Training for ECEA Eligibility Categories

House Bill 11-1277 amended the Exceptional Children’s Education Act (ECEA) to align Colorado’s eligibility categories with corresponding federal terms and requirements and/or terminology used in the field. The legislation was passed in May 2011.

The State Board of Education (SBE) adopted the definition changes into ECEA Rules on September 12, 2012. The new disability category and eligibility language went into effect on October 30, 2012. The disability category and eligibility language specific to "Child with Developmental Delay" involved separate legislation and went into effect on March 2, 2013. At this time, each Colorado administrative unit (AU) can begin the process of adopting the revised definitions. The new eligibility categories, definitions and criteria must be adopted in full by July 1, 2016.

The following training documents are designed to support Colorado administrative units in their work to adopt the new eligibility categories, definitions, and criteria. You will find the PowerPoint slides in each topic area below to use for your training purposes, as well as a PDF version (the PDF version is posted to document CDE's guidance as of March 2013).

The training tools below are designed to be reviewed with a copy(ies) of the Eligibility Checklists for each disability category. The Eligibility Checklists, which detail each disability category and its corresponding eligibility criteria can be found with the IEP Forms.

• IEP Forms

Overview Training: Guidance on All Eligibility Categories

The following documents provide a comprehensive overview of the HB11-1277 history/next steps/timelines, the context of Multi-Tiered System of Supports, information specific to twice exceptional learners, and the definition/eligibility criteria for each of the disability categories.

• OSEP Memo on Eligibility dated 11-07 (PDF)
• HB11-1277 Q & A -- March 2013 Update (PDF)

Training: Guidance on Individual Eligibility Categories

The following documents provide a self-standing overview on the eligibility criteria for each specific ECEA disability category. Please feel free to download and use these items for your training purposes. It is recommended that if these training sections are used instead of the Comprehensive Overview PowerPoint, they be supplemented with the three self-standing sections specific to an Overview of HB11-1277, Overview on Multi-Tiered System of Supports, and Overview on Twice Exceptional Learners to bring context to the guidance on the separate eligibility categories.

Overview of HB11-1277

• OSEP Memo on Eligibility dated 11-07 (PDF)

Overview of Multi-Tiered System of Supports

• Overview of Multi-Tiered System of Supports (PPT) This PowerPoint may be downloaded and used for training purposes.
• Overview of Multi-Tiered System of Supports (PDF) This version details a hard copy of CDE's Guidance Effective March 2013

Overview of Twice Exceptional Learners

12.01(30) “Twice Exceptional” means a student who is:

(a) Identified as a gifted student pursuant to Section 12.01(9) of these Rules; and

(b)(1) Identified as a child with a disability pursuant to Section 4.02 of these Rules; or

(b)(2) A qualified individual pursuant to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C.A. §794.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

• Eligibility of a Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (PPT) - no longer available
• Eligibility of a Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (PDF) - no longer available

For more information about Autism Spectrum Disorder

Deaf-Blindness

• Eligibility of a Child with Deafblindness (PPT)
  This PowerPoint may be downloaded and used for training purposes.
• Eligibility of a Child with Deafblindness (PDF)
  This version details a hard copy of CDE's Guidance Effective March 2013

For more information about Deaf-Blindness

Developmental Delay

• Eligibility of a Child with Developmental Delay (PPT)
  This PowerPoint may be downloaded and used for training purposes.
• Eligibility of a Child with Developmental Delay (PDF)
  This version details a hard copy of CDE's Guidance Effective March 2013

For more information about Developmental Delay: Child Find and Preschool Special Ed.

Hearing Impairment, Including Deafness

• Eligibility of a Child with Hearing Impairment, Including Deafness (PPT)
  This PowerPoint may be downloaded and used for training purposes.

• Eligibility of a Child with Hearing Impairment, Including Deafness (PDF)
  This version details a hard copy of CDE's Guidance Effective March 2013

For more information about Hearing Impairment, Including Deafness

 

Infant/Toddler with Disabilities

• Eligibility of an Infant/Toddler with Disabilities (PPT)
  This PowerPoint may be downloaded and used for training purposes.
• Eligibility of an Infant/Toddler with Disabilities (PDF)
  This version details a hard copy of CDE's Guidance Effective March 2013

For more information about Infants/Toddlers with Disabilities

 

Intellectual Disability

• Eligibility of a Child with Intellectual Disability (PPT)
  This PowerPoint may be downloaded and used for training purposes.
• Eligibility of a Child with Intellectual Disability (PDF)
  This version details a hard copy of CDE's Guidance Effective March 2013
• Guidelines for the Determination of Eligibility for a Child with an Intellectual Disability or Multiple Disabilities (PDF)
  This version effective September 2013

For more information about Intellectual Disability

 

Multiple Disabilities

• Eligibility of a Child with Multiple Disabilities (PPT)
  This PowerPoint may be downloaded and used for training purposes.
• Eligibility of a Child with Multiple Disabilities (PDF)
  This version details a hard copy of CDE's Guidance Effective March 2013
• Guidelines for the Determination of Eligibility for a Child with an Intellectual Disability or Multiple Disabilities (PDF)
  This version effective September 2013

For more information about Multiple Disabilities

 

Orthopedic Impairment

• Eligibility of a Child with Orthopedic Impairment (PPT)
  This PowerPoint may be downloaded and used for training purposes.
• Eligibility of a Child with Orthopedic Impairment (PDF)
  This version details a hard copy of CDE's Guidance Effective March 2013

For more information about Orthopedic Impairment

 

Other Health Impairment

• Eligibility of a Child with Other Health Impairment (PPT)
  This PowerPoint may be downloaded and used for training purposes.
• Eligibility of a Child with Other Health Impairment (PDF)
  This version details a hard copy of CDE's Guidance Effective March 2013

For more information about Other Health Impairment

 

Serious Emotional Disability

• Guidelines for Determining Eligibility for Special Education for Students with a Serious Emotional Disability (PDF)
  This version effective August 2013

For more information about Serious Emotional Disability

 

Specific Learning Disability

This Specific Learning Disability eligibility category does not have any substantive changes. There were slight changes in the definition and eligibility criteria to ensure an alignment with changed disability category labels and compacting of the criteria language.

For more information about Specific Learning Disability

 

Speech or Language Impairment

This Speech or Language Impairment eligibility category does not have any substantive changes. There were slight changes to ensure alignment of key working in the other changed disability category labels and to include more guidance around considerations for culturally, linguistically diverse population when determining Speech or Language Impairment. The PowerPoint below does not reflect a change in past CDE training guidance on eligibility with the exception of more information specific to primary language considerations.

• Eligibility of a Child with Speech or Language Impairment (PPT)
  This PowerPoint may be downloaded and used for training purposes.
• Eligibility of a Child with Speech or Language Impairment (PDF)
  This version details a hard copy of CDE's Guidance Effective March 2013
• Colorado's K-12 Speech or Language Impairment Guidelines (PDF)

For more information about Speech or Language Impairment

 

Traumatic Brain Injury

• Brain Injury in Children and Youth: A Manual for Educators (PDF)

For more information about Traumatic Brain Injury

 

Visual Impairment, Including Blindness

• Eligibility of a Child with Visual Impairment, Including Blindness (PPT)
  This PowerPoint may be downloaded and used for training purposes.
• Eligibility of a Child with Visual Impairment, Including Blindness (PDF)
  This version details a hard copy of CDE's Guidance Effective March 2013

For more information about Visual Impairment, Including Blindness

If you have questions about this training guidance, please Email Tanni Anthony