Resources and Guidance

COVID-19 and Preschool Planning for the 2021-22 School Year

Remote Learning Options for State Funded Preschool in the 2021-2022 School Year as a Result of COVID-19 Health Concerns outlines the required approval, assurances and documentation that must be in place for the 2021-22 school year for children enrolled in state funded preschool to access remote learning for children enrolled in the Colorado Preschool Program (CPP) and Preschool Special Education.

2021-22 Remote Learning Resources for Preschools

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Child Find

Child Identification Process
Developmental Screening and Referral
Hearing Screening
Vision Screening
Child Evaluation and Eligibility
Implementation of Birth to Age 3 Part C Child Find Requirements

Preschool Special Education

Developing Individual Education Programs
Least Restrictive Environments (LRE)
Transitions
High Quality Inclusive Environments
Funding for High Quality Inclusive Programming
Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) in Preschool
Partnering with Families
Preschool Outcomes
Transportation

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

Developmental Screening and Children Involved in Colorado's Child Welfare System - CAPTA and Beyond
Colorado Preschool Program and Developmental Screening (PDF) - October 2020
ESSU Fact Sheet: Referral Status Updates (PDF): - April 2016
Parental Consent Considerations for Developmental Screening of Children Age Three Through Age Four (PDF) - June 2015
A Model Referral Form for 3 - 5 Child Find is available from Assuring Better Child Health and Development (ABCD)

Hearing Screening

Vision Screening

Visual Screening Guidelines: Children Birth to Five Years (PDF)

Additional Information

Child Find Flow from referral and screening to evaluation to eligibility determination

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
- Required and Permitted Roles of CCBs and AUs for Early Intervention Colorado (Part C) Implementation of Birth to Age 3 Child Find Requirements (PDF) - April 2014
- Access the recorded webinar - 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.

Information on EI Colorado's evolving processes for conducting Part C evaluations and to access stakeholder input, link to Early Intervention Colorado, EI Evaluations.

Preschool Special Education

Developing Individual Education Programs (IEPs)

Funding for High Quality Inclusive Programing

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

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).