1. What is the purpose of the preschool program? Who can participate?
2. How are children selected for the program?
3. What are the typical class sizes and what is the ratio of Special Education to lottery students?
4. How can I place my child on the lottery list and/or register for screening?

What is the purpose of the preschool program? Who can participate?

The preschool program provides mandated Special Education services
to three and four-year-olds with special needs. Each class has some
Special Education students and some students chosen through a 
lottery. We are required to provide “time with non-disabled peers”
for our Special Education students, and that is the purpose of the
lottery.

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How are children selected for the program?

There are three ways in which children can qualify to participate
in the Porter P.A.L.S. program.
*SPECIAL EDUCATION: Some children are identified as eligible for/in need of Special
Education services through a formal process known as a PPT(Planning
and Placement Team) meeting. This is governed by state and federal
laws. These children may already be receiving services through the
Birth to Three program, or they may be identified based on our
preschool screening and follow-up assessments. They are identified
as having a significant delay in one or more developmental areas,
such as speech/language, motor skills, cognitive skills,
social/emotional skills, and so on. A formal plan, known as an IEP
(Individual Education Plan) is developed for each of these
children, and goals are written in the areas of concern.

*AT RISK: Some children demonstrate mild to moderate delays in one or more
areas, but do not necessarily qualify as students in need of
Special Education services. Porter uses a category known as “at
risk” to provide slots in our preschool program for these students.
While this is not a mandated service, we believe it is important
to provide proactive support for these children.

*LOTTERY: Some children are chosen through a random (lottery) process to
join the program as typically developing preschoolers. They must
participate in our preschool screening process in order to be
placed in the lottery. This is to ensure that there are no
developmental delays which might place them in a Special Education
or risk slot.

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What are the typical class sizes and what is the ratio of Special Education to lottery students?

We have a maximum of twelve children per class, and usually maintain
a 50-50 balance of Special Education/at risk students to lottery
students. We typically begin the school year with less than the
maximum in order to allow space for new referrals (Special Education
students) and/or Birth-to-Three transitions, which may occur
throughout the school year. However, lottery spaces are usually
completely filled at the beginning of the year. Therefore, the
ratio of Special Education/risk to lottery students can be 30/70
or 20/80 at the beginning of the year. One of the classes is often
kept smaller than the others in order to provide a quieter
environment for those Special Education students who need this.

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How can I place my child on the lottery list and/or register for screening?

Call Mrs. Brenda Morey (860-228-0585) in the Student Services
office.

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