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Preschool

The Dedham Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC) offers a continuum of options to address students' presenting and  sometimes changing needs.

Services include: 

  • Pre-referral observations, consultations and screenings
  • Consultation with parents/guardians and staff working with children in area preschools and day care centers
  • Referral and consultation with other agencies providing services to young children with special needs as necessary
  • Systematic transition from Early Intervention Services 
  • Special Education Evaluations
  • Inclusionary and substantially separate programs for both preschool and kindergarten serving most student disabilities, serving three and four year old children, as well as five year old children where appropriate
  • Preparation and support with transitions to Dedham Elementary Schools

At the preschool level, Dedham Public Schools offers an Integrated/Inclusive Preschool Program that provides services to students who are developing typically and students with delays across the developmental spectrum,  and a more intensive, substantially separate Preschool Program as well (the PAL Program)   Alongside an integrated therapy model, the curriculum follows the Massachusetts Early Childhood Learning Guidelines. 

The goals of the aforementioned preschool programs are to meet the cognitive, learning, developmental, social, emotional and behavioral goals of students, ages 3, 4 and 5, with special needs as well as those who are typically developing.  In general, students with special needs range from moderate to severe and have a range of disabilities; Autism Spectrum Disorders, global developmental delays, etc.


Instructional areas within the program target language development, social development, and physical development in the areas of fine and gross motor skills.  Most students also receive occupational and physical therapy as well as speech and language services. Depending on students' identified areas of need, supports may be further provided in the areas of school readiness skills, communication, counseling and social skills instruction.

All ECEC preschool teachers are dually certified in special education, allowing for specialized services to be provided in an integrated  classroom setting.  This allows students with special needs to learn alongside their typical peers whenever possible.