of inclusion in all its preschool programs.  An inclusive education means providing students of all abilities with equal opportunities to receive an effective education. An inclusive educational setting allows students with disabilities go to school alongside their typical peers, while receiving any specialized instructional support needed because of their disability.  The philosophy of inclusion requires highly trained, top-quality teachers who thoughtfully develop creative and effective ways to reach all children.  Inclusion is based on the belief that we live in a diverse world, and that children should learn and grow in environments that resemble those in which they live.

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 3.  What’s the difference between inclusion and mainstreaming?

With mainstreaming, a child starts out in a segregated special education classroom and must “earn” his way into a general education class, based on his ability to keep up with his typical peers and his ability to function without special education instructional supports. This concept limits a disabled child’s full participation in the classroom community.

With inclusion, a child will be in a general education classroom full-time and any needed special education services are brought to the child in that setting.  While federal law does not require inclusion, it does require that a “significant effort” be made to find an inclusive placement, and that children with disabilities be educated “in the least restrictive environment.” These federal rules apply when a child enters the public education system.

Discovery Learning Center classrooms already follow the inclusion model. We have Medicaid-approved, licensed private speech, occupational, and physical therapists ON SITE to provide physician-prescribed therapies and to work closely with classroom teachers.

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 4.  Inclusion classrooms benefit ALL children with and without disabilities.

Here in Florida, several counties report that students who have transitioned from inclusion classrooms into “regular” (also called general education) classrooms are scoring higher on their FCATs. In addition, they are experiencing gains in self-esteem, desirable behavior, attendance, grades, and test scores.  In addition, studies found that children in cooperatively taught inclusive classrooms are on-task more often, have more opportunities for one-on-one instruction, and were engaged in more individual work.

For typical children, benefits of an inclusion setting include:

• growth in social cognition
• greater understanding and acceptance of  people with disabilities
• tolerance of diversity
• opportunity to learn more realistic views about individuals with disabilities
• increased self-esteem
• improvement in self-concept
• opportunity to learn and develop altruistic behaviors
• provided with role models of people who successfully achieve despite challenges
• academic performance equal to or better than in general education classes
• overall improved outcomes 

For children with special needs, benefits of an inclusion setting include:

• improved social skills
• interaction with peers and opportunities to develop new social and communication skills
• chance to develop friendships with typically developing peers
• increased self-esteem
• academic performance equal to or better than in general education classes
• spared the negative effects of labeling and of a segregated education

Features of our Pre-K Inclusion Classroom

The Discovery Learning Center Pre-K inclusion classroom offers the highest quality pre-kindergarten for your typically developing child or child with special needs that features the following:

• Degreed teacher
• Credentialled Early Childhood Teacher Aide
• 1:8 teacher / student ratio (maximum student enrollment is 16)
• 6-1/2 hour instructional day (8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.)
• Research-based Early Childhood Curriculum
• Emphasis on early literacy skills and school readiness
• Individualized instruction for all students
• Snacks provided
• Pre-K tuition rate of $100/week includes Before & After care (7:00 – 8:00 a.m. and 2:30 – 6:00 p.m.)
• Coordinated Child Care accepted
• Community funding and transportation may be available for children with developmental disabilities or delays

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 5.  How do I apply?

If you are interested in enrolling your typical child or child with special needs in the Discovery Learning Center’s Pre-K Inclusion class, call 727-345-9111, ext. 246 to request a Registration Packet or to schedule a tour of our facility.

After we receive your completed application, we will contact you to schedule your child for a mandatory FREE developmental screening. (Not required if requesting enrollment for Summer Pre-K only.) The purpose of this screening is to determine your child’s social, emotional, cognitive, physical, communication, and behavioral development.  This screening will tell us whether he/she is ready to enter Pre-Kindergarten as well as identify the skill areas in which he or she is strongest and the skill areas on which he or she needs to work in order to be ready for Kindergarten.

After a review of the screening results and your application, we will notify you about your child’s acceptance into the Pre-K inclusion classroom.

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 6.  COMPARE THE DIFFERENCE

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