Preschool
Guarantee your child's seat in our FREE PRESCHOOL programs, which have earned the state's highest rating of "5 stars."
Our certified teachers have earned the "High Quality" designation from the Ohio Department of Education. They are ready to show your child where learning begins in Lorain City Schools!
ABOUT OUR PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS
The Lorain City Schools preschool program provides free, high-quality early childhood education to young children in the city of Lorain. With classrooms in each of our ten elementary schools, we aim to make preschool accessible to every family in Lorain, giving our preschool students an early start at their neighborhood school.
Our staff are experienced, highly qualified, and passionate about early childhood education, and they continue to hone their craft through regular professional learning experiences and ongoing coaching.
At our preschool, we understand that every child learns differently. That's why our program is designed to embrace and celebrate this diversity.
Our classrooms are inclusive spaces where students of different ages and developmental levels can interact and learn from each other. We also offer a range of classroom models to cater to the unique needs of each student.
CONTACT US!
Preschool Department Alisha Pardon, Associate Director of Preschool apardon@lorainschools.org (440) 830-4040 Executive Secretary Kristin Dimacchia 440-830-4111Our Preschool Approach
- Our Vision
- Preschool Curriculum
- Inclusion Statement
- Registration, Placement and Licensure
- Attendance Policies
- Health Policies & Services
- School Closures & Safety
- Assessments & Screenings
- Family Engagement
- Clothing & Toileting
- Field Trips
- Teacher-Child Interaction Policy
Our Vision
The Lorain City Schools preschool program stands because of its unique vision. We are committed to supporting each individual child in developing the skills necessary for a successful and fulfilling learning experience in the years to come.
To reach that vision, we place student well-being at the center of everything we do, with a focus on the following areas:
- Students engage in meaningful, developmentally appropriate work that provides opportunities for whole-child growth across domains.
- Students have regular opportunities to practice and develop their social-emotional and problem-solving skills.
- Each child is unique and special, which is instrumental in shaping and maintaining an environment for children to develop, grow, and reach their full potential.
- Students are provided with an inclusive, cohesive, and joyful classroom experience.
- Students benefit from active collaboration between teachers, community partners, families, and other stakeholders.
At the heart of our program is the belief that students’ strengths, skills, interests, and capabilities should drive the design and implementation of instruction. This active role of students shapes their learning environment and fosters a sense of ownership in their learning journey.
Preschool Curriculum
Our classrooms utilize Creative Curriculum, a research-based and widely celebrated preschool curriculum that promotes learning through exploration and investigation.
This curriculum is designed to help teachers build developmentally appropriate and content-rich classrooms that meet the needs of all students, fostering confidence, creativity, and critical thinking along the way.
The curriculum is fully aligned with the Ohio Early Learning Standards and covers social-emotional development, approaches toward learning, cognitive development and general knowledge, language and literacy development, and physical well-being and motor development.
Inclusion Statement
Young children vary in their skills, knowledge, backgrounds, and abilities.
Lorain City Schools’ Preschool Program provides opportunities for all children to access, fully participate, and thrive in the classroom. Individualized learning plans and Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals are used to effectively teach, individualize, and create inclusive environments that support positive outcomes for children and families.
Registration, Placement and Licensure
REGISTRATION
Families can pick up a registration packet at any LCS school, Lorain Public Library branch, or the LCS Administration Center (2601 Pole Avenue) or access the form online. Families must log in to FinalForms and create a profile.
Once all required documents are uploaded, they will get an acceptance letter; children will be assigned to a classroom at their neighborhood school or the closest school if their neighborhood school has no remaining spots. Families can also submit an intradistrict request for possible approval.
TUITION
The LCS Preschool Program is tuition-free for all students.
PLACEMENT POLICY
A significant portion of our preschool funding comes from the Ohio Early Childhood Education grant. This grant requires that we place four-year-olds who meet specific income guidelines before placing any other students. See specific guidelines below.
Families are encouraged to add their 3-year-olds to FinalForms. Please note: an extremely limited number of placements will be available for 3-year-olds. Three-year-olds on our waitlist will be placed in available spots starting in October.
Families of children who will not turn 4 on or before October 1st will not be enrolled at the beginning of the school year. We reserve these spots for 4-year-olds to ensure they are ready for kindergarten.
