The ARIN Intermediate Unit 28 Early Intervention (EI) Preschool Program provides a variety of programs and services for children from their third birthday until entry into school. Services for children during the preschool years are provided at no cost to their families when the child is determined to meet eligibility requirements. Individual Education Programs (IEPs) are written to define the services that will be provided to those eligible children.

Preschool Services may include:

• Screening and Evaluation
• Support in Early Childhood Environments
• Specialized Instruction
• Speech
• Occupational Therapy
• Physical Therapy
• Hearing
• Vision
• Specialized Classrooms
• Transition to School Age Programs

Have you registered your child for kindergarten yet? Check out your home district's website for more information!

Armstrong County:

Apollo-Ridge (Click here for a paper form to print and complete)

Armstrong School District:

• Dayton Elementary
• Elderton Elementary
• Lenape Elementary
• Shannock Valley Elementary
• West Hills Primary

Freeport Area School District

Leechburg Area School District

Indiana County:

Homer-Center School District

Indiana Area School District

Marion Center School District

Penns Manor Area School District

Purchase Line School District

River Valley School District

United School District: Please call the elementary office at 814-446-5615 Ext. 1312 for more information and an enrollment packet.

Not sure which district you live in? Visit the Department of Economic Development’s Find Your Municipality Website. Enter your street address, city and zip code, and click “Find Municipality”. The name of the municipality, county and school district will appear on the screen.

The 2024 Early Intervention Family Survey is now available! Families of children receiving early intervention are encouraged to complete this survey. The results are used to improve the state and local programs!

Family Survey FAQ

The Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) is currently offering family scholarships to attend the 2024 National Autism Conference to be held August 5-8, 2024, in Harrisburg, PA. The Autism conference provides comprehensive, evidence-based information to assist educators, other professionals, and families in developing effective educational programming for all students with autism spectrum disorders.

The Parent/Caregiver Scholarship is available to parent(s) and/or caregiver(s) of a child with an IEP or who receives Early Intervention (EI) services and meets certain qualifications. The registration window is open through May 30, 2024. Scholarships will be granted on a first come first served basis, but with priority given to parent/caregiver scholarship recipients for the Children’s Institute. Eligible recipients are encouraged to apply as early as possible. Notifications will be sent out by June 20, 2024. Please share this incredible opportunity with families in your communities.

May is National Children's Mental Health Awareness Month, a time everyone to learn about and promote positive youth development, resilience, recovery, and the transformation of mental health services delivery for children and youth their families.

Children’s mental health is important because it affects how they think, feel, and behave. It can impact areas like:

• Foundation for Lifelong Well-being
• Academic Performance
• Social Relationships
• Physical Health and more!

How can you help support your young child’s mental health? Check out these resources and supports, collected by PA's Promise for Children.

Pennsylvania CHIP offers care for children by providing benefits to cover behavioral health care. Click here for more information on the mental health services covered by PA CHIP and how to apply.

The Healthy Minds, Thriving Kids Pre-K Project is a video series, based on mental health research, created to make important mental health skills available to preschool children (age 3 to 5). These videos introduce important ideas, taught the way young children learn best: through entertaining, relatable stories set in a vivid, imaginary world. Each video features a memorable song that reinforces the key messages.

Watch the complete series with your child. You can also download the free companion guides that summarize key ideas and include an activity that can help kids practice the skills they’re learning. For older children, explore more free evidence-based video resources for K-12. Each video in the series is available in both English and Spanish.

Join the Remake Learning Days across Pennsylvania! This hands-on learning festival showcases the many places where kids can learn across their community, such as early childhood programs, museums, schools, libraries, parks, community centers, tech companies, and more. These events give families and caregivers a chance to learn alongside their children and for kids to experience new learning opportunities. The mission of Remake Learning Days is to spark joy, encourage curiosity and create wonder for kids of all ages and their families. To find activities in our region, click here!

