Early Childhood Center

The creation of an Early Childhood Center, which is proposed in the Huntington Estates subdivision, in an area of Naperville already owned by District 203, is necessary as a result of both federal and state legislation that requires educational services to be offered to students with special needs beginning at age three.  An Early Childhood Center will allow us as a community to better meet the needs of students in our own community born with any combination of special needs.  Research has shown that aggressive and early intervention with young children with special needs greatly enhances their chances of success in life later on.  Truly, the creation of the Early Childhood Center, beyond a legal mandate, will significantly enhance the services already provided by the district.  Some further points to consider about the Early Childhood Center are as follows:

• There is a legal requirement that students must be educated with “typical” peers.
• There are rapidly increasing numbers of young children with disabilities needing these services.
• The current program is not cost-efficient or practical, as it is housed in eleven classrooms at five different schools encompassing five program areas
• Bathroom and playground facilities in the current schools are not designed for younger students, especially with certain special needs.

For an excellent piece on the need for an Early Childhood Center and the benefits to us as a community, please see this essay from Quality Education 203.

Proposed site for Early Childhood Center off of Naper Blvd. in the
Huntington Estates Subdivision.