Early childhood education

Early learning in VPS

Your child’s success in school starts at home

Early childhood education is the foundation for your child to be ready and be successful in school. Support your child before they even step foot in a school by working with them at home and looking for learning opportunities everywhere:

  • Take a walk in the park
  • Dig in the dirt and talk about what you see and feel and smell
  • Sort common items and objects at home
  • Talk about shapes and colors
  • Read aloud to your child

Need more help? Check out our free resources below for things to do at home with your child, or consider enrolling your toddler in a preschool program.

Programs that help get your child ready for school

Child find

Student showing pointing to artwor

Searching for children with special needs

Vancouver Public Schools conducts specific activities for the purposes of locating, evaluating and identifying students ages birth to 21 with suspected disabilities who reside within the district’s boundaries. This includes students attending private schools within the VPS attendance area. Early identification of disabilities assists parents, students and schools in the design of appropriate educational services.​

Free developmental screenings are available for children ages birth through five.

Children are screened by licensed professionals in the areas of motor, cognitive skills and speech and language. A hearing and vision screening also may be conducted. Developmental screening can identify children who are in need of further evaluation and/or participation in early intervention or early childhood services that address their areas of need.

For children ages birth through 2 years of age, please call Educational Services District 112 at 360-750-7500.

For children ages 3 to 5 years of age, contact our early childhood evaluation center: early.childhood@vansd.org.

Contact

Amy CoatsEarly Childhood Evaluation Center (ages 3-5)
360-313-4853

Educational Services District (birth through 2 years of age)
360-750-7500.