What Inclusive Preschool Services Look Like

Melissa McCullough is the Director of Early Childhood for the East Moline school district in Illinois, a pre‑K–8 district of about 2,700 students with roughly 200 children in its early childhood program. She started her career as a school social worker in an inclusion‑first district, brings that mindset to her current role, and is also a parent of three boys who are hard of hearing—experience that fuels her advocacy for inclusive preschool. Tim Villegas talks with Melissa McCullough about what fully inclusive preschool looks like—and how her district moved away from “all‑or‑nothing” special education toward blended classrooms where related services are pushed in, teachers are dually certified, and supports are built around least restrictive environment from day one. A key milestone: the program began the 2021–22 school year with zero students in self‑contained placements. The conversation covers mindset shifts, partnering with families, strategic professional development, and using data and funding drivers (like Indicator 6 in Illinois) to sustain change.Complete show notes and transcript: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/melissa-mccullough-what-inclusive-preschool-services-look-like/