Pre-school Special Education is a program established to serve children 3-5 years of age who exhibit Significant Developmental Delay (SDD) in at least one of five developmental areas or who meet eligibility in any of the "categorical" eligibility areas, such as Speech Impaired, Visually Impaired, Hearing Impaired, and/or Orthopedically Impaired.

Services that may be provided include, but are not limited to: comprehensive evaluation services, direct instruction from preschool special education teacher, speech and/or language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, transportation, direct instruction from a teacher for the visually impaired, direct instruction from a teacher for the hearing impaired, audiological services, referrals to other agencies.

Children should be referred to Pre-school Special Education when they appear to show delays in any one of the five areas listed above. According to the revised Georgia rules/regulations the term Significant Developmental Delay does not apply to children who are experiencing a slight or temporary lag in one or more areas of development, or a delay which is primarily due to environmental, cultural, or economic disadvantage or lack of experience in age appropriate activities.

Referrals come from many sources including, but not limited to: parents, physicians, daycare providers, pre-k teachers, Head Start, family, friends, teachers of siblings.

To refer a child to Pre-school Special Education, please contact the Preschool Special Education Department by phone at 770.533.4019 or 770.534.1080.