The McDonald County School District is expanding its Early Childhood Special Education program, which has grown considerably since its start in 2000.
Dr. Cindy Machado, director of McDonald County Student Services, heads up the ECSE program. She said five years ago there were two classrooms serving about 30 children. Now the program has tripled in the past five years, and the school board recently approved two more classrooms.
Speech pathologist Jennifer Tinsley said the program serves 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds with a wide range of disabilities. Children with cognitive, adaptive, social/emotional, communication and physical disabilities may qualify for the program, which prepares them for kindergarten.
See Program Page 3A
General News on 11/26/2015