Inclusion preschool

A free program for 3- and 4-year-olds who live near specific VPS schools

What: A free half-day inclusive preschool program for children with and without special needs. In each classroom there are two certificated teachers and two paraeducators. Inclusion preschool promotes active, engaging learning and social interaction among students of all abilities. The goal is for all students to achieve kindergarten-readiness skills.

Who: Children who are three or four years old. Children must live in the boundary of a Title I designated school:

  • Fruit Valley
  • Harney
  • Hazel Dell
  • Hough
  • Lincoln
  • Marshall
  • Martin Luther King Jr.
  • Minnehaha
  • Ogden
  • Roosevelt
  • Truman
  • Walnut Grove
  • Washington

When: All classes will start the first Tuesday after the 2024-25 school year begins.

Tuesdays through Fridays, morning or afternoon session

  • Morning: 8 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
  • Afternoon: 12 p.m.–2:30 p.m.

Where: Potential school sites

  • Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School, 4801 Idaho St., Vancouver, WA 98661
  • Marshall Elementary School, 6400 MacArthur Blvd., Vancouver, WA 68661
  • Ogden Elementary School, 3200 NE 86th Ave., Vancouver, WA 98662

FAQs

Transportation is not provided. Families are required to provide their own transportation to and from school.

Two certificated teachers and two paraeducators are in every classroom.

Inclusion preschool class size is limited to 21 students. A waitlist will be created if there are more applicants than available space. 

The program is four days per week, Tuesday through Friday.
Morning class schedule:  8 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Afternoon class schedule:  12 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

All preschool classrooms follow state, county and district health and safety protocols.

The online application will be available April 8–26, 2024. The application deadline is 4 p.m., April 26, 2024. Space is limited. Students will be selected for an in-person screening appointment based on their application. Selected applicants will be screened in-person based on the following criteria.

  1. Complete an online application between April 8-26, 2024 (deadline is 4 p.m. on April 26, 2024).
  2. Selected students for in-person screening will be contacted by May 3, 2024.
  3. Screening appointments will be held May 6-16, 2024. Appointments last about 20 minutes.
  4. Families will be notified of placement by the end of May.
  5. If your child is accepted into the program, you must register them for school
  6. Classes will start the first Tuesday after the school year begins
  7. If there are more applicants than available spaces, a waiting list will be created.

A member of the early learning team will contact families to make an appointment for a 20 minute in-person screening that will look at your child’s:

  • Developing literacy and math skills
  • Motor skills
  • Visual and hearing skills
  • Social-emotional development
  • Language development

Preschool program for children with special needs

For 3 to 5-year-olds

Vancouver Public Schools offers a free half-day preschool program for children ages 3 to 5 who have special needs. Each preschool classroom has one special education teacher and two paraeducators. Our child-centered program provides special education services including cognitive, communication, adaptive, social emotional, behavior, fine motor and gross motor goals. The goal is for all students to achieve kindergarten-readiness skills.

How would my child qualify for this program?

Children who currently have an Individualized Education Plan qualify for this preschool program. If you suspect your child may have a developmental delay, but does not have an IEP, please visit our early childhood evaluation site

When: Tuesday through Friday, morning or afternoon session

  • Morning: 8 a.m. – 10:30 a.m
  • Afternoon: 12 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Where:

  • Marshall
  • Ogden
  • Martin Luther King Jr.
  • Truman

Other details:

  • Transportation provided

Contact

Amy CoatsAssistant Director of Special Education
360-313-1250