Learning Cooperative of North Central Kansas
219 West 7th
Concordia, Kansas 66901
Audrey Pingel, Director
LCNCK Board Report September 2014
Submitted by Audrey Pingel
Mission Statement: The Learning Cooperative of North Central Kansas is dedicated to providing students; a continuum of
special education supports and services, access to the general education curriculum and classroom and, the opportunity to
realize their maximum potential in the least restrictive environment.
Vision Statement: Students are prepared for success in their post school lives, including college and/or careers.
Communication and Instruction
Early Childhood Special Education Services
The Learning Cooperative of North Central Kansas (LCNCK) provides early childhood special education
services for children with disabilities ages 3-5 who live in the following school districts: Clifton/Clyde,
Concordia, Pike Valley, Republic County and Washington County.
By law the Section 619 of the IDEA Preschool Program guarantees a free appropriate public education
(FAPE) to children with disabilities age three through five who are entitled to special education and
related services in the least restrictive environment (LRE). The least restrictive environment is where the
child would naturally be during the day. This could be in the home or in a church, school or community
preschool program the child may already be attending, Head Start, child care, mother’s day out
program, or play group.
For some children, special education services are provided in one of the LCNCK’s early childhood special
education classrooms located in Concordia (CCDC), Republic County (RCDC) and in Washington
(WCDC).These classrooms provide a reverse mainstream program where children with differing abilities
and disabilities play and learn together in the same classroom. These classrooms are designed to serve
both special needs and typically developing preschool children that are three to five years old (not age
eligible for kindergarten). These special education classrooms are considered more restrictive
environments. A waiting list for typically developing peers applying as peer role models will exceed the
number of spaces available.
Compliance
Monthly Child Find Screenings
The Learning Cooperative of North Central Kansas conducts free monthly Child Find Screenings required
by Federal IDEA Regulations. If a child is experiencing difficulty in the developmental areas of hearing
and vision, communication, gross and fine motor, self-help, social-emotional, or cognitive skills, parents
may call to schedule an appointment at one of the screening locations within the cooperative.
Parents having any questions concerning their child, birth up to age 5, may call the Learning Cooperative
of North Central Kansas office before noon on the day before a scheduled screening to make an
appointment for their child. Parents as Teachers staff are available to conduct screenings during June
and July.
Phone: 785-243-3294
FAX: 785-243-8822
Sponsoring District – Concordia USD 333
Cooperating Districts – Washington County USD 108 – Republic County USD 109 – Clifton/Clyde USD 224 – Pike Valley USD 426
An Equal Opportunity Employer