*Enrollment information below

Peer Model students are typically developing children who are included within the USD 232 Early Childhood classrooms as models for children with disabilities.  All children benefit from multiple opportunities to interact with their peers and learn appropriate social behavior, and play skills from one another.  Instruction within classrooms will be differentiated to meet the needs of all children in the program.

Current Schedule:

Morning (3-year-old) Program: Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday, 8:15am to 11:30am (car loop begins at 8:05am and 11:20am)

Afternoon (4-year-old) Program: Monday through Friday, 12:30pm to 3:30pm (car loop begins at 12:20pm and 3:20pm)

A Peer Model student must demonstrate age-appropriate skills in the areas of play, social, behavior, speech, language, adaptive and motor.  The following are requirements for peer model students:

• Resident of USD 232, De Soto School District OR Child of current USD 232 employee
• Three years old before August 31st of the current school year 
• Toilet-trained (no more than one accident within a two-week period)
• Independent self-help skills
• Initiate play with other children
• Follow directions with minimal prompting
• Age appropriate speech sound production*
• Age appropriate expressive and receptive language skills (e.g. uses a minimum of three-word phrases) 
• Understand concepts such as big/little, on/off, wet/dry
• Maintain consistent attendance
• Not be kindergarten-eligible (age five before September 1st of current school year)

*Students demonstrating articulation errors that are not considered developmentally appropriate or receiving appointment based special education services would not be eligible for peer model spots.  If you have concerns about your child's development, please see the screening page located within the early childhood website.

If developmental concerns arise for a peer model student the USD 232 early childhood department will provide interventions in the area of concern and refer for a special education evaluation if necessary.  Students receiving special education services are not eligible for peer model spots due to delays in development.  If a potential delay is found and a special education evaluation is recommended, parents have the right to decline a special education evaluation.  However, should a peer model student be referred for an evaluation and parents choose to decline the evaluation, the child will no longer be eligible to hold a peer model spot due to potential developmental delays.  Peer model students will not be responsible for tuition payments during the special education evaluation period.  Should the child be found not eligible for special education services they would continue to be a peer model student and tuition payments would resume. 

Peer model spots are limited.

--- 2019 Preschool Open House ---

The Early Childhood Program will hold an open house on Thursday, February 14th 2019 from 6:30pm to 7:20pm.  This open house will allow families to tour the preschool area at Belmont Elementary including classrooms and group/shared spaces.  Belmont Elementary is located at 5805 Bemlont Dr., Shawnee KS 66226. Information regarding the program and current curriculums will also be available.  The open house must end promptly at 7:20, so that parent teacher conferences may resume.   

--- 2019-2020 Peer Model Enrollment ---

Enrollment for the Early Childhood Peer Model Program for the 2019-2020 school year will begin soon.  Open enrollment for new peer model students will begin on February 25th 2019 and close on March 7th 2019 at 4:00pm. Applications for open enrollment will be posted to the district early childhood website on February 22nd 2019.  However, open enrollment applications will NOT be accepted in the Belmont Elementary office until February 25th 2019.  A lottery system will be used to fill open spots.  Please see additional information below.

Peer model spots will be filled utilizing a lottery system and filled in the following order:

1. Returning peer model students with applications received by February 21st 2019,
2. Students of district staff members with applications received by February 21st 2019, and
3. Remaining peer sports will be filled through a lottery system following open enrollment deadline of Thursday March 7th 2019 at 4:00pm. 

All peer model applicants will receive a mailed letter prior to March 29th 2019 indicating if your child received a peer spot via the lottery system, placed on the waiting list, or if a sport on the waiting list/peer model spot was not available.    

Please contact the Belmont Elementary office or Andrea West at 913-667-1810 or awest@usd232.org with questions.  

Please Note: Peer model applications for the 2019-2020 school year will be sent home with current 3-year-old peer model students on February 11th 2019.  Peer model applications for students of district staff members will be emailed on February 8th 2019.  Applications for current peer model students and students of district staff members need to be completed and turned into the Belmont Elementary office by February 21st 2019 at 4pm. Please contact Andrea West if additional copies are needed!