Full Inclusion in an Integrated Classroom (SC/IS CLass)

For children who need a bit more support than Cooke offers in general education preschool classrooms, Cooke conducts classes taught by both a special education and a general education teacher and 2 teacher assistants.

Eight children with special needs join 10 to 12 of their general education peers in a highly-structured, inclusive classroom. We refer to these classrooms as Special Class/Integrated Setting, or SC/IS. Our SC/IS classes are located in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

The 12-month, full day SC/IS program helps children develop social /emotional, physical, cognitive and language skills, with the goal of preparing them for success in kindergarten and beyond. Theme-related activities in these areas encourage children to solve problems, think critically and engage in activities that promote healthy development.

Cooke provides related services of speech, occupational and physical therapy and counseling according to the child's needs-- either in the classroom or in individual settings.

The SC/IS curriculum is grounded in the Head Start Performance Standards of the U.S. Department of Education and the New York State Performance Standards for Pre-K.

Accessing SC/IS Class services

Special needs students in our SC/IS classes are from 3 to 5 years of age, and have been classified as a preschooler with a disability by the NYC Department of Education's Committee on Preschool Special Education. These children receive special education services to address one or more of the following: speech and language impairment, learning disabilities and social/emotional delays.  SC/IS classes are particularly helpful to children who can benefit from appropriate models of speech, play and other behaviors in a small, supportive classroom.

For more information about an evaluation, please visit the Preschool admissions page.