About Early Intervention 

Location: Old Gallinas Children's Center, Building C 251 North San Pedro Rd., San Rafael, CA

The San Rafael City Schools Early Intervention is a therapy-based program that provides a continuum of programs and related services to support children with disabilities in the educational process in the least restrictive environment. Such services may include but not limited to:  Specialized Academic Instruction, Speech and Language, Occupation Therapy, and Physical Therapy.

Through each child’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP), our special education credentialed specialists engage our young students in developmentally appropriate learning through research-based instructional strategies and play-based interventions that support each student’s specific IEP goals to further develop his/her school readiness skills before moving to Transitional Kindergarten or Kindergarten. 

The SRCS Early Intervention program believes in the dignity of each individual and the provision of a safe, creative, and engaging learning environment for the students that we serve.

SRCS EI PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Early Intervention Classes

Location: Old Gallinas Children's Center, Building C

There are currently morning (AM) and afternoon (PM) classes. 

• AM Classes: Meets 5 days per week (Monday through Friday 8:45-11:45) 
• PM Classes: Meets 4 days per week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 12:30-3:30).  

Students who participate in the classes present with delays in multiple areas of development which require a more integrated approach to learning and support.  The School Psychologist, Speech and Language Pathologist, and Occupational Therapist work collaboratively with the early childhood special education teachers to support each child according to the Integrated Therapy Model of service delivery. Weekly occupational therapy motor group is provided in each classroom.

Speech Language & Learning Groups 

Location: Old Gallinas Children's Center, Building C

Our SLLG’s are small groups of students (2-4) who have been identified to have delays in their language skills, whether that is receptive language, expressive language, articulation, and/or social pragmatics.  The SLLG’s meet with the Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP).  On-going consultation and support for parents is provided through home-school connections and the encouraged use of language strategies

Preschool Groups 

San Rafael Locations: San Pedro ES, De Colores, Canal Child Care, Pickleweed, Parkside

For those families who have been accepted to the above federal or state subsidized full-day or part-day preschool programs AND have met the SRCS enrollment requirements, the special education services may be provided within the context of the preschool program whenever possible with ongoing consultation with the PreK teachers and parents.

4-Step Referral Process

Step 1   Initial Intake

Contact the district’s bi-lingual community liaison at 415) 492-3238 or email kherschkorn@srcs.org to request an assessment and intake in order to provide information about your child’s background, most recent hearing/vision screening, and your specific concerns.

Step 2:  Address Verification 

Parent/guardian will be requested to provide 2 proofs of residency dated within the last 60 days and verification of child’s date of birth (Birth Certificate) and Release/Exchange

Please email to kherschkorn@srcs.org or mail/drop off at San Rafael City Schools Student Services Early Intervention, 310 Nova Albion Way, San Rafael, CA 94903

Step 3:  Assessment Planning Team 

After receiving the verification of address and the child’s date of birth, the multi-disciplinary team will meet and review the intake information and must reply within fifteen (15) calendar days with a written Assessment Plan (AP) for your child, or Prior Written Notice (PWN) letter explaining why an assessment will not be conducted

Step 4:  Assessment and development of an Individualized Education Program (IEP)

Once the complete Assessment Plan packet is received with parent consent, the district has 60 calendar days to assess the child in the suspected areas of need and schedule the IEP meeting with the parent/guardian. At this meeting, the IEP team will discuss the assessment results, determine eligibility, construct goals, and identify needed programs, supports, and/or services.  The IEP team is a collaboration between parents, assessors, and any other necessary individuals. 

Evaluations are done at the Early Intervention Assessment Center at Old Gallinas Children’s Center or when appropriate, may also be conducted at the child’s preschool site.  

Public Preschools* 

Community Action Marin (CAM) Children and Family Services

Locations: De Colores, San Pedro ES, Old Gallinas Children’s Center, Canal Children’s Center

Website

Submit Service Inquiry Form

Phone: 415.526.7500

Email  clientintake@camarin.org

555 Northgate Drive, Ste 201

San Rafael, CA  94903

City of San Rafael Preschools

Locations: Pickleweed, Parkside 

Website

Pickleweed Preschool   Parkside Preschool

40 Canal Street                  51 Albert Park Lane

San Rafael CA  94901       San Rafael, CA  94901

(415) 485-3101                  (415) 485-3387

*Please check the website for any private preschools you might be interested in.

DISTRICT VISION:  Every student will be a confident learner, an effective communicator, a critical thinker, and a positive contributor to the global community.

EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM

This program is for preschool-aged children who qualify for special education and who live within the district boundaries. The purpose of EI is to lessen the effects of a disability or delay.  

Services are designed to identify and meet a child’s specific needs which may include such areas as Cognitive development, communication, motor development, social or emotional development, and adaptive functioning to further develop his/her school readiness skills before moving to Transitional Kindergarten or Kindergarten. 

Student Services

310 Nova Albion Way

San Rafael, CA 94903

If you have concerns about your preschool-aged child’s development and live within the district boundaries, please call our Bilingual Community Liaison for an EI intake:

Kathia Herschkorn
415-492-3238
kherschkorn@srcs.org

Early Intervention Program Coordinator
Alison Baum
Coordinator, Early Learning Center
35 Marin Street, San Rafael, CA 94901
(415) 485-1719 x 1501

Administrative Assistant  
Mary Bartels
415-492-3220
mbartels@srcs.org

Director, Special Education – ESD
Leigh-Anna Booher
415-492-3529
lbooher@srcs.org