Community Education
Community Education serves the entire community by making educational, recreational, social and cultural services available to all people, young and old.  Lifelong educational needs are met by community members involved in planning, family programs, extended activities for kindergarten - twelfth grade students, adult education, and senior citizen programs. 

Early Childhood Special Education Program
Programs housed at Jordan Creek Elementary School and Clive Elementary School provide instruction and support services for children (ages 3-6) with disabilities.  Children are also served in community daycare programs.

Extended Learning
This program is designed to help meet the needs of the gifted and talented students in grades kindergarten through twelve in the West Des Moines Community School District.  These services are offered through the use of district personnel, community resources and volunteers.  In addition, assistance is offered to teachers in planning and implementing a program for the gifted and talented students within their classrooms. 

English as a Second Language
This program is designed for limited-English speaking students.  Its purposes are:  1) To teach students the skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing which allow them to function at their grade level.  2) To help students understand and participate in school and classroom activities.

Guidance Program
Guidance counselors at all levels in the district provide group and individual counseling, individual inventory services, placement advice, and orientation to students and parents.

Head Start Program
The Head Start Program, headquartered at Phenix Elementary School, provides educational experiences for children of economically disadvantaged families.  This program enables these children to develop a positive attitude toward learning which better prepares them for kindergarten classes and other school and life experiences.

Health Services
Health services to students are provided through the employment of nurses (full or part time) at all levels.  Health office assistants help supplement the services provided by the school nurse.

Heartland Area Education Agency
The Heartland Area Education Agency is a service center located in Johnston which provides programs and activities school districts are unable to offer on their own.  Included in Heartland's program are speech and hearing testing programs, speech therapy assistance, and consultants who work with teachers of children with disabilities.  A media center containing films, books, and educational materials is also located at this facility.

"I Care” Program
"I Care" is a program which provides opportunities for sixth and seventh graders to become involved in the community.  Students may be excused from school one hour per day, not exceeding two days per week to help on community projects.

Reading Resource
The services of a reading resource specialist is provided to support students in developing effective reading/writing skills and strategies in all content areas.

Special Education
The West Des Moines Community School District provides three different types of programs (Level I, Level II, and Level III) and identifies seven disabilities (learning disability, behavior disorder, mental disability, communications disabilities, hearing impaired, visually impaired and physical disability).

Summer School Program
Summer School programs in the West Des Moines Community School District encompass remedial programs, enrichment programs and basal programs.  At the elementary level, programs are offered in reading and mathematics, at the junior high level, in mathematics, language and science and at the high school, in driver's education. Enrichment courses at all three levels are offered on the basis of student interest and need.

Title I - Elementary and Secondary Education Act
Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of (ESEA) of 1994 provides financial assistance to local education agencies for programs to meet the special needs of educationally deprived children in areas with concentrations of children from low income families.  In the West Des Moines Community School District, Title I programs are also offered at Sacred Heart Parochial School.  The programs include a reading program and a mathematics program.

Volunteer Aide Program
This program has been in operation since the 1971-72 school year and is designed to utilize the services of volunteers from the community in the role of clerical assistance to the teacher as well as tutoring and assistance to the student.  Volunteers currently serve all school buildings in the district.

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