Qualifying for special ed preschool?

Soapstone · August 2012

How does the process work in your area? I thought my daughter would automatically qualify with her medical diagnosis but her Birth to Three team says that's not true. They told me that it's based on performance and that her diagnosis was less important.

Does anyone have a child who didn't qualify for special ed preschool? Did you find a private preschool? When your child started with the public schools were they still able to get accommodations? Thanks!

ABColeslaw · August 2012

I know in Mass, being in EI helps a lot. They deny very few kids who still qualify for EI up to age three.

Also in Mass, one of the few DX's that will automatically qualify you is Autism Spectrum.

Once your child is in K, you can ask for a 504 for any medical DX that you think needs to still be addressed.

Glendi428 · August 2012

ABColeslaw:
I know in Mass, being in EI helps a lot. They deny very few kids who still qualify for EI up to age three.
Also in Mass, one of the few DX's that will automatically qualify you is Autism Spectrum.
Once your child is in K, you can ask for a 504 for any medical DX that you think needs to still be addressed.

This was the case for us (we're also in MA). DD's autism dx automatically qualified for special Ed preschool, but she was still evaluated to determine eligibility for specific services (PT, OT, Speech... She qualified for everything.) She's about to begin year 3of her IEP (pre-K), so we'll be going through re-evaluation prior to kindy.

Glendi428 · August 2012

ABColeslaw:
I know in Mass, being in EI helps a lot. They deny very few kids who still qualify for EI up to age three.
Also in Mass, one of the few DX's that will automatically qualify you is Autism Spectrum.
Once your child is in K, you can ask for a 504 for any medical DX that you think needs to still be addressed.

This was the case for us (we're also in MA). DD's autism dx automatically qualified for special Ed preschool, but she was still evaluated to determine eligibility for specific services (PT, OT, Speech... She qualified for everything.) She's about to begin year 3of her IEP (pre-K), so we'll be going through re-evaluation prior to kindy.

Glendi428 · August 2012

ABColeslaw:
I know in Mass, being in EI helps a lot. They deny very few kids who still qualify for EI up to age three.
Also in Mass, one of the few DX's that will automatically qualify you is Autism Spectrum.
Once your child is in K, you can ask for a 504 for any medical DX that you think needs to still be addressed.

This was the case for us (we're also in MA). DD's autism dx automatically qualified for special Ed preschool, but she was still evaluated to determine eligibility for specific services (PT, OT, Speech... She qualified for everything.) She's about to begin year 3of her IEP (pre-K), so we'll be going through re-evaluation prior to kindy.

malcivar · August 2012

ABColeslaw:
I know in Mass, being in EI helps a lot. They deny very few kids who still qualify for EI up to age three.

Same here in NY. If you're in EI, it's unlikely the child won't qualify for a CPSE placement (Committee for Preschool Special Education). We did have to be evaluated by a district approved team and the district ultimately decides what services are offered but like auntie says - it's based on educational need. There's no way my son could be in a traditional school setting now - he can't stay still, screams when frustrated, stims, and his speech is still emerging so for now he qualifies for special ed pre-school although the district woman was making a lot of mention about the amount of improvement shown between his EI evals and present day which makes me worry about next year but we'll see how that goes.

Good luck.

goldenleaves · August 2012

I think Lauren qualifies simply because she has Down syndrome. I think we'll probably either have her do only special needs preschool or a few days in special needs class and a few days at a church preschool. If we do a pre-k it will be special needs and then we'll see if we feel she's ready for inclusion at preschool.

We talked about it at our IEP meeting and I think she automatically qualifies.

kcisthebombdotcom · August 2012

I think this varies town by town. My son will not qualify for special ed preschool through our school district. My EI service coordinator say the only kids who qualify are those who have very severe delays or a diagnosis like autism. I have a friend who has the same diagnosis but lives in a different town and her LO is going to public, special ed preschool. Sucks.

We found an organization that specifically helps children with SN so they will be helping with preschool placement for my DS. Reach out to your EI coordinator and ask her for recommendations for help after EI.

malcivar · August 2012

-auntie-:
I'd be wary of a one-size-fits-all approach. Some kids would benefit from time with typical kids doing typical preschool stuff, others need differetiated and individualized instruction. I also feel the sense of urgency around preschool/EI is overblown. It's not as if the potential in a child evaporates at 5. IME, some of the most effective therapies are those offered later when a child is more capable of accessing them.

A great deal of the special ed pre-schools here also have a Universal Pre-K program so that our kids get to interact with NT kids for some time. The school Chris is going to says that depending on what type of progress they see from the kids they start having them spend time with the UPK class or have them join them in the playground but it's really taken kid by kid. And a good deal of what they do in his class is typical pre-school stuff - gardening, art, music, and taking care of the class's pet hermit crabs.

Thank you so much for saying that (about EI's sense of urgency)! It's almost like if you don't get your kids therapy by the time they're 5, it's over, just forget it, all hope is lost. I get that the earlier the better but I think that this is true for SOME things - not others. Like any other child, some things can't be learned if you're just too young to learn them. You don't teach a 5 year old fractions because they're just not ready yet.

Emerson2007 · August 2012

Mine went to a special ed preschool for hearing loss. It depends on their needs and what evaluations and testing scores say. It may also depend on money and resources from the county. I have seen a few that didn't get accepted, but for the most part, if there is a need, they will. Some kids go 5 days a week, some just 2 days, etc, depending on their needs.

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