Early Childhood Special Education PDF

Early Childhood Special Education Differences Between Part C and Part B of IDEA ​ Part C: Infants and Toddlers​ ○​ Covers children from birth to age 2. ○​ Focuses on early intervention services to support developmental needs. ○​ Services are delivered in natural envir...

Early Childhood Special Education Differences Between Part C and Part B of IDEA ​ Part C: Infants and Toddlers​ ○​ Covers children from birth to age 2. ○​ Focuses on early intervention services to support developmental needs. ○​ Services are delivered in natural environments such as the home or community settings. ​ Part B: Ages 3-21​ ○​ Covers children and youth from ages 3 to 21. ○​ Focuses on educational services to support learning in school settings. ○​ Includes services provided through an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). IFSP vs. IEP ​ IFSP (Individualized Family Service Plan)​ ○​ Designed for infants and toddlers (birth to age 3) and their families. ○​ Focuses on the child’s developmental needs and family goals. ○​ Services are delivered in the child’s natural environment. ○​ Includes family involvement and support as part of the plan. ​ IEP (Individualized Education Plan)​ ○​ Designed for children from ages 3-21 in school settings. ○​ Focuses on the child’s educational needs and academic goals. ○​ Services are delivered in the least restrictive environment (LRE). ○​ Includes measurable academic and functional goals for the student. CPSE vs. CSE ​ CPSE (Committee on Preschool Special Education)​ ○​ Serves children aged 3-5 years. ○​ Focuses on preschool services and supports for young children with disabilities. ○​ Role: Reviews evaluations and determines eligibility for preschool special education services. ​ CSE (Committee on Special Education)​ ○​ Serves children and youth aged 5-21 years. ○​ Role: Reviews evaluations, develops IEPs, and ensures appropriate placement and services for school-aged students with disabilities. Educational Classification of Young Children with Disabilities ​ Early Intervention (Infants and Toddlers):​ ○​ Focus on developmental delays in key areas (e.g., communication, motor skills, cognitive skills, social-emotional skills). ○​ Eligibility based on assessments identifying significant delays. ​ Preschool (3-5 Years Old):​ ○​ Children are classified under broad categories such as "Preschooler with a Disability." ○​ Eligibility is determined through evaluations assessing developmental delays or disabilities. Eligibility and Evaluation for Services ​ How Young Children Become Eligible for Services:​ ○​ Referrals can come from parents, pediatricians, or childcare providers. ○​ Evaluations are conducted to determine if the child meets the criteria for developmental delays or disabilities.  ​ Evaluation Methods:​ ○​ Standardized tests. ○​ Observations of the child in natural settings. ○​ Parent interviews. ○​ Developmental checklists and milestone tracking. ​ Who Conducts Evaluations:​ ○​ Qualified professionals such as speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, developmental pediatricians, psychologists, and special educators. Resources for Early Childhood Special Education ​ IDEA Website ​ OSEP Early Intervention Programs ​ National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) ​ Division for Early Childhood (DEC) ​ National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET) ​ New York State Early Intervention Program ​ ECTA Center: Screening and Evaluation