Collaboration is key

Special Education Teacher Erika Donnelly works with pre-school student Ashaun Wilson at the Bucks IU’s Lower County Early Learning Center.

Each year, approximately 4,000 students receive Preschool Early Intervention (PEI) services from the Bucks County Intermediate Unit (Bucks IU) at locations across the county. The Bucks IU’s PEI services are specifically tailored to help preschoolers maximize their growth and developmental gains before starting kindergarten. Of these 4,000 students, about 1,100 students are in their final year of preschool and will transition to kindergarten the following school year. To support this transition, the Bucks IU collaborates closely with all 13 Bucks County school districts through an extensive “Transition-to-Kindergarten” initiative. This initiative is designed to assist both students and their families as they advance to the next stage of education.

Patti Quick, program director for Preschool Early Intervention at the Bucks IU, explained, “As young children grow and develop, their brains are incredibly malleable from birth to five years old. PEI services allow students to receive essential, individualized supports during a critical window of their cognitive and physical development.”

The transition from preschool to kindergarten requires careful planning. Beginning in October, the Bucks IU organizes and coordinates the transition process for students moving up to kindergarten. Each child’s information is collected and matched to the school district they will attend. This includes reports on the PEI services they have received and/or may need to continue receiving. The information is securely transferred and prepared for discussions held in the spring with parents/guardians and representatives from the students’ home school districts. These discussions focus on creating the best “Transition-to-Kindergarten” plan for each child.

“The supports provided by the Bucks IU are indispensable in our district’s kindergarten enrollment process,” said Alyssa Wright, director of pupil services and Title IX coordinator for the Central Bucks School District (CBSD). According to Wright, CBSD enrolls about 730 students in kindergarten each year, with 130 to 225 of these students typically having received services through the Bucks IU PEI program before starting kindergarten.

Like other districts in Bucks County, CBSD relies on the Bucks IU’s PEI team for developmental assessments, educational plans and other critical information. This includes progress reports, strategies that have proven successful, and insights into each student’s strengths and areas of need. “By collaborating with the Bucks IU, we ensure that our teachers are prepared to meet the diverse needs of incoming students,” Wright said. “The IU’s data helps us make informed decisions about classroom placements and the allocation of resources to support students effectively from day one.”

Patti Quick highlighted the impact of these efforts, saying, “The Bucks IU Preschool Early Intervention program has long been one of the largest early intervention programs in the state. It’s incredibly rewarding work to know that the services we provide, before a student turns five years of age, can change the trajectory of that child’s life.”

Sophai Khon, the mother of preschool student Vijet Haen, shared her appreciation for the program and her anticipation for the transition process. She noted that Vijet’s PEI program at the Bucks IU Lower Bucks Early Learning Center in Bristol, PA, has helped prepare him for the next step in his educational journey. “It’s very helpful,” Khon said. “Vijet knows what is expected of him and has learned a lot at school. Now he knows how to use full sentences. I am impressed and amazed by my child.”

Wright emphasized the importance of the collaboration between parents, the Bucks IU and school districts during transition meetings. “During these meetings, parents will see how the Bucks IU and school districts work together to create an educational environment in which their child will be able to succeed,” she said.