Early Childhood Special Education Resources and Guidance

Jump to a Section

Child Find

Child Identification Process

Guidelines for Identifying Preschool Children for Special Education (PDF) - Updated July 2022, these guidelines developed by CDE support a comprehensive Child Identification System.
Child Identification Guidelines: Administrative Unit Broad Self-Assessment (DOCX) - A companion self-assessment tool for implementing Part B Child Find for children ages 3 through 5 years old.

Colorado Part B Child Find Coordinators have access to the CDE Learning Management System.  Colorado Part B Coordinators may access the Child Find Part B Child Find Coordinators Hub which includes self-paced educational modules based on the Child Identification Guidelines as well as the Child Find Coordinator’s Forum, a place for connecting with other coordinators across the state.

Referral

• A Model Child Find Referral Form: For children ages 3 through 5 years old is available from Assuring Better Child Health and Development (ABCD)
• ESSU Fact Sheet: Referral Status Updates (PDF) - May 2022
• Community Resources:
  Referral for Special Education Evaluation in Colorado For 3 through 5-year olds with a Suspected Disability or Delay (PDF) - September 2022
  Recomendación para Evaluación de Educación Especial en Colorado Para Niños de 3 a 5 años con Sospecha de Discapacidad o Retraso - Septiembre 2022

Developmental Screening

• Developmental Screening and Children Involved in Colorado's Child Welfare System - CAPTA and Beyond
• Developmental Screening: Part of a Comprehensive Early Childhood Assessment System (PDF) - October 2020

Hearing Screening

• Early Childhood Hearing Outreach (ECHO) Initiative
• CDE Guidelines For Childhood & Youth Hearing Screening Programs (PDF) - 2017
• Recorded Webinar on Colorado Early Childhood Hearing Screening Guidelines - 2018
• Colorado Early Childhood Hearing Screening Guidelines Q&A for Early Childhood (PDF) - 2016

Vision Screening

• Visual Screening Guidelines: Children Birth to Five Years (PDF)
  • 0-5 Vision Screening Protocol (PDF)
  • Outcome Form for Parents (PDF)
  • Vision Screening and Record of Referral and Follow Up (PDF)
  • Decision Making and Action Taking Worksheet (PDF)
  • Release Information Form (PDF)

Child Evaluation and Initial Eligibility

• Developmental Delay Technical Assistance (PDF) - February 2022
• Guidelines for the Educational Evaluation of Autism Spectrum Disorder (PDF) - February 2018, this guidance supplements the evaluation section of the Guidelines for Identifying Young Children with Special Needs when Autism Spectrum Disorder is suspected

Early Intervention Part C Evaluation Responsibilities

• CDE Guidance Memo - Early Intervention Evaluation Responsibilities Transfer to CDHS/Early Intervention (PDF) - February 2022

Extended Part C Option for Colorado

• CDE and CDHS Joint Memo: Adoption of Extended Part C Option for Colorado (PDF) - April 2022
  Colorado has adopted a state policy under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part C, which allows early intervention (EI) services, in defined instances, to continue after a child’s third birthday.
  • Extended Part C Option Frequently Asked Questions (PDF) - August 2022
  • CDE Guidance: CDE Updated Procedural Guidance for Extended Part C (PDF) - October 2022
• Information for families on Extended Part C (English): A Look at Your Rights and Options after Your Child Turns Three (PDF) - April 2022
• Information for families on Extended Part C (Spanish): Una Mirada a Sus Derechos y Opciones Después de que Su Hijo(a) Cumpla Tres Años (PDF)
• From CDHS: Colorado Early Intervention Policy for the Extended Part C Option (PDF) - April 2022
  • Consent Form for Extended Part C (English)
  • Consent Form for Extended Part C (Spanish)

