Preschool Program Descriptions

Integrated Preschool Program

As with any school-aged resident child, Millburn Township School District provides a full continuum of services for students aged three to five years old who are found eligible for special education and related services through the evaluation process.  

The Preschool Integrated program is located at South Mountain School.  Three-year-old students attend class in the mornings; four-year-old students attend class in the afternoons.  The ratio of regular education students to special needs students is approximately 50-50, with the scales more often leaning toward the regular education population.  This integrated program (inclusionary) follows a general education preschool curriculum. All of the preschool integrated teachers are additionally Teacher of the Handicapped Certified. The special needs students receive in-class support through their teacher, and related services are provided in accordance with their IEPs.  Each preschool integrated class is additionally staffed by a paraprofessional.  Behaviorist support is provided on an as-needed basis. 

Special needs students are automatically admitted to the program upon determination of eligibility for special education and related services.  Regular education students are admitted through a yearly lottery process.  There is a tuition fee for regular education students. It is the philosophy of the Millburn Preschool Program to foster developmentally appropriate programs for its students and to encourage them to become independent, confident learners.

Preschool Disabilities Program - Self Contained

Self-Contained Preschool Disabilities Programs are also available at South Mountain School to those students who require a structured, self-contained preschool program. These programs are offered in order to make meaningful progress in helping students meet IEP goals and objectives.  The programs provide opportunities for intensive small group instruction, 1:1 instruction and opportunities for integration into the preschool integrated sections for generalization.  Related Services are provided as per student IEPs.

The program is developmental in nature, following the scope and sequence of a preschool readiness curriculum in accordance with the core content standards.  The academic program incorporates individual student IEP goals. Components include Circle Time, 1:1 teaching, generalization into small group instruction, and opportunities to integrate into the preschool integrated classes. The self-contained program is staffed by Special Education teachers and paraprofessionals. 

All Millburn Township Preschool Programs provide an environment that is stimulating and nurturing. A variety of teaching methods are utilized that range from child-initiated play to teacher-directed instruction. Parent training is provided for parents of all preschool students.

To refer your child for an child study team evaluation, please follow the procedures listed here.