Preschool Information

The FHSD preschool program is designed to meet the diverse needs of all students by creating an engaging community of learners ages 3 to 5 years old.

All school districts are required by federal law to provide special education and related services for preschool-age students that are identified with a disability. The Forest Hills Preschool Program integrates preschool students that are typically developing (peer models) with children that have identified needs and require an Individualized Education Program (IEP).  

The Forest Hills Preschool Program uses an online application and lottery system for Peer Model acceptance into the Preschool Program.  The lottery will be open for the 2020-21 school year from February 1st through February 23rd, 2020. The lottery drawing will occur on February 25th, 2020.  All families will be notified of the lottery results by email. 

Once accepted, parents can begin registration procedures. Parents of students who are drawn in the lottery will have one week to complete registration and pay a tuition deposit of $100. Students who are not drawn in the lottery will be placed on a waitlist. 

Final teacher placement decisions will be made over the summer and communicated to families via email at the beginning of August.

Details of a Peer Model Program:

• Peer Models have the opportunity to interact with children with a variety of needs.  Our experiences indicate that the children learn compassion, empathy, and the ability to accept/celebrate differences and similarities among all their peers in the classroom.  
• Children with special needs learn through observation, practice, and modeling the behavior of their peers.  Peer Models provide an example of age-appropriate skills in social, behavior, play, speech, language, and motor skills. 
• Your child must meet the Peer Model Admissions Criteria (listed below) to be accepted as a peer model. If your child’s application does not meet the criteria below, you will be notified by the Preschool Case Coordinator and will be encouraged to apply to a community preschool program/daycare. If you have concerns regarding your child’s development after reading the Peer Model Criteria, please contact the Forest Hills Preschool Administrative Assistant, Patty Dold, at 231-3600 ext: 2950. Forest Hills School District is committed to responding to your concerns. 

Peer Model Admissions Criteria:                                                       

• The child will be 3 years old by August 1st of the enrolling year. 

• The child is completely potty trained, meaning he/she wears underwear and does not have daytime accidents. 

• The child is able to follow rules, routines, and can attend to activities for approximately 5 minutes.  

• The child's speech is clear and understandable by unfamiliar adults.  

• The child is able to play with a variety of toys appropriately and can play beside and/or with other children while sharing the same bin of toys. 

• The family does not have any concerns with the child’s speech/language, social-emotional development, motor development, cognitive, or adaptive behavior.

Complete a Peer Model application:

If you are interested in having your child attend the Forest Hills Preschool Program as a peer model and your child meets all the Peer Model Criteria (listed above), please complete a Peer Model Application.

Additional program details

• The Forest Hills Preschool Programs are located at Sherwood Elementary School and Summit Elementary School.
• Preschool classes meet Monday through Thursday. 
  • AM Session:  9:15 AM to 12:00 PM
  • PM Session:  1:00 PM to 3:45 PM
• Peer Model Tuition is $1,800.00 per school year.  Upon acceptance into the Preschool program, a $100 non-refundable deposit for processing the registration papers and to hold the student’s spot is required. This will be applied to tuition. The remaining $1,700.00 balance will be due in four payments of $425.00 each on August 15, Oct. 15, Dec. 15 and Feb. 15.  
• All preschool teachers hold a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and are licensed to provide services for both regular education and special education students. Classes will have no more than 16 students.
• The Forest Hills Preschool Program curriculum is aligned to the state of Ohio Early Learning and Developmental Standards.
• The Forest Hills Preschool Staff is knowledgeable about Forest Hills School District kindergarten expectations and kindergarten readiness skills.  All learning opportunities are designed to help prepare children to enter kindergarten ready to learn. 

Age Requirement for Children with Special Needs:                                                                                              

Students with identified special needs must be 3 years old before they can begin to receive Special Education and Related Services. The Forest Hills School District provides a continuum of services based on your child's needs. Services may include individual or group intervention supports (e.g., speech, occupational therapy, physical therapy) or participation in our center-based preschool program. These services will be determined at your child's Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meeting. For questions, please contact Forest Hills Preschool Administrative Assistant, Patty Dold, at 231-3600 ext: 2950.

Registration

Special Education Preschool Services: Please call Patty Dold, administrative assistant, at pattydold@foresthills.edu or 231-3600 prior to registering. 

Click here if you have been instructed to register for the special education preschool evaluation.

If you're having difficulties with the link above, please click here and scroll down to "Click here for 2019-2020 registration."

REQUIRED  REGISTRATION DOCUMENTS:

• parent/guardian driver’s license
• official birth certificate
• custody papers (if applicable)
• proof of residence (mortgage deed, rental/lease agreement)
• current immunization records (if applicable)
• ETR/IEP/504 reports/documents (if applicable)

Pay tuition and fees:

Click here to pay tuition and fees for preschool.

The Forest Hills School District preschool program is recognized for excellence 

Sherwood Elementary School and Summit Elementary School have received the 5-Star Step Up To Quality Award from the Ohio Department of Education and Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Step Up To Quality is a rating and improvement system. The system recognizes and promotes learning and development programs that meet quality program standards that exceed preschool licensing and school age child care licensing health and safety regulations. Step Up To Quality program standards are based on national research identifying standards which lead to improved outcomes for children.

PRESCHOOL GUIDE AND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

2019-2020 Preschool guide and staff information

Family information form

Family income statement

Medical and dental form

Developmental resources for 3-year-olds

Developmental resources for 4-year-olds

Developmental resources for 5-year-olds 

Ohio's Early Learning Assessment 

Ohio's kindergarten readiness skills 

HEALTHCHEK

Healthchek is Ohio's Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment Program. It is a service package for babies, kids and young adults younger than age 21 who are enrolled on Ohio Medicaid. The purpose of Healthchek is to discover and treat health problems early. If a potential health problem is found, further diagnosis and treatment are covered by Medicaid. Healthchek covers ten check-ups in the first two years of life and annual check-ups thereafter and offers a comprehensive physical examination. You can read more information here.  

HEAD START

The Hamilton County Educational Service Center operates a Head Start program at Mercer Elementary for children ages 3- to 5-years- old.  The half-day classes taught by qualified early childhood teachers are intended to help children enter kindergarten ready to learn. The morning session operates from 8 a.m-11:30 a.m. and the afternoon session operates from 12:10 p.m.-3:45 p.m.  Nutritious meals and snacks are provided as a component of this comprehensive program.

The program is free to families who meet certain income guidelines.  For more information and to enroll, call HCESC at 513-674- 4329 or visit http://hcescheadstart.org/.