Early Childhood Special Education
Special education services are available for children ages birth to kindergarten entrance who meet state criteria for one of a variety of disabilities. Eligibility is determined through an evaluation process, conducted by school staff, at no cost to parents. If a child is found eligible for special education services, an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) for children ages birth to three or an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for children ages three and older is written to address the child’s special education needs.
Parents are part of the IFSP/IEP team. For children birth-3, services almost always take place in the child’s natural environment – the home or daycare setting. For children ages 3 to kindergarten entrance, the service location may vary depending on the child’s needs (i.e. 1:1 speech-language therapy, services in a community preschool, Head Start, or daycare center where the child with special needs participates with typically-developing peers, and/or a small group setting with other children with special needs). Services are individualized for all children.
Depending on the child’s identified disability and needs, one or more of the following services may be provided:
- ECSE services
- Speech-language therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Physical therapy
- Deaf/Hard of hearing services
- Blind/Visually impaired services
When children transition from home-based services (on an IFSP) to school-based services (on an IEP), a transition meeting is held so that parents know what to expect regarding service options as their child approaches age 3. Likewise, for children who are receiving special education services as preschoolers and who will be entering kindergarten in the fall, transition meetings are held with families and with staff at the elementary school where the child will be attending kindergarten.
The goal in both of these situations is to make the transition process as smooth as possible for families and for the child.
Regardless of the age of the child, parents are a very important part of the child’s evaluation and service team!