Exceptional Ed Preschool Services/ChildFind

About Our Blended Preschool Program

Monroe County Schools is proud to offer preschool support for young children with special needs through our blended preschool classrooms at Madisonville Primary School. These classrooms are open to children who live in any of the Monroe County elementary school zones.

Our preschool classrooms are designed to be welcoming, caring, and engaging places where children can grow and learn. The program focuses on building strong language and communication skills, along with other important areas of development.

How Placement Is Determined

Before a child can attend one of our preschool classrooms, an evaluation is completed to understand their individual needs. This may include assessments of:

• Speech and language development

• Thinking and learning skills

• Social and emotional growth

• Fine and gross motor skills

• Self-help (adaptive) skills

• Hearing and vision

This evaluation helps the team decide whether the child qualifies for services under IDEA or Tennessee’s developmental delay criteria for children ages 3–5. Children must meet eligibility requirements for special education to be placed in the program.

What Our Preschool Program Offers

Each of our blended classrooms includes a mix of children with and without disabilities, which helps support learning through peer modeling and social interaction. The program provides:

• A curriculum designed to prepare children for kindergarten

• Daily academic instruction through hands-on learning

• Speech/language therapy (if needed)

• Occupational therapy and physical therapy (if needed)

• Support for social, emotional, and behavioral skills

• Small class sizes and individual attention

• A certified early childhood special education teacher and support staff

All services are provided at no cost to families as part of the child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP), developed with input from both parents and professionals.

Our Goal for Every Child

The goal of our preschool program is to help every child develop the readiness skills needed to make a smooth and successful transition to kindergarten. This includes building confidence, learning routines, following directions, working with others, and growing in communication and problem-solving.

Interested in a Preschool Evaluation?

If you believe your child may have a delay or special need and is between the ages of 3 and 5, please call the Exceptional Education Department at 423-442-5592. We’ll connect you with a school psychologist or early childhood specialist who can guide you through the evaluation process.

We’re here to support you and your child every step of the way!

Child Find: Helping Identify Students Who May Need Support

Monroe County Schools is committed to making sure that all children with disabilities—from birth through age 21—are identified, located, and evaluated if they need special education services.

This includes:

• Children who live in Tennessee, even if they are homeless or in foster care

• Children who attend private schools

• Children who are not yet in school

• Children who are highly mobile or who have other special situations

If a child may have a disability that affects their learning, behavior, communication, or development, we will work with families to provide a free evaluation to see if they qualify for special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

We have a clear process in place to help identify students who may need services and to make sure that no child is left out, no matter their living situation, background, or school setting.