Lack of funding is forcing Stride Learning Center to make new changes

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) – Statement from Stride Learning Center

Dear Friends, Family and Community Members of Laramie County, After meeting with the STRIDE Learning Center Board of Directors, we wanted to share some information about STRIDE Learning Center and upcoming changes to our programming. Unfortunately, STRIDE Learning Center’s preschool services, known as Part B of the federal IDEA Act, must change their current service delivery model. Due to insufficient state funding, STRIDE is no longer able to maintain preschool classrooms for both children with learning disabilities and typically developing children. Beginning in August 2023, STRIDE will no longer have inclusive preschool classrooms in our Parsley building. All preschool children with IEPs (Individualized Education Programs) who require an inclusive environment (combining stimulators and students with IEPs) receive a free public education in a Least Restrictive Environment (LRE), receive special instruction and related services in the classroom. Laramie County Head Start, school district preschools, and private community preschools compared to the STRIDE preschool classroom. Community preschool tuition will continue to be paid by STRIDE to fulfill Free Appropriate Public Education – A small number of FAPEA children, according to their IEP, need a separate and more limited environment to meet their LRE. To that end, STRIDE continues to provide preschool opportunities on our campus for special education and related services without the presence of typical peers in the classroom. The Child and Infant Education Center’s STRIDE Program, known as Part C of the federal IDEA Act, continues to provide a quality model of home visiting services, child care visits and supportive playgroups for children from birth to three years of age. One last announcement. To complete a comprehensive assessment of a preschool child, the child must be observed in a preschool setting with typical peers in order to determine educational needs. Therefore, STRIDE has a Pacesetter-only classroom with a preschool teacher and a general education assistant funded by Pacesetter tuition for the 2023-2024 school year.

Please contact one of the following administrators with questions or concerns:

Tricia Whynott, Executive Director – [email protected]

Erin Swilling, Director of Special Education and Compliance Officer – [email protected]

Katie Fraley, Director of Infants and Toddlers – [email protected]

We thank our community for their support over the past 50 years and look forward to continued support in the years to come.

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