Early Childhood Special Education  

Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) is a Fargo Public School Program that serves children, ages three to kindergarten entrance, who meet criteria established by the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction as needing specially designed instruction because of developmental delays in the general areas of cognitive/pre-academic, large and fine motor skills, social and emotional behavior, communication (articulation and language), and/or adaptive behavior, or who have vision or hearing losses.  

Services are based on each child’s individual needs and may include developmental screening, assessment and evaluation, development of an Individual Education Plan (IEP), individually-designed instruction based on a child’s strengths and needs, occupational therapy, speech/language therapy, physical therapy, vision and hearing services, assistive technology, consultation to family and child care providers, and/or transition to elementary schools when kindergarten eligible.

Services and support are typically provided in a classroom setting taught by teachers credentialed in Early Childhood Special Education, but can also involve consultation services in students’ other natural environments such as childcare and other Early Childhood Education settings.

Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) programming is provided at 2 locations - Agassiz Campus and Longfellow Elementary School. There are two sessions daily on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:00-10:30 & 12:10 - 2:40. Scheduling is arranged to meet the student's unique learning needs as determined by the Individualized Education Program Team. Meetings to determine these learning needs are held at Agassiz on Wednesdays.

Best in Class Pre-Kindergarten

For the 2023-24 school year, Fargo Public School will operate a limited pre-kindergarten program for 4 year-olds, through a grant program called Best in Class.  There is no charge to participate in the program.  Parents/guardians must provide transportation to and from the program. The program will be held at the Agassiz building, located at 1305 9th Avenue South in Fargo.