Parent / Guardian Handbook

During intake, you will be set up with an account on the Clackamas EI/ECSE Program Parent Portal. You will use the Parent Portal to electronically review and sign paperwork. The Parent Portal is mobile-friendly so can be used on computers, smart phones, and tablets. Once your account is set up, the Parent Portal site is accessed at: https://ecparent.org/

• Note: Your service coordinator can help you with any issues accessing the Parent Portal.

The Health Emergency Information form and an Immunization Record must be completed prior to your child attending a Clackamas ESD classroom or group.

Immunizations

We are required by law to make sure all children who attend one of our self-contained classrooms or speech groups have been immunized. Each child’s immunization record is reviewed annually. If your child’s immunization record is incomplete, your child will be excluded from school. Contact Clackamas County Health Department 503-655-8471 for more information.

Child Pick-Up

Please be on time to pick up your child when class ends. We are unable to offer after class child care. In the event that you do not arrive to pick up your child, we will first attempt to contact you. If we cannot reach you, we will call either the police or child welfare authorities to take your child into safe custody.

Please list anyone you authorize to pick your child up from classes on the Registration Information - Health Emergency Information Form. Photo identification is required at pick up. In case of emergency, call the classroom teacher and give the name of the adult who will pick up your child. Photo ID will be checked. Classroom teachers will make the final decision whether to release the child.

Contact Information

All telephone numbers and addresses in your child's file must be current. Report any changes to your child’s teacher.

Regular attendance is essential for your child to benefit from services and make progress towards the goals on the IFSP. Please notify your child’s service provider as soon as possible if your child is unable to attend services due to vacation or illness.

• If your child attends a Clackamas Early Childhood Special Education class or Speech Group: call or e-mail the primary contact which may be your child’s special education teacher or speech and language pathologist.

• If your child attends a community-based program (for example, Head Start): call the preschool directly and if possible e-mail or call your child’s service provider .

• If your child receives Home Visiting services: call or e-mail your service provider.

Staff are not able to make up services missed due to illness, vacation, or other conflicts such as appointments. If you have concerns about missed services please connect with your child’s service provider to discuss options.

Please send the following items with your child to class each day:

• Backpack or bag to carry items back and forth to school

• Change of clothing (or leave at school)

• Diapers and wipes (or leave at school)

• Notebook or notepad for communication between home and school

• Note: Mark all items with your child’s name in a place that it cannot be easily seen by the general public.

Snacks

We offer limited snacks (e.g. crackers, canned fruit, cereal) during our short classes. Health department rules are that all snacks must be store-bought and wrapped.

• Note: DO NOT send nuts or any products with nuts. Some children have life threatening allergies.

Clothing

Please dress your child in comfortable play clothes. Sometimes preschool can be messy! We want your child to enjoy everything. Shoes should be suitable for running and climbing. Cold or rainy weather calls for long pants and a coat. As the weather gets colder please make sure your child has other clothing items such as hat and gloves. Please let your service coordinator know if your family has needs in this area.

Many jackets or backpacks look the same. Please mark all items with your child’s name in a place (hidden from view from strangers, such as on the clothing tag).

We like to celebrate! And, we honor and respect the diverse values of our families. Clackamas EI/ECSE is a public education program and follows laws governing how schools may include non-religious (secular) aspects of popular holidays in their curriculum. Please talk to us if you have any questions or concerns.

Regular emergency drills (fire, earthquake, lock-down, etc.) are conducted as required by law. Staff, students, and visitors follow the policy and procedure of the school district in which the classroom is located. Please be aware that during lock-down drills, no one can enter or leave the building until the lock-down has ended. Please contact your service coordinator with any concerns.

If your child is injured at school, we will immediately attempt to contact you or the emergency contact. If the injury is serious, we will first call 911 to get emergency care for your child.

• Note: Please be sure your service coordinator has up-to-date emergency contact information at all times.

Clackamas ECSE Self-Contained Classrooms and Speech Groups

If the school district in which the classroom is located closes, we will close. If the school district has a late start, our morning classes will be canceled but afternoon classes will be held as scheduled. If there is an early dismissal, we will call you and ask that you arrange to pick up your child if needed.

Community preschools or childcare

If your child receives EI/ECSE services in a community preschool or childcare and either the center or the school district in which the center is located is closed, services will not be provided.

Services provided in the home

If your child receives EI/ECSE services in your home and the district in which you reside is closed, your child will not receive services that day. If the district is on an emergency late start, morning services will not be provided.

