As of September, 1997, there were 30, 924 students enrolled in the Lincoln Public Schools. 472 of these children are receiving ECSE Services.

Lincoln Public Schools Mission Statement
The goal of the ECSE Program in the Lincoln Public Schools is to develop an effective partnership with families to optimize each child's learning potential. We believe that intervention programs for infants and young children with special needs must be based on developmentally appropriate practices that are effective for all children. We believe that the concept of developmental appropriateness has two dimensions: age appropriateness and individual appropriateness. We believe successful intervention:

• should be child-centered
  
• provides a safe, nurturing, stimulating environment,
  respects diversity, recognizing that each child and family is unique with their own strengths and abilities
  
• includes children with a variety of special needs as well as typically developing peers in each setting
  is based on shared responsibility through collaboration within a transdisciplinary team
  depends upon continuous monitoring and adjustment
  
• requires strategies and techniques based on an understanding of children's individual learning styles
  should increase adult-child interaction and strengthen the bond between the child and the caregiver.

District Demographics
Total student enrollment for 1997/98: 30,924
Early childhood special education enrollment: 472
Total number of school buildings: 55
Number of elementary buildings: 18
Number of ECSE classrooms operated by the district in district buildings: 18