Preschool (35 Months to 5 Years/Prekindergarten)
Preschool (35 Months to 5 Years/Prekindergarten)
Are you concerned about your child’s development? Do you think your child has difficulty with movements, talking, understanding, learning, socializing, playing, or eating? There is help!
Child Find (35 months to 5 years/pre-kindergarten)
Call 301-925-6600 for a developmental evaluation. If you are a resident of Prince George’s County and if your child meets eligibility criteria for special education, services will be offered by Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS).
Infants and Toddlers Family Support Contact
Julia Cowdery
julia.cowdery@pgcps.org
Special Education Early Childhood Poster
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I make a referral?
A comprehensive evaluation process has been designed to determine individual strengths and needs so an appropriate individualized education plan can be developed. To be eligible for to Prince George’s County Infants and Toddlers Program, an infant or toddler under the age of three can either have a delay in one or more areas of their development, or be at risk of possibly having delays in the future.
- A child may have delays in one or more of the following areas:
- Cognitive - thinking and learning
- Physical - moving, seeing and hearing
- Social/emotional - feeling, coping, getting along with others
- Adaptive - doing things for him/herself
- Communication - understanding and communicating with others
- A child may have risk factors such as: premature birth, low birth weight at birth, medical conditions typically associated with a developmental delay
What is an IFSP (Individualized Family Service Plan)?
An IFSP is a plan of services individualized for each child and family. A team of professionals and the child’s parents develop the IFSP. The IFSP is a written plan that describes:
- The child’s abilities and needs
- Services for the child and family
- Family outcomes related to the child’s needs
- Goals and objectives reflecting both the child’s developmental needs
What kinds of services are available?
A variety of early intervention services and therapies are available through the Infants and Toddlers Program. The most commonly used services include education services, speech/language therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy, and service coordination. A primary provider will coach and work side-by-side with you to find ways to help your child practice skills every day in your home, child care center, or in other community places.
Where are services located?
Research shows that infants and toddlers learn best through natural routines and everyday learning opportunities that occur in the child's home, community, and childcare settings. Based on the unique needs of the child, the Infant Toddler Program assigns a primary provider to support the child's learning and development. Family members or caregivers are shown strategies for teaching the child in situations where and when a skill is used.
Who pays for early intervention services?
Services are provided at no cost to families.
