Early Intervention

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Early Intervention

• Special Education Services and Programs

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Early Interventionlegislative support

• Federal IDEA
• Part C Infants and Toddlers
• In PA, DPW oversees administration
• County
• IFSP
• Part B 3-21year olds
• In PA, PDE oversees administration
• 3-5 year olds - MAWAs (Intermediate Units or
  School districts Elwyn in Philadelphia)
• IEP

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Early Interventionlegislative support

• PA Chapter 14
• Includes additional (preschool) Early
  Intervention provisions
• PA Act 212 of 1990
• aka The Early Intervention Services System Act
• Addresses Birth to Age of Beginners
• Chapter 4226 EI Regulations (for Birth to Three
  services)

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The Early Intervention System
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Early Intervention Laws
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Early Intervention Preschool /orSchool Age

• SA only
• PSSA/PASA
• EI uses a variety of progress measures
• PVAAS
• EI system for tracking progress/efficacy to be
  designed
• Chapters 15 4
• Early Learning Standards are in process
• Early Childhood Learning Indicators

• EI 3-5 SA
• IDEA
• Part B applicable provisions
• PA Chapter 14
• With additional provisions 14.151-14.158
• FERPA

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Preschool Early Intervention Distinctions

• Childfind
• Public awareness
• ER
• Developmental Physical, cognitive, sensory,
  social-emotional, self-help, communication,
  health
• Family strengths and needs related to enhancing
  their childs development
• School Psych provision excluded Individually
  determined by team
• Reevaluation every 2 years
• Eligibility
• Developmental Delay included

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Preschool Early Intervention Distinctions

• IEP
• Family Services Section with parent consent
• Regular Education Teacher
• Transition Goals and Objectives for K or 1st
  grade transition year children
• LRE continuum
• Examples Supportive intervention in regular
  preschool program home supplemental aids
  services provided by EI personnel in regular
  preschool or ½ day specialized and ½ day early
  childhood setting Specialized setting w/
  noneligible children

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Preschool Early Intervention Distinctions

• School Year
• Based on child needs, not school year
• Transition
• MAWA, District, Parent procedures for
  communication and transition
• Exit Criteria
• age of beginners - parent withdraws -
  functioning on age level for 4 months w/ an IEP

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Transition to KindergartenProcedural Highlights

• No interruption in program for eligible children
• By Feb 1 MAWA identifies all EI children
  approaching K 1st grade eligibility
• By end Feb Transition meetings
• Includes school district, MAWA, Parent
• Intent to register form (includes PTE)
• May be waived if IEP or parent determines EI for
  K year

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Transition to KindergartenProcedural Highlights

• Evaluation IEP
• District completes evaluation 60 days after
  receipt of intent to register
• EI IEP is in effect until end of MAWA program
  year.
• District IEP can have a start date as the first
  day of classes.
• May 1
• MAWA sends notice to parents of non-registered
  children
• May 15
• EI Educational Records of enrolled children are
  shared w/ district
• EI records can be shared sooner if evaluation
  process warrants

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Considerations for School Administrators

• Transitioning children whove been in EI prior to
  age 3
• Families multiple systems transitions
  experienced
• Seamless is a concept, not necessarily an
  experience, unless we make it so.
• Accountability Grants Pre-K programs
• EI children have enrollment access
• MAWA provides EI services
• Accountability Data
• Did EI minimize the need for special education
  services as children become school-age?
• MAWAs may ask for follow-up data on EI
  transitioned children to examine EI efficacy

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PA Early InterventionInformation Resources

• Act 212 of 1990
• Available on http//www.afit.org/whoweare/pennaAct
  212.pdf
• Early Intervention BECs
• Available on http//www.pde.state.pa.us/
• Early Intervention Compliance Monitoring Tools

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PA Early InterventionInformation Resources

• Early Intervention Training Resources
• EI IEP Training Resource Packet (CD)
• EI Progress Monitoring Training Resource (CD)
• EI Guide to Assessment (CD)
• Short Term Loan kits specific to EI
• Others (see PaTTAN web site)
• BSE Division of Early Intervention Support
  Services Advisors
• Early Intervention Technical Assistance
• Call any PaTTAN office
• Local MAWA agency
• www.pattan.k12.pa.us (with EI links)