LICENSING
The LCS preschool program is licensed by and follows the policies of the Ohio Department of Education’s Office of Early Learning and School Readiness (OESLR). OELSR conducts a minimum of two inspections a year of each building to ensure that programs meet or exceed state requirements. Each building’s main office posts the program license and current compliance report. Parents may request a copy of the current compliance report from the building principal.
Attendance Policies
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Regular attendance is not just a requirement but a crucial factor in ensuring your child receives the full benefits of our early childhood education program. It also plays a significant role in maintaining the daily routines of each classroom, fostering a sense of stability and routine for your child. Moreover, our preschool program is highly sought after, and when a child is frequently absent, it hampers our ability to accommodate other children on our waiting list.
With these things in mind, all preschool families are expected to abide by the following attendance policy:
- Students in our preschool program are expected to attend school daily and on time.
- When a student is absent, the parent must call the school to report the reason for absence. This policy is in place for the safety of our students.
- In the case of habitual truancy, which is defined as a child being absent without a legitimate excuse for 30 or more consecutive hours, 42 or more hours in one month, or 72 or more hours in a school year, the following actions will be taken:
- The parent will be notified of the habitual truancy via a letter from their child’s teacher.
- In the unfortunate event of habitual truancy, we are here to support you. If your child does not attend school immediately after notification, the child’s teacher will schedule an absence intervention conference. This conference will involve you, the dean of student and family engagement, and the school attendance officer. Together, we will create a comprehensive plan to support your family in ensuring your child's regular attendance.
- If the child continues to be absent, they may be discharged from the program.
|
ABSENCE INTERVENTION PROCEDURES |
|
|---|---|
| CONDITION | ACTION |
| Student misses 38 hours of school |
|
| Student misses 72 hours of school |
|
| Student misses 100 hours of school OR parent fails to attend Absence Intervention Conference. |
|
|
|
|
TRANSPORTATION
We are only able to provide transportation for students on IEPs. Families of students not on IEPs must provide their own transportation to and from school.
Health Policies & Services
School Closures & Safety
EMERGENCY SCHOOL CLOSING
If schools are closed for emergencies and inclement weather, the closing will be announced through an automated phone call, email, and text message via SchoolMessenger using the contact information provided to us. Information will also be posted on the Lorain City Schools website and social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. We will provide updates on school closures to our local media partners.
EMERGENCY DRILLS AND PRACTICES
As part of Lorain City Schools’ unwavering commitment to the safety of all children, students in the preschool program will actively participate in all drills and practices including fire drills, tornado drills, lockdowns and evacuations. These drills are crucial in preparing our students for any emergency situation. If you have any questions regarding these procedures, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s school.
Assessments & Screenings
ASQ-3 SCREENING
The Ages and Stages Questionnaire-3 will be administered to all preschool students at the beginning of the school year. This screening provides the teacher with valuable information about the child’s developmental stage and can indicate potential developmental delays. The teacher and parent complete the screening together. If the screening indicates a possible delay, parents will be notified, and the teacher will closely monitor the child’s progress over a three-month period. If concerns are still present, the teacher will discuss options with the parent at the fall parent-teacher conference, which may include a referral for evaluation by the school psychologist.
EARLY LEARNING ASSESSMENT
To meet the requirements of the Ohio Department of Education’s Office of Early Learning and School Readiness, the Early Learning Assessment will be administered to all students a minimum of twice each year. Ohio’s Early Learning Assessment (ELA) is a tool for preschool teachers to learn about the current level of each child’s skills, knowledge and behaviors in the areas of Social Foundations, Language and Literacy, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Physical Well-Being and Motor Development, and Fine Arts.
This assessment will require teachers to observe children during the natural course of the child’s day. The ELA is a continuous process of knowing about the child’s learning as the learning is happening throughout the year. Children will not complete test questions or provide test answers. The ELA is an ongoing process of observations performed by the teacher to gather information on how a child develops over time. This process allows the teacher to form an understanding of the child’s learning and development that will assist them in planning future learning opportunities. Teachers will share the results of the ELA with families and provide suggestions on activities families can do at home to continue to support children’s growth and development.
Family Engagement
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES
Three parent-teacher conferences will occur throughout the year. The purpose of these conferences is for the teacher to share updates about your child’s progress and development, to collaborate with you on opportunities to support your child’s learning at home, and to answer any questions you might have. Check with your child’s teacher about conference dates. If you would like an additional conference at any time, you can schedule one with your child’s teacher.
