Specialized Programs

The Intensive Preschool program at Royal Palm provides highly individualized, structured support for ESE students, focusing on communication, social-emotional development, independence, and early academic skills through evidence-based, targeted instruction and consistent routines to help children build essential skills for learning and daily life.

What “Intensive Preschool” Means

The Intensive Preschool program is a specialized early-learning class for young children who have been identified through an Individualized Education Program (IEP) as needing extra support due to developmental or learning needs. It’s part of the district’s Exceptional Student Education (ESE) offerings.

(This is not the same as the general public preschool or VPK program (which is for all children and focuses on school readiness). Intensive Preschool specifically serves children who require a more structured and supportive learning environment.

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Who the Program Is For

• Children ages 3–5 with identified developmental delays or special needs

• Students who need structured instruction in multiple areas of development

• Eligibility is determined through the ESE evaluation and IEP process (not through regular enrollment)

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What the Program Focuses On

The Intensive Preschool classroom provides:

🔹 Highly structured instruction tailored to each child’s goals
🔹 Communication skills (talking, understanding language)
🔹 Social-emotional growth (sharing, taking turns, interacting with others)
🔹 Independent functioning skills (self-help, following routines)
🔹 Early learning basics (early math, pre-reading activities)

Teachers in this program use specialized strategies and routines that help children who need more support than what general preschool/VPK provides.

How It Helps Your Child

The goal of the Intensive Preschool is to help children:

• Build confidence and social skills

• Make progress toward their IEP goals

• Gain foundational skills for kindergarten and beyond

• Work in a supportive, predictable classroom environment

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Extra Support and Structure

Children in Intensive Preschool often:

• Work in small groups or one-on-one with trained teachers or assistants

• Follow routines that reduce stress and support learning

• Have instruction in areas that are challenging for them, such as communication, behavior, or motor skills
  This makes daily school routines and learning activities easier and more successful for each child.

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How Children Get Into the Program

This is not a program you apply to like regular preschool or VPK. Instead:

1. A parent or doctor may raise concerns about a child’s development.

2. The school district’s ESE team evaluates the child.

3. If the evaluation finds the child qualifies for ESE services, an IEP meeting is held to decide if Intensive Preschool is appropriate.

4. Once the IEP team agrees, the child is placed in the Intensive Preschool class.

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 Quick Summary

• Who: Preschoolers with special needs identified through an IEP

• What: A highly structured early learning program

• Focus: Communication, behavior/self-help, social skills, early academics

• How: Placement through the ESE evaluation and IEP process

The Autism Special Program provides a structured, supportive setting for elementary students with ASD, offering individualized, evidence-based instruction aligned to state standards while building communication, social, self-regulation, and independent functioning skills. Students learn in small groups, use visual supports and predictable routines, and participate with general education peers when appropriate, helping them develop confidence, independence, and real-world readiness.

The Specialized Preschool program provides a self-contained, language-focused setting for ESE students with developmental delays, offering individualized instruction that builds readiness, communication, social skills, and independence to prepare children for future academic success in a nurturing, structured environment.