Educating Young Children With Disabilities
Watch new videos on community approaches to preschool options for children with disabilities.
Each school district in Wisconsin is responsible for providing a continuum of
Special Education and Related Services to Children with Disabilities and who need special education. Children are evaluated to determine if they met the one of the state's eligibility criteria. Special education and related services may provide consultation to staff, direct services to the child, training related to the disability, and other services that are identified in the child's Individualized Education Program.
Information on a variety of specific topics can be accessed from this web page:
- New Special Education Laws:
New federal and state laws are changing special education procedures with an emphasis on parent partnerships, streamlining the process, and increased accountability. The Special Education Team technical assistance page will provide a variety of information on the new laws.
- Child Find: School districts and other early childhood programs are working together through informed referral networks to identify children who may need additional developmental support and to provide information to parents about their child's development. Find out about the Child Development Days Model for developmental review or link to CESA 6's website on the Informed Referral Network.
- Least Restrictive Environment: Throughout Wisconsin, options are expanding for young children with disabilities. Professionals working with 3 through 5 year old children with disabilities are finding innovative ways to provide an array of Special education Services including services in the home, Head Start, Child Care, and other community setting. The goal is to provide integrated learning activities and environments for young children with disabilities and to provide these experiences in the least restrictive environment. Find out more about these service options and resources to support them or link to CESA 10's Preschool Options Project website.
- Commonly Asked Questions: You can review the DPI bulletin that answers many question about evaluations for children with suspected disabilities, the application of significant developmental delay as a new eligibility criteria, and preschool issues related to the new special education laws.
- Travel to CESA 5's
Collaborating Partners transition home page for a variety of transition from birth to 3 resources and links.
- Preschool Entitlement and Discretionary Grants: Preschool funds are available for special education programs and services to children with disabilities ages 3-5 under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
For more information regarding services for young children 3-5 years of age with special education needs; or for more information regarding services and programs for young
children Birth to 3 years of age, the transition into school programs,
or creation of collaborative systems contact:
Vacant Early Childhood Consultant
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
P.O. Box 7841
Madison, WI 53707-7841
Phone: (608) 266-5583
For questions about this information, contact Jill A. Haglund (608) 267-9625
Last updated on 8/25/2009 2:54:08 PM
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