VOLUNTEER/INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Children learn better when their families are an active part of their education, and we welcome and encourage you to get involved in whatever way you can! You are welcome to visit your child’s classroom, and there are opportunities for parents to get involved in each of our elementary schools.
ROSTER INFORMATION
The Ohio Department of Education licensing regulations require preschool programs to provide classroom and program rosters to families upon request. Information on the roster includes children’s names, addresses, and phone numbers. Families have the right to ask that their child’s information not be included in the roster and are provided the opportunity to do so in their preschool application. Rosters will only be provided to parents or guardians of the children enrolled in the preschool program.
Clothing & Toileting
CLOTHING
When choosing clothes for your child to wear to school, consider the following:
- Would you mind if your child’s clothes came home stained with mud, paint, markers, or food? If so, you may want to put a different outfit on your child.
- Rubber-soled shoes, such as gym shoes, can prevent unnecessary injuries. Students are not to wear sandals or flip-flops. Socks must be worn.
- Many toileting accidents can be avoided if children wear clothing that can be unbuckled, unbuttoned, or pulled off without a struggle.
- Dress your child appropriately for the weather. Classes may play outside, weather permitting.
It's essential to have a spare set of clothes, including socks and underwear, readily available in case of an accident. Please label each item with your child’s full name for easy identification and to minimize the risk of losing them. This spare clothing can be stored in your child’s backpack and sent home daily upon your request.
TOILETING
NOTE: This policy does not apply to students on IEPs or with specific medical plans in place.
Before enrolling in our preschool program, all children should achieve toileting mastery. This means they should be able to control their bladder and bowels and know how to change themselves in case of an accident. If your child has a bowel movement accident, you may be asked to come and change them. If accidents occur frequently (more than once a week), the staff may need to evaluate the situation, which could potentially lead to your child’s exclusion from the program.
Field Trips
Your child may have an opportunity to attend various field trips during the school year. School law mandates that any student participating in an educational activity away from school must have the written consent and signature of his/her parent prior to their involvement—we cannot accept permission given over the phone. If we do not have a permission slip for your child, he or she will not be able to attend the field trip.
Teacher-Child Interaction Policy
Our preschool teachers provide a warm, caring and inclusive environment for all children. Our teachers support the development of executive function and self-regulation skills by setting clear expectations and providing behavior supports. They also model identifying, labeling, and discussing emotions, and they foster students’ social-emotional and problem-solving skills.
Discipline strategies will be developmentally appropriate and will include redirections, praise for positive behavior, discuss the impact of the child’s actions, and a temporary separation of the child from a problem situation. Adult-child interactions shall be purposeful, positive and respectful at all times. Children shall be positioned for success by having expectations clearly demonstrated and thoroughly explained. When further clarification or assistance is needed, it shall be offered and individualized to allow each child success. Positive reinforcement shall be used to shape behaviors, and correction and redirection shall always be done in a manner that protects the child’s dignity. Discipline techniques shall never humiliate, shame, or frighten a child. No staff member shall ever use profane language, threats, derogatory remarks, or other forms of verbal abuse.
If a child should need to be separated from a problem situation, the separation will be supervised, brief in duration and appropriate for the child’s age and developmental ability. The child will be separated to a safe, lighted and well-ventilated space within sight and hearing of a preschool staff member. No child shall ever be place in a locked room or confined in an enclosed area.
If physical intervention is necessary it shall begin with the mildest form (a hand gently placed on the child’s shoulder, for example) and increase incrementally and only as necessary to the strongest intervention needed to maintain a safe environment. The strongest intervention utilized would be to briefly restrain the child in a protective hug in order to allow them to regain control. Preschool staff shall never strike or shake a child. There shall be no use of corporal punishment. Instead, preschool staff shall model kindness, gentleness, and patience in all their interactions with students.
Discipline shall not be imposed upon a child for failure to eat, rest or for toileting accidents. In addition, discipline strategies shall never include the withholding of meals, rest, or toilet use.
Children in the preschool program shall not be abused or neglected while under the care of the center. In addition, the preschool staff is expected to be vigilant in protecting children and are mandated reporters when faced with evidence of possible abuse or neglect.
Parents are the child’s first teacher and are valued as partners with the preschool staff in all matters, including discipline. Home-school communication will be frequent and ongoing. In addition, teachers will communicate with the home specifically about a child’s behavior whenever the frequency or severity of the behavior is greater than expected for that particular child based upon his/her individual goals and developmental ability. By working together, the staff and parent can help each student develop patterns of positive behavior.