Chester Co, PA: SPED preschool increases 2,391 to 3,535 in five years
- Sep 25, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 4, 2025
Sept 24, 2025, Chester County Press: CCIU cuts the ribbon at the new Engle Education Center
The Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU) hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 17 to officially open the new Engle Education Center in West Grove. This expansion represents a major investment in Chester County’s educational infrastructure and its growing student population. The Engle Education Center is the result of extensive renovations to the former Fred S. Engle middle school, and it operates in partnership with the Avon Grove School District, housing the district’s new administrative offices on-site.
Speaking at the event were Dr. George F. Fiore, executive director of the CCIU, Bonnie J. Wolff, president of the CCIU Board of Directors, Dr. Dorothy Linn, president of the Avon Grove School District Board of Directors, Dr. Scott DeShong, superintendent of the Avon Grove School District, and Carlos Esteves Benitez, a parent of two Engle students.. . .
The Engle Education Center houses an additional location for the Child and Career Development Center (CCDC), a preschool program encompassing preschool special education services, Head Start, and Early Head Start, and the Avon Grove District Office.
The Engle campus offers specialized services in autistic support, emotional support, life skills support, and multiple disabilities support. Students also receive integrated therapies such as occupational, physical, and speech-language services in a safe, accessible environment. . . .
moment, surrounded by a community that understands, supports, and uplifts.”
According to the Pennsylvania State Data Center, Chester County’s population is projected to increase by 6.9 percent by 2050, with 3.9 percent of that growth already realized since 2020 — an increase of more than 21,000 residents. This surge in population is paralleled by rising educational and mental health needs, particularly following the closure of in-person psychiatric services at Brandywine Hospital. The Engle Education Center, part of CCIU’s expansion efforts, directly addresses these critical challenges.
Enrollment in Chester County’s Preschool Special Education programs has jumped significantly as well, growing from 2,391 students in the 2020–2021 school year to 3,535 in 2024–2025. . . .
Districts are increasingly turning to CCIU for support as developmental and mental health challenges intensify among learners. Referrals to the CCDC had more than doubled between just the 2020–2021 and 2022–2023 school years. Engle offers a cost-effective, local alternative to more expensive private placements, which cost Chester County districts over $15 million in 2022 alone. . .
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