Preschool Services

A preschool child with a Developmental Delay means a child ages three to five whose developmental progress is delayed to the extent that a program of special education is required to ensure adequate preparation for school age experiences. Children must meet eligibility requirements established by the State Department of Education in accordance with state and federal law. Children enter the screening and evaluation process by referral from an agency, parent, or guardian.

Eligibility Criteria: Developmental Delay
Child Find Screening Process

Eligibility Criteria: Developmental Delay

A. There is evidence that the child is exhibiting a significant developmental delay in one or more of the following areas: physical development, cognitive development, communication development, social or emotional development, adaptive behavior development.

B. The adverse effects of the developmental delay on the child’s educational performance requires specialized instruction and/ or related services.

C. Evidence to meet the disability criteria:

A comprehensive norm- referenced or criterion- referenced developmental evaluation that assesses all five areas (physical, cognitive, communication, social/ emotional, and adaptive behavior development) and that yields scores that are at least two standard deviations below the mean (+/- the standard error of measurement) in one area or at least one and a half standard deviations below the mean (+/- the standard error of measurement) in two or more areas.
A developmental history of the child that includes a summary of his or her demographic, developmental, educational and medical history obtained from a parent or primary caregiver through an interview process.
A structured observation of the child in a typical or otherwise appropriate setting (wherever the child spends the majority of his/ her day) by a member(s) of the multidisciplinary evaluation team. The setting might include the home, daycare, or classroom.
The multidisciplinary evaluation team must include the members of the IEP team and other qualified professionals, as appropriate.

Child Find Screening Process

Child Find is a component of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that requires states to identify, locate, and evaluate all children with disabilities ages 3 to 21 who are in need of special education services. It is a continuous process of public awareness activities, screening, and evaluation to locate, identify, and refer children as early as possible.

Screening

A screening is a series of short tests and professional observations in the developmental areas. Children who demonstrate significant educational impact in the screening process are recommended to receive an in-depth evaluation.

Evaluations are comprehensive tests and professional observations which may occur over a period of time. Children are not asked to participate in a comprehensive evaluation unless the screening process indicates a potential disability.

If determined that the child has a disability and is in need of special education services, an Individualized Education Plan is developed to address the child’s educational needs. Services may include but are not limited to specialized instruction, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy.

FAQs

Does My Child Need Services?

Services are available to assist children with special needs. Call to schedule a screening appointment if you are concerned that a child may have a delay in one or more of the following areas of development:

Cognitive Skills
Communication Skills
Daily Living Skills
Motor Skills
Vision
Hearing

Parents, grandparents, teachers, and caregivers may make a referral. However, a parent or legal guardian must give written permission for screening to occur. There is no cost for screening, evaluation, or recommended services.

Who Do I Call?

PRESCHOOL CHILDREN:

If you are aware of a preschooler from 3 to 5 years of age who may need special services, please call 803-865-5353 to schedule an appointment and a possible screening

A screening is a series of short tests and professional observations in various developmental areas. A screening, which may lead to a more comprehensive evaluation, is provided through the Preschool Special Education Department for children ages 3 to 5. Parents can obtain additional information about this process by contacting 803-865-5353.

The student will rotate through the following screening stations according to need:

Vision, Hearing, Speech
Language, Developmental
Occupational Therapy (OT) / Physical Therapy (PT)

Children who are suspected of having a delay in one or more areas will be recommended for a further evaluation to determine if they qualify for special education services.

SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN:

If you have a child already in a Richland Two school who may need special services, please contact your school. A general education intervention process for children kindergarten through grade 12 is provided at each school site by the school’s Intervention Assistance Team (IAT) and the school’s 504 Team. The purpose of general education intervention is to intervene for any child who is presenting with academic, behavior, functional, or medical concerns that are significantly impacting the student’s access to the general curriculum or school activities. This intervention leads to a better understanding of the supports students need in order to be successful in the general education setting. The data collected during general education intervention assists the IAT or 504 Team in determining if the student may need to be referred for a comprehensive evaluation. Parents must be provided with notice of their child’s referral to either IAT or a 504 Team.

HOMESCHOOL/PRIVATE SCHOOL STUDENTS:

Please contact the Special Education Services at 803-738-3241.

Parental Rights in the Child Find Process

The Child Find process is a collaborative one with school personnel working in conjunction with parents to locate, evaluate, and identify children who may need special education and related services. Children in need of special education services or an accommodation for a disability should be identified in a timely manner. If the child is referred for a comprehensive evaluation, informed parental consent must be obtained prior to beginning the evaluation. The initial evaluation must be conducted within 60 calendar days of receiving parental consent for the evaluation.

Child Find Screening Services

Speech Services

504 Services

Special Education Parent Handbook

Special Education

FAQs

How do I know if my child needs services?

Cognitive Skills
Communication Skills
Daily Living Skills
Motor Skills
Vision
Hearing

Contact

Coordinator of Preschool Special Education Services
Administrative Professional for Preschool

Coordinator of Preschool Special Education Services

Administrative Professional for Preschool

special education graphic - little girl in class