Armstrong County Community Action:

Phone number: 724-548-3408

Facebook Page

Website

Indiana County Community Action:

Phone number: 724-465-2657

Facebook Page

Website

Email: mfaught@iccap.net

Do you know about Power Library, Pennsylvania's electronic library? With Power Kids, you and your child can access things like:

• BookFlix: Watch videos and read books
• CyberSmarts: Learn how to be a safe, responsible and smart citizen with eBooks
• TrueFlix: Learn about people, places, nature, history and science from videos and eBooks
• Chat with a Librarian

In addition, many libraries throughout Pennsylvania offers their members access to downloadable or streaming eBooks and audiobooks through Axis 360 and Hoopla. Enjoy new bestsellers and old favorites on your compatible digital device! Check with your library for additional info.

Looking for a fun, free activity to do with your child(ren)? Check out your local Lowe's for the May 4th workshop! You can either complete the activity at the store, or get it to take home and complete!

Click here to register for the workshop! Change your store to the Lowe's location closest to you!

Check availability in your area!

The Dolly Parton Imagination Library provides books free of charge each month to children from birth to age 5. Wondering what books your child will receive each month in 2024? See below!

Sign up for the FREE monthly Kindergarten, Here I Am eNews!

Each month get activities, tips and resources you can use to help your kindergartner prepare for and have a successful Kindergarten year.

May: We're in the Grocery Store!

Each month offers activities families can do together in a variety of settings. The activities within the Learning is Everywhere Calendar and on the website are aligned with the Pennsylvania Early Learning Standards (ELS).

Activities for your preschooler:

As you put away your groceries, talk about the items that were purchased. Help your preschooler or kindergartner describe each item-hard, soft, rough, smooth, red, green, etc. How many different words can they use to describe the item? Each of you can take turns coming up with a new word! Create a shopping page on a tablet with pictures and descriptive words. (Scientific Thinking)

Help your preschooler or kindergartner associate the food they eat with their origin. For example, mashed potatoes come from potatoes, and ketchup comes from tomatoes. Next time you visit the grocery store, help them identify which items can be made into something else (like oranges into orange juice) (Scientific Thinking)

During the next grocery trip, have your preschooler or kindergartner assist you in matching the coupon with the item. Point out the name of the items and the picture on the coupons. Translate the amount on the coupon into money. “50 cents is two quarters” or “$1.00 is the same as four quarters or one dollar bill”. Make your own play money and coupons and practice shopping. Allow your preschooler or kindergartner to shop in your kitchen with their coupons and money to prepare for shopping in a store. (Mathematics Thinking and Expression)

Sing up for the FREE monthly Learning is Everywhere eNewsletter!

11 books about grocery stores that go well with this month’s learning theme:

• Each month Learning is Everywhere provides a list of books that compliment the activities. What can you do with this list?

  • Make a short video of your child reading or giving a book review of one of the books on the list. What was their favorite part of the book? Share the video with family and friends. Tag PA's Promise for Children on Facebook or Instagram!
  • Share the list with your friends who have children.
  • If you are a teacher, print this list and give it to the families of your students, or post this list where families can see it. They'll know which books are being read in your classroom.
  • If you are an early learning community partner, host a special reading event for families using the monthly book lists. Each month has a different focus--find them at PA's Promise for Children. Include an activity from the monthly list to engage families.
  • Print the list and take it to your local library. Your librarian can help you find the books on the list. Then read the books with your child. Help your child circle or cross out the books on the list as you read them.

  
  

  How do you use this book list? Share on PA's Promise for Children, the Facebook page, or send it to Mary at marhal@pakeys.org.

Parent to Parent matches parents of children with special needs or disabilities with other families who've had similar journeys. A new diagnosis for your child might feel overwhelming, but P2P wants to ensure that you don't feel alone. By being matched to another family, they can provide emotional support, advice, stories of their own experiences, or just a listening ear!

Click here to complete a new match intake form

Want to become a Peer Supporter? Click here!

For more information, call 1-888-727-2706