Nov. 21, 2016 ~ The Olathe Public Schools early childhood disabilities program incorporates typically developing children, referred to as peers, into the program. Peers are children who do not have, or are not suspected of having, a disability. Children must meet this definition to be considered or maintain their status as a peer in the program.
District leaders believe it is important to provide preschoolers with special needs (speech/language delays, behavior concerns, fine and gross motor delays, hearing impairments, genetic disorders, etc.) the opportunity to learn with peers who are typically developing.
The application process for the 2017-18 school year begins on Jan. 9, 2017. Children must be 3 or 4 years old on or before Aug. 31, 2017 in order to participate in the 2017-18 school year. Children must speak and understand English and be toilet trained.
Peer participants benefit in many ways:
- More positive/accepting attitudes about people with disabilities
- More social skills
- Equal, if not greater, developmental progress
- Access to a highly qualified teacher
- Good student to teacher ratio
Three-year-olds attend Monday-Thursday, from 8:20-11:30 a.m. for a cost of $130 per month. Four-year-olds attend Monday-Friday, from 12:30-3:40 p.m. for a cost of $163 per month.
Transportation may be an option, for a fee, based on space availability.
For information about the 2017-18 peer application process, please contact Kim Russell at (913) 780-7341 or krussellhlc@olatheschools.org.
