Early Childhood Special Education / Evaluations

Evaluations

The Evaluation Team for Early Childhood Special Education is responsible for completing evaluations on children ages 3-5 when a disability is suspected. This team is located at the Center for Early Learning-North (CELN), but evaluations can be completed throughout the district as needed.

Referrals can be made by calling: 573-214-3950 (option #3).

The core Evaluation Team members are:

Jeanne Little - School Psychological Examiner

Kim Linn-Educational Diagnostician

Theresa Smith-Educational Diagnostician

Danette Parham, Speech-language-pathologist

Gina Gibson-Speech-Language Pathologist

Mary Ellen Ankeney-Occupational Therapist

Jennifer Highbarger-Physical Therapist

Bethany Girard-Behavior Specialist

Amanda Pangborn-Autism Specialist

Christy Williams-Vision Specialist

Andrea White-Deaf Educator

Not pictured-Nicole Hatchett, Hearing Impairment Specialist; Danette Praham Speech-Language Pathologist.

The evaluation process can take up to 90 days to complete. Evaluations can be completed in any area in which a delay or disability is suspected. These areas include:

vision

hearing

health/medical

physical development (including fine motor skills such as writing, using a spoon and fork, using hands together to complete tasks, zipping a coat, and gross motor skills such as running, jumping, accessing playground equipment, ball skills, pedaling a trike, going up and down stairs)

cognition (learning ability, memory, play skills, attention)

concept development (pre-academic skills, including color knowledge, counting and numbers, shape identification, etc.)

communication (including speech skills such as articulation, fluency and vocal quality, and language skills such as vocabulary, responding to questions, word and sentence construction skills and social language skills)

adaptive behavior (taking care of one's needs, toileting, dressing, feeding, and responses to sensory stimuli)

social-emotional-behavioral development (including autism).

The Columbia Public School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender identity, gender expression, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, age, or use of leave protected by the Family and Medical Leave Act, in its programs, activities, or with regard to employment. The Columbia Board of Education is an equal opportunity employer. Inquiries regarding Columbia Public Schools' compliance with IDEA and Section 504 regulations should be directed to Special Services.