Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions of students and parents.

1. What does A.P.P.L.E. stand for?
2. What ages participate in the APPLE program?
3. How does an APPLE student present? ("look like")
4. What is the class ratio?
5. How are students grouped?
6. When are classes held?
7. What is the Eligibility Criteria?
8. What if my student doesn't meet the above eligibility criteria?
9. What are the considerations for dismissal from the APPLE program?

What does A.P.P.L.E. stand for?

Articulation
Phonology
Preschool
Language
Experience

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What ages participate in the APPLE program?

Students who are aged 3 to 5 years of age prior to September 1st of the 
academic school year.

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How does an APPLE student present? ("look like")

Generally an APPLE student presents with:
*  typical overlall development (including self-help, fine motor, gross 
motor and social development)

*  Receptive (understanding) language skills appears within normal limits.

*  Cognitive functioning appears to be within expected age range.

*A minimum of a moderate articulation, phonological and/or expressive 
communication impairment.

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What is the class ratio?

Class ratio is approximately 2 adults to every 10 students.

This includes the presence of a licensed Speech Language Therapist and a 
trained paraprofessional.

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How are students grouped?

Students will be grouped heterogeneously and not by chronological age.  This 
facilitates peer modeling and development.

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When are classes held?

Classes will be scheduled Monday through Thursday.  There will be a 2-hour 
morning session and a 2-hour afternoon session.

Classes are held generally one to two sessions per week based upon the 
students' identified needs.

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What is the Eligibility Criteria?

APPLE students are required to meet the eligibility criteria of -1.5 
standard deviations below the mean (or 7th percentile) according to the 
Local Education Agency's (LEA) established criteria.

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What if my student doesn't meet the above eligibility criteria?

If the student has been identified by the District Speech Language 
Pathologist as "at risk" due to the presence of one or more of the following 
listed below, then additional informal assessment procedures will be 
completed to elicti data to support placement decisions.

**  Increased ioccurrence of phonological processes not reflected by 
standardized articulation testing

** Documentation supporting frustration secondary to communication 
difficulties.

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What are the considerations for dismissal from the APPLE program?

*  Generally intelligible to others in conversational speech and age 
appropriate articulation/phonological skills.

*  Age appropriate expressive language skills.

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