OF ECSE COMPLIANCE PRESENTATION FOR THE 2014 MO-CASE CONFERENCE Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education September 23, 2014

IDEA Early Childhood Structures  First Steps in MO  Ages birth – 3  Services provided by System Points of Entry (SPOE) and private contractors  DESE is the lead agency  Section 619  ECSE  Ages 3 – 5 (not kindergarten age eligible)  Services provided by LEAs  School aged Ages 5k – 21 Services provided by LEAs Part CPart B 2 2

Differences in the Part B Programs  For ages 3-5 (not kindergarten age eligible)  Funded by state and federal $  Using YCDD eligibility category is an option  ECSE is NOT mandatory for the parents, but is for the district  LRE = educational environments  Performance Assessment = ECO  For ages 5 (kindergarten age eligible) to age 21  Funded by local, state and federal $  Referrals from parents and agencies follow the timeline  YCDD eligibility category may be used until student is first grade eligible  Parent cannot refuse LEA referral but CAN refuse consent for evaluation and/or services  LRE = placement  Performance Assessment = MAP and MAP-A ECSE: School Aged: 3

 Several Options:  Build a program in-district  Collaborate with another school district, or  Contract with other preschool programs  Locations for Providing Services:  Early Childhood setting and/or ECSE setting  District, residential facility, separate school, or through itinerant services  Half-day or full-day sessions, number of days per week is optional  Amount of Services Provided:  Half-day or full day sessions  Number of days per week is optional  Must be based on the individual needs of the student 4 Providing ECSE Services

5 Referrals to ECSE

Types of Referrals Parent or guardian of the child Parent From a First Steps case manager or service provider Treated as a Parent Referral First Steps Head Start, DMH, DOH, CS, child care providers, etc. Contact parent and treat as parent referral Service ProviderAgency 6 From PAT educator or school based preschool program Treated as an Agency Referral

Parent Referrals 7

Agency Referrals 8

Referrals from Part C (First Steps)  Transition from First Steps to Early Childhood Special Education  Considered a “parent” referral  All children eligible for First Steps are potentially eligible for ECSE  Referral occurs the date complete Directory Information is received by the LEA 9

What Triggers a Referral from First Steps? 10 When ECSE receives complete directory information in any manner from First Steps, this is notification, which is a referral to ECSE and it begins the ECSE referral timeline. In other words… The date the directory information is received by ECSE is considered date of referral and triggers the evaluation process requirements under IDEA. In other words… Directory Information = Notification = Referral to ECSE

Directory Information 11

ECSE Attendance at the Transition Conference  The required participants for the Transition Conference are:  ECSE (LEA chosen representative)  First Steps Service Coordinator  Parents  The Service Coordinator will schedule the Transition Conference  ECSE must participate  Participation in the Conference means ECSE attends the meeting in person or participates via conference call/Skype. 12

Evaluation and Eligibility Evaluation process and timelines 13

ECSE Evaluation Process The Evaluation Process is divided into the following components:  30 days from referral to determine if disability is suspected and provide the parents with a NOA.  60 days from NOA/consent to complete evaluation and determine eligibility  30 days from eligibility determination to development of an IEP 14

IEP by Third Birthday?  Eligibility for ECSE MUST be determined by 3 rd birthday  If eligible, IEP MUST be developed before and implemented on the 3 rd birthday  Follow the initial evaluation process and the timeline Referred to First Steps 90 days or more prior to 3 rd birthday + Found eligible for First Steps Referred to First Steps less than 90 days prior to 3 rd birthday 15

IEP by the Third Birthday 16

Summer Clarification for First Steps: District Breaks and Timelines for  ECSE is not required to conduct evaluations during summer break or other school breaks unless they do so for other children in the district.  However, once eligibility has been determined, an IEP must be developed within 30 days despite any scheduled breaks in the school year.  Parents of C to B transition students who turn 3 have options of the provision of FAPE.

YCDD or Categorical or Both 18  Young Child with a Developmental Delay or YCDD may be an option in your district as a diagnosis.  Check with your district to see if it allows YCDD only, any of the other 14 Categories of eligibility but not a YCDD diagnosis, or YCDD and Categorical diagnosis.  The YCDD diagnosis can be used until the child is first- grade eligible (age six by August 1) at which time a new diagnosis must be made.

ECSE to Categorical School Age Eligibility  The YCDD diagnosis can be used until the child is first-grade eligible (age six by August 1) at which time a new diagnosis must be made.  In other words----Services may continue through kindergarten based on YCDD eligibility if you Local Compliance Plan allows. 19

Regular Ed Participation/Placement 20

ECSE Placement Options vs. Educational Environments 21  These are two separate concepts, but both are important.  Placement is  The IEP Team’s decision about where the services will be delivered.  Recorded on the IEP.  A compliance requirement.  Educational Environment is  Description of where the child spends time, regardless of where special education services are delivered.  Is not recorded on the IEP.  Used for MOSIS reporting.

Placement Options for ECSE 22

Separate Class vs. Separate School Most children would be served in a “separate class” even if in a building that is physically separated from other district programs “Separate school” would be for the most severe disabilities and ONLY serve students with disabilities Separate ClassSeparate School

ECSE Educational Environments Attending a Regular Early Childhood Program… 00A4: …10+ hours and receives majority of special education services in regular program 00A5: … 10+ hours and receives majority of special education services in another location 00A6: … less than 10 hours and receives majority of sped services in regular program 00A7: … less than 10 hours and receives majority of sped services in another location

ECSE Educational Environments Not Attending a Regular Early Childhood Program Not attending a regular early childhood program, but attending a special education early childhood program: 00B1: Separate Class 00B2: Separate School 00B3: Residential Facility Not attending a regular or special education early childhood program: 00B4: Home 00B5: Service Provider Location

Implications of HB If a school district maintains a prekindergarten program, a child is eligible for admission to that prekindergarten program only if the child has reached the age of three before the first day of August of the school year. THIS provision of HB 1689 goes into effect JULY 1, 2015 Currently researching implications for ECSE and guidance will be coming soon!

Questions?? 28

Additional Questions? 29 For Compliance: For First Steps: