Early Childhood/Integrated Preschool (SCIP)

The Stark County Educational Service Center believes children learn best when given opportunities to explore and manipulate age-appropriate materials in a safe, nurturing, and carefully planned environment. 

The Stark County ESC works in collaboration with eleven local school districts to provide preschool services to children 3-5 years of age who have been identified as developmentally delayed in one or more of the following areas:  communication, vision, hearing, motor skills, social emotional/behavioral functioning, self-help skills, and/or cognitive skills.

Teachers develop and extend children's interest through a literacy-language rich curriculum.  Ongoing developmental progress is assessed regularly, strengthening teacher instruction and children's learning.  This process builds a strong foundation for future learning success and a positive transition to kindergarten. Activities presented in the SCIP Program are age-appropriate learning experiences intended to facilitate the goals and objectives of each child's Individualized Education Plan (IEP).  Children participate in numerous learning opportunities through structured play, free play, and learning centers.  Daily activities help to develop communication skills (oral, written, listening, and reading).  Necessary support services are provided from trained staff who have the knowledge and understanding of early childhood development.

The Early Childhood curriculum is aligned with The Ohio Department of Education's Early Learning and Development Standards. These standards establish benchmarks that impact future learning. All programming is targeted to give children early support and build a strong knowledge-based foundation. The program follows Ohio's child care licensing standards. These guidelines provide a framework for program operation, conditions for teaching, learning, and accountability. Adults who care for and education young children also shape the children's understanding of themselves, others, and the world around them.