Early Childhood Special Education Services

Prince William County Public Schools offers these services at no cost to families and ensures that every eligible child receives a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE).

We focus on providing services in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). This means children with disabilities learn and grow in typical preschool or community settings whenever possible. A more specialized setting is only used when a child’s individual needs require it.

All services are guided by an Individualized Education Program (IEP), which is created together with families to outline each child’s goals and the support they will receive.

Resource Services

Early childhood resource services provide instructional activities to children in a variety of community settings, as agreed to by the IEP team. Early childhood special educators work with students and families to address specific developmental needs as outlined on the IEP. ECSE teachers collaborate with parents, other caregivers, and community professionals to incorporate skill-building strategies into the child's daily activities.

Class-Based Services

Early childhood class-based services provide instruction in a school-based classroom. These services are located in a number of elementary schools within PWCS. Children receive both individualized and small group instruction to address areas of need identified in the child's IEP. The curriculum is language-rich and emphasizes communication, early literacy, and social development, along with development in other areas. PWCS provides services specifically to children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Speech Therapy Resource Services

Preschool students who are significantly delayed only in the area of speech and language development may receive services from the speech-language pathologist in their neighborhood school. The amount of therapy time is determined by the child's IEP, and services are usually provided in a small group setting.