• Note: Please sign up for email and text alerts about school or community emergency closures at http://flashalert.net. Information is also available on local radio and television stations, as well as at the Clackamas ESD website: www.clackesd.k12.or.us.

The best way to contact your child’s service provider is via their CESD email (typically first letter of first name and last name @clackesd.k12.or.us, e.g. jperez@clackesd.k12.or.us) or Google Voice number. Please make sure to get this contact information from your service coordinator. If you cannot reach your service coordinator and there is an emergency, please reach out to an office support staff member listed above.

If you are wanting to give a gift to an employee, please reach out to an administrator from the contacts on page 2 to discuss details.

Photographs or videotapes may be used to develop picture schedules or other classroom materials. These materials are for instructional purposes and used only in the classroom/center, among classroom/center staff and students.

We will ask you for your signed permission if we would like to photograph or videotape a child for a special project or for any use outside of your child’s class-room. You may refuse consent if you do not wish your child’s image to be included.

All Clackamas ESD employees are mandatory reporters and must report if they suspect a child has been sexually, physically or emotionally abused or neglected. This is reported to the Oregon Department of Human Services or the police. Parents may also contact the Oregon Department of Human Services directly to seek assistance or to report possible abuse of their child.

We follow Health Department exclusion guidelines for school. Please keep your child home when ill. Some of the children attending our classes have compromised immune systems. If your child gets sick at school, we will call you or the person listed on your child’s emergency form.

• Note: Emergency contact information must be accurate at ALL times.

If your child has a potentially communicable condition (e.g., pink eye, scabies), they will be sent home and will not be allowed to return until the condition is either cleared up or cleared from your health provider. If you have a home visit scheduled and your child or anyone in the family is sick, please call to reschedule the home visit.

Please do not send your child to school if your child has:

• Nausea or vomiting

• Confirmed positive case of COVID (within 5 days of positive test) COVID symptoms may include: fever, unusual cough, shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell and fatigue

• Fever (of 100 degrees or more)

• New or unidentified rash & complaints of severe itching

• Nasal discharge that is thick or colored

• Diarrhea

• Eye redness with discharge

• Ear drainage that is thick or colored

• Sore throat with elevated temp

• Open, draining sores

• Jaundice (yellow color of skin or in eyes)

Before your child returns to school:

• Fever: must be free of fever for 24 hours before returning to school.

• Nausea, Vomiting, or Diarrhea: be free of symptoms for 24 hours.

• Colds: should feel up to participating in activities or playing.

• Chicken Pox: scabs are dry and no new sores are emerging – usually five to seven days.

• Strep Throat: wait at least 24 hours from the first dose of antibiotics before returning to school.

• Communicable Diseases (Impetigo, Pink-eye, Scabies, etc.): Please send a note from your doctor.

• Head Lice: Each CESD classroom follows their hosting school district policy on head lice exclusion and re-entry.

• Injury/Surgery/Hospitalization: Please have your doctor fill out a “Return to School Clearance” form so that we may plan for a safe environment to meet any new needs your child may have. This form needs to be received prior to your child’s return to school.

• COVID 19: Child may return to school five days after confirmed positive results and fever no longer present.

If your child needs us to administer ANY medication (including prescription or over-the-counter medication such as topical medications, sunblock, Tylenol, etc.), the following procedures are required by law:

• Medication must be brought directly to the school by the parent. State policy does not allow medications to be sent to and from school in a child’s backpack. At the end of the school year, parents/caregivers must come in and pick up the medications, in person.

• Parents must sign an authorization form allowing school personnel to administer or assist the child in taking the medication.

• The child’s physician must give written directions for any prescription medicine. These instructions need to be included on a prescription label. The label must include the child’s name, the name of the medication, the dosage, time, route, prescription number and physician’s name. Ask your pharmacist to provide two prescription bottles, one for home and one for school.

• All medication, including over-the-counter medications, must be in their original containers.

• Medications will be administered by the school nurse or other, designated trained staff.

• Any changes in administration of medication must be in writing. This includes written instruction from the parents and physician. Verbal requests to change medication amounts or frequency are not acceptable.

• All medications are kept locked at all times in a designated location within the classroom.

• Only medications essential for your child to have during school hours will be administered.

Medical Protocols

If your child has a medical condition that may require emergency intervention, inform your child’s service coordinator. A medical protocol will be developed by the program nurse and reviewed with you and ECSE staff. If your child uses district transportation, CESD will include an advisory notation of his/her medical protocol on the interagency transportation request.