Program and Location
The Barkley Preschool is a collaborative effort between Lincoln Head Start, Lincoln Public Schools' Early Childhood Special Education and the University of Nebraska -Lincoln to serve young children and their families. The preschool is located on the campus of the University of Nebraska -Lincoln. See the Lincoln Public Schools and Head Start agreement.

Program Services
Over forty children, ages three years to five years, currently participate in this program in morning and afternoon sessions. These children qualify for Head Start services and/or are children who have verified disabilities. Children with disabilities of speech-language impairments, orthopedic impairments, visual impairments, behavioral disorders and mental retardation are included in this class. The staff consists of a Head Start teacher (Shannon), a Head Start home visitor (Lynn), speech-language pathologists (Suzy and Carol), an early childhood special educator (Nancy), a Head Start paraeducator (Patti), and a special education paraeducator (Barbara). The Barkley preschool classroom also serves as a clinical experience site for graduate students in speech-language pathology and a practicum site for graduate students in early childhood special education. University students from other disciplines also frequently complete short-term assignments under the direction of the professional staff in the preschool. The day is divided into two sessions. The morning session includes both children who qualify for Head Start (9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.) and children who qualify for Early Childhood Special Education (9:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.). The afternoon session (1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.) includes children who qualify for ECSE and "peer models." In addition, on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, a group of children who participate in Head Start homebased services join the other children at the center.

Educational Philosophy
Lincoln Public Schools' Early Childhood Special Education department believes that the individual needs of the children should be met in the most appropriate environment for each child. This may be the home, in a child care setting, or in a "center-based" classroom. We further believe it is necessary for families, caregivers, and educators to join together as partners to ensure that safe, caring, stimulating, appropriate learning environments are available to all the children in our program. In addition, we respect each child as a unique person with an individual pattern and rate of learning and growth. Our program is built upon active, hands-on experiences that encourage children to explore, make choices and construct knowledge for themselves. Barkley preschool subscribes whole heartily to this philosophy.

Program Description
This preschool follows a modified High Scope Curriculum. The student's day is divided into six segments:
Snack (preceded by hand washing and followed by tooth brushing)
Circle time (songs, finger plays, and storybook reading)
Work time (preceded by planning and followed by reviewing)
Committees (small group activities related to the week's story)
Lunch - for Head Start students (preceded and followed by hand washing)
Large Muscle Time