Transitions from Early Intervention to Preschool Special Education

• Indicator 12: Part C to B Transition - reporting information from the Exceptional Student Services Unit at CDE
• CDEC and CDE Memorandum of Understanding: Infants and Toddlers with Developmental Disabilities and Their Families Transitioning from Early Intervention Services to Part B Special Education Services in Accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 2004 (PDF) - June 2022
• Joint CDE and Early Intervention Colorado memo: New and Ongoing Requirements Related to the Transition of Children from Part C to Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (PDF) - June 2022
  • Webinar: Transition from Part C to Part B - October 2022
• Roles of Early Intervention Colorado Part C Entities and Part B Special Education Administrative Units for Transition from Part C to Part B of IDEA (PDF) - September 2022
• Key Differences Between Early Intervention and Preschool Special Education (PDF) - updated 2022
• Early Intervention Colorado - Transitioning from Early Intervention Infographic, English (PDF) and Transitioning from Early Intervention Infographic, Spanish (PDF) were developed to help service coordinators and families work on a Part C to Part B transition plan for children with disabilities
• Early Childhood Transition Modules

Early Childhood Special Education

Developing Individual Education Programs (IEPs)

• IEP Procedural Guidance CDE Office of Special Education (PDF) - revised July 2017
• Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) in Preschool: A Framework for High Engagement and Learning in Colorado (PDF)
• Guiding Principles about Specially Designed Instruction (PDF)

Making Decisions about Least Restrictive Environments (LRE)

• Indicator 6: Early Childhood Settings - OSEP reporting information from the Exceptional Student Services Unit at CDE
• ESSU Technical Assistance: Making Least Restrictive Environment Placement Decisions for Preschool Children, Ages 3 through 5 (PDF) - updated September 2021
• ESSU Memo: Change in requirements for reporting educational environments for 5-year-old Kindergarteners with disabilities (PDF) - November 2019
• ESSU Technical Assistance: Educational Environments: December 1st Child Count (PDF) - October 2019
• Dear Colleague Letter from OSEP: Related to Preschool Least Restrictive Environments (PDF) - January 2017
• CDE Memo: Preschool Educational Environments and Least Restrictive Environment (PDF) - May 2013
• CDE Guidance: Special Education Services for Parentally-Placed Private School Children with Disabilities - August 2012
• CDE Guidance: FAPE for Special Education Preschool Students (PDF) - December, 2008

High Quality Inclusive Environments

• CDE Standards for Placement of Preschoolers with IEPs in Educational Programs (PDF) - January 2023
  • FAQ: Special Education and Universal Preschool in Colorado (PDF) - January 2023
• Indicators of High Quality Inclusion - Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA)
• Inclusion of Children with Disabilities in Early Childhood Programs (PDF) - CDE Indicators of Quality Inclusion in Early Childhood (IQI EC) February 2017
• Recognizing and Performing the DEC Recommended Practices
• Policy Statement on Inclusion in Early Childhood Programs (ED & HHS) -  September 2015

Funding for High Quality Inclusive Programing

• Colorado Department of Education Finance Guidance State Funded Preschool (PDF) - July 2021
• Guidance for Colorado Preschool Program Funding for Students Eligible for Special Education Services (PDF) - March 2016
• Using CPP Funding to fund a full day of Preschool for Children who Qualify for Special Education

Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) in Preschool

• Division of Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children Position Statement: Multitiered System of Support Framework in Early Childhood - 2021
• CDE ESSU Memo: Colorado Context and Reminders Regarding OSEP Memorandum on Delays and Denials of Evaluations for Preschool Special Education under IDEA (PDF) - September 2016
• OSEP Memo: A Response to Intervention Process Cannot Be Used to Delay-Deny an Evaluation for Preschool Special Education Services (PDF) - April 2016

Partnering with Families

• PEAK Parent Center is a nonprofit that works every day to ensure that all people with disabilities are fully included in their neighborhood schools, communities, employment, and all walks of life.

Preschool Outcomes

• CDE Technical Assistance Document: Results Matter Assessment and Preschool- Aged Children with Significant Support Needs (PDF)
• Indicator 7: Preschool Outcomes - reporting information from the Exceptional Student Services Unit at CDE
• Child Outcomes Step by Step (Video) - this video is an introduction to the Preschool Outcomes used in reporting to the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP).

Transportation

• Transportation Services for Preschool Children with Disabilities (PDF) - May 2013
• Colorado Student Transportation Disabilities Manual (PDF) - December 2007
• OSEP Letter to Special Education Directors: Ensuring Safe and Appropriate Transportation for Children with Disabilities (PDF) - August 2003