Saint Paul Public Schools Early Childhood Special Education is pleased to join with you in the education of your
child. Our philosophy is to support the development of the whole child including his or her social / emotional, and
behavioral development and to support you in parenting your child as he or she grows and develops in the preschool
years.
Our program uses a teaching framework to support social, emotional, and behavioral learning called the Teaching
Pyramid, developed by researchers of child development. This framework is a program-wide approach to Positive
Behavior Support and is based on the belief that strong and healthy relationships between teachers and children,
parents and teachers, parents and children, and between adults who care for children are the foundation for learning
and healthy social / emotional / behavioral growth in the early childhood years. In this framework, teachers and
parents provide structure and expectations for the child (preventive practices) through rituals, routines, and
consistency at home and in the educational setting. Sometimes children will need specific skill teaching to learn social
/ emotional and behavioral skills. And some children will need more support with social / emotional / behavioral
challenges which are addressed through intensive interventions.
Children who receive Early Childhood Special Education services through the Saint Paul Public schools are served in
many different settings – community preschools and child care centers, Head Start programs, Early Childhood Family
Education, SPPS Pre-Kindergarten programs, and ECSE Classrooms. Parents can expect that their child’s ECSE
teacher and other special education service providers will use the Teaching Pyramid framework and Positive
Behavior Support in providing services in each of these settings to promote your child’s healthy social / emotional /
behavioral development.
In the classroom we align with the district's Pre-K classrooms and follow the Early Childhood Workshop format. Link...