ECE in APS
Jamaica Child Development Center
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Aurora Public Schools Early Childhood Education department is:
"To provide the foundational opportunities that ensure all early childhood learners will engage in and benefit from their experiences to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to reach high levels of learning for future success"
APS 2020 Mission: “In partnership with our community, we accelerate learning for all students to develop the knowledge, skills and character necessary to shape successful futures.”
The opportunities for early learning provide a strong foundation that will help to ensure academic success.
The Early Childhood Education department strives to involve the family by emphasizing the important role they play in their child’s education and support families in their role as nurturers and teachers.
The Early Childhood Education department remains involved in the School Readiness Project. The School Readiness Project utilizes the Qualistar Rating System to ensure that all preschools and child care centers are of the highest quality.
Colorado Preschool Program (CPP)
In 1988, the Colorado General Assembly created the Colorado Preschool Program (CPP) as part of the Public School Finance Act to serve three and four-year old children in Colorado who are indentified with the toughest educational challenges. Quality early childhood programs produce beneficial outcomes for children and the community in which they live. The CPP Program has been able to demonstrate that early childhood educational experiences do make a difference for at-risk children. A vital component of this program is to strengthen families and support them as participants in their child's education. These programs serve children eligible to enroll in Kindergarten in the following year. CPP students participate in an inclusive program with Special Education students. The number of children who can be served in the Colorado Preschool Program is capped at levels set by the State Legislature.
Child Find Program
Assists the Early Childhood Department in identifying and providing learning opportunities for children with special needs. Child Find provides free developmental screenings and multidisciplinary evaluations for young children, ages 0-5, who demonstrate delays in their development. The Child Find team includes specialists in the areas of speech-language pathology, preschool special education, occupational therapy, psychology and nursing. In order to receive testing, the child must be a resident of the Aurora Public School District. Parents who have concerns about their child’s development should call 303-340-0859 x28344 for an appointment.
Preschool Curriculum
Classroom teachers are using the Teaching Strategies GOLD (TS GOLD) Objectives for Development and Learning assessment system. TS GOLD is an observational assessment tool designed to assess how children develop and learn. Please visit the ECE website at http://ece.aurorak12.org/curriculum/