Screenings help parents recognize and address possible developmental delays in young children
Downers Grove Grade School District 58 will offer several free preschool and developmental screenings designed to identify young children who might have developmental delays and who would benefit from special education prior to beginning kindergarten. Screenings can also identify children who might be at risk for future academic success due to environmental, cultural or socio-economic factors.
The District provides both traditional preschool screenings for children aged 3-5 years, as well as developmental screenings for children birth through 3 years of age. All children must reside within District 58 boundaries to be eligible for a screening.
District 58 highly encourages parents to make a screening appointment if they plan to enroll their child in the District’s Grove Children’s Preschool program. In addition, parents interested in applying for a tuition waiver via the program’s Preschool for All grant are required to have their child complete a preschool screening.
To request a screening, please call the District office at 630-719-5800.
District 58 conducts its screening process in a two-stage format:
Stage 1: After parents call the District office to confirm residency and to request a screening, the District will mail home a screening packet. This packet includes a family questionnaire and an Ages and Stages Assessment form. Please complete the packet and mail it to Indian Trail School, 6235 Stonewall Ave., Downers Grove, IL 60516 in the self-addressed stamped envelope provided. A team member will contact the family to discuss their child’s results. If the results indicate further inquiry, children will be requested to participate in Stage 2 of the screening process on one of the below indicated dates. Note: Not all Stage 1 participates will need to participate in Stage 2.
Stage 2: During this stage, children will be assigned a specific time and date at Henry Puffer School, 2220 Haddow Ave., for an in-person screening. Stage 2 screenings will take place from 8-11:30 a.m. on the following days:
Monday, Oct. 5, 2020
Monday, Nov. 9, 2020
Monday, Feb. 8, 2021
Monday, March 8, 2021
Monday, April 12, 2021
Parents must bring the following to the preschool screening: their child’s original birth certificate, a photo ID with current address and two qualifying forms to demonstrate residency. In addition, all students and parents will need to wear face coverings, have their temperatures taken and will have to complete a self assessment declaring they are free of COVID-19 symptoms. In addition, due to the pandemic, we are asking that the student be accompanied by only one adult.
Staff will assess a child's development in the following areas: speech/language, cognitive/pre-academic, self-help/independent living, fine motor, gross motor, vision/hearing and social/emotional/behavior skills. This entire process takes up to 90 minutes, so please plan accordingly.
About Grove Children’s Preschool:
Grove Children's Preschool is a Gold-rated program. The Illinois State Board of Education awards Gold ratings to preschool programs that meet the developmental and individual needs of all children in a safe, inclusive and nurturing environment, while promoting educational success through engaging and collaborative learning experiences.
Grove Children’s Preschool class sessions take place at Henry Puffer and Indian Trail schools in Downers Grove. Parents may enroll their students in a tuition-based five-day-per-week program. The program also waives preschool tuition costs for students who qualify for the Preschool For All grant funding. This grant supports preschoolers who complete a preschool screening that places them at risk for future academic difficulties, due to potential developmental delays or environmental, cultural or socio-economic factors.
Learn more about Grove Children’s Preschool at www.dg58.org/preschool.