The Bernards Township Public School District offers federally mandated classes for preschool disabled students.  School districts assume responsibility for disabled students who qualify as of their third birthday. 

The district offers two half day programs, PEACH & PALS.  PEACH (Preschool Educates All CHildren) was established in the district in 1979-1980.  The PALS (Preschool for All Learning Styles) program was established in 2000-2001.  The programs are staffed with certified teachers and instructional aides.

A comprehensive evaluation, including speech & language, educational, and psychological evaluations, will be administered should the Child Study Team feel it is warranted.  Preschoolers may qualify for these programs through this evaluation process.
 
FULL DAY PALS CLASSES                     
Monday-Friday
Hours:  9:30-3:30

The full day PALS class is primarily designed for children with a medical diagnosis of autism. It is based upon the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). The program derives all of its teaching techniques, program protocol, and data collection systems on scientifically based strategies and relies on peer review research to further direct its practice.

ABA is a science that uses the basic principles of how humans learn behavior by systematically manipulating variables to increase desired behaviors and decrease inappropriate behaviors. Some techniques used include positive reinforcement, differential reinforcement, extinction, prompting, shaping, and fading.

There are hundreds of teaching techniques that are used under the ABA umbrella. Techniques that are used in the full day PALS class include incidental teaching, video modeling, audio modeling, schedule following, scripting, discrete trial instruction, and small group instruction.

All of the above teaching techniques utilize objectively defined target behaviors including circumstances under which these behaviors will occur, a criterion for mastery, a teaching procedure, a teaching probe to ensure generalization, strategies for maintaining acquired skills, and inter-observer agreement. 

 

PEACH PROGRAM

Monday-Thursday

Hours:  AM 9:30-12:00, PM 1:00-3:30

The PEACH Program (Preschool Educates All Children) is designed to meet the individual needs of children ages three through five years of age who have a significant delay or handicapping condition in one or more developmental areas: speech & language, motor, cognition, social/emotional, vision, hearing or physical. The staff is composed of a special education teacher, a speech/language specialist, and at least one instructional aide. Occupational and physical therapy are provided to those children who qualify for these related services. Speech and language therapy is integrated into the program.

The children participate in a consistent daily routine designed to promote active learning and exploration. Children are encouraged to make choices and decisions throughout the day. They work with materials that have been selected to provide experiences with a variety of motor, language and social activities. They engage with the adults individually and in groups. A developmental approach is used which enables educators to identify the child’s level of readiness and need. The educators can then provide experiences for the child to exercise and extend emerging abilities while reinforcing existing strengths.

The program runs 2 1/2 hours per day Monday-Thursday. 

HALF DAY PALS PROGRAM

Monday-Thursday

Hours:  AM 9:30-12:00, PM 1:00-3:30

 

The PALS Program (Preschool for All Learning Styles) is similar to the PEACH Program in that it offers two half day sessions (9:30-12:00) and (1:00-3:30). The classes are mixed in age and consist of children ages three through five. The program runs Monday-Thursday and it is staffed by a certified teacher and two instructional aides. Speech and language therapy and related services are provided for those students who have been evaluated and who are found eligible for services as a preschool student with a disability.

A unique component of the PALS Program is that this program also has non-disabled peers in the class to provide preschool students who have disabilities with typical peer role models. For information on enrolling your child in the program as a typical peer model, please
contact Janet Nardone at the Office of Special Services - 908-204-2600 x146.  

The curriculum includes movement, music, arts & crafts, and thematic centers.