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Resources and Guidance
COVID - 19 and Preschool Special Education and Child Find Resources for Colorado
Hearing and Vision Screening during COVID-19
Vision Screening Parent Questionnaire for Children Ages Birth through Five Years (PDF) - This guidance is recently released and updated information for Child Find teams. There will be a webinar in September for training purposes related to this document.
CDHS-CDE Joint Guidance on Hearing & Vision Screening During COVID-19 (PDF) - This is joint guidance pertaining to hearing and vision screenings during Stay-At-Home phases.
- 0-5 Vision Screening Protocol during COVID-19(PDF) -0-5 Vision Screening Parent Questionnaire to be used during the period of time when in-person vision screenings are not being conducted due to COVID-19
- 0-5 Vision Screening Protocol during COVID-19(PDF)-Spanish version
Guidance for Administrative Units on Hearing & Vision Screening During COVID-19 (PDF) - This guidance from the CDE Health and Wellness Office will provide suggestions for implementing hearing and vision screening.
Child Find Evaluation
CDHS-CDE Joint Guidance on Part C and C to B Activities During COVID-19 (PDF) - This is joint guidance pertaining to Part C referrals, screenings, and evaluations.
TPBA2: Online Video Assessment: It’s Possible! - April 15, 2020 recorded webinar about using Transdisciplinary Play Based Assessment during COVID - 19 distancing. TPBA 2 Virtual Guidance Q & A - Questions and Answers that were generated during the April 15th, 2020 webinar.
Successful Planning and Use of TPBA2 Virtually with Dual Language Learners - May 15, 2020 recorded webinar about engaging families of Dual Language Learners virtually during Transdisciplinary Play Based Assessment.
Applying Assessment Principles to Determining Eligibility Remotely - April 28, 2020 recorded webinar from Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA). Support documents and additional webinars from ECTA are available.
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Developmental Guidelines
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Learn the Signs. Act Early
- Colorado Early Learning and Development Guidelines
- North Carolina Early Learning and Development Progressions: Birth to Five
Child Find
Child Identification Process
Guidelines for Identifying Young Children with Special Needs (PDF) - April 2018, these guidelines developed by CDE support a comprehensive Child Identification System.
Developmental Screening and Referral
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Colorado Preschool Program and Developmental Screening (PDF) - October 2020
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ESSU Fact Sheet: Referral Status Updates (PDF): - April 2016
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A Model Referral Form for 3 - 5 Child Find is available from Assuring Better Child Health and Development (ABCD)
Hearing Screening
- Early Childhood Hearing Outreach (ECHO) Initiative
- Recorded Webinar on Colorado Early Childhood Hearing Screening Guidelines - 2018
- Colorado Early Childhood Hearing Screening Guidelines (PDF) - 2016
- H.E.A.R. Checklist CDE Hearing Screening English (PDF)
- H.E.A.R. Checklist CDE Hearing Screening Spanish (PDF)
Vision Screening
Additional Information
Child Evaluation and Eligibility
- Developmental Delay Technical Assistance (PDF) - October 2016
- 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.
Implementation of Birth to Age 3 Part C Child Find Requirements
- Memo: Updated Side-by-Side Comparison of Part C Child Find Responsibilities (PDF) - April 2014
- FAQ: AU Notification Opt Out Policy (PDF) - October 2015, for Children Transitioning from Early Intervention Colorado (Part C) to Preschool Special Education (Part B)
Early Intervention Evaluations HB18-1333
This is the legislative report provided to the Joint Budget Committee from the Colorado Department of Human Services and the Colorado Department of Education regarding the administration of Early Intervention evaluations. Link to Early Intervention Evaluations Study Report.
Early Intervention Evaluation Study (HB18-1333) updated questions and answers
HB 18-1333 Report to the Joint Budget Committee Concerning Administration of Early Intervention Evaluations, submitted jointly by the Colorado Department of Human Services and the Colorado Department of Education on September 30, 2019. For an accessible version of the section regarding the Early Intervention Evaluations Study Report, Link to Early Intervention Evaluations Study Report.
Preschool Special Education
Developing Individual Education Programs (IEPs)
- IEP Procedural Guidance CDE Office of Special Education (PDF) - revised July 2017
- Writing Standards-aligned Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) (PDF) - A Supplemental Guidance Document for Designing Effective Formal Educational Plans
Making Decisions about Least Restrictive Environments (LRE)
- ESSU Technical Assistance: Making Least Restrictive Environment Placement Decisions for Preschoolers (PDF) - updated June 2020
- 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
- OSEP Letter: Preschool Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) (PDF) - February, 2012
- CDE Guidance: FAPE for Special Education Preschool Students (PDF) - December, 2008
Transitions
- Indicator 12 - Part C to B Transition - reporting information from the Exceptional Student Services Unit at CDE
- Key Differences Between Early Intervention and Preschool Special Education (PDF)
- Gearing Up and Planning for Kindergarten (PDF) - March 2016
- Early Childhood Transition Modules
High Quality Inclusive Environments
- National Early Childhood Inclusion Indicators Initiative - Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA)
- Indicators of Quality Inclusion in Early Childhood (PDF) - February 2017
- Recognizing and Performing the DEC Recommended Practices
- Policy Statement on Inclusion in Early Childhood Programs (ED & HHS)
Funding for High Quality Inclusive Programing
- Colorado Department of Education Finance Guidance State Funded Preschool (PDF) - November 2018
- 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
- 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
- Implementing the Pyramid Model in Colorado (PDF) - February 2013
- Colorado's Pyramid Model Implementation ToolKit
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)
- OSEP Reporting for Preschool Special Education
- 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
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