Early Childhood Special Education
District Programs for Children with Disabilities Birth through Kindergarten
Mounds View Schools Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) provides services to children birth to five-years-old who are eligible for/or in need of specifically designed instruction. Services may include, assessment, availability of resources, consultation to family and /or direct services in identified areas of need.
Mounds View Schools Early Childhood Special Education Services are provided by the Early Childhood Special Education program team. The team includes: parents, Early Childhood Special Education teachers, speech and language clinicians, school psychologist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, and school nurse.
The birth to 2 program is home-based using the Primary Service Provider Model which allows families to connect with one professional service provider but have the entire team available for services.
The ECSE 3-5-year-old program services are provided at all three early childhood sites, Pike Lake, Snail Lake and the Early Childhood Education Center. The 3-5 program works closely with Mounds View Public Schools Preschool 3’s & Prekindergarten 4’s teachers and staff to provide same age typically developing peer models within an inclusive setting.
ECSE - Transitions
Birth to age 2 (Part C) Transition to 3 -5 years old (Part B)
The transition plan is part of the IFSP process and documentation, it is not a separate document. It must be developed at a documented meeting that is referred to as the transition meeting. These meetings are held regardless of whether the child is potentially eligible for Part B services. At the transition conference the team, including the parents, will review program options for the toddler with a disability for the period from the toddler's third birthday through the remainder of the school year. The plan is for an initial evaluation which has not yet been conducted. The plan must be completed in time for an Individual Education Plan (IEP) to be written and implemented by the child's third birthday.
Early Childhood Special Education 3 - 5 years old Transition to Kindergarten
September to January: ECSE staff is teaching the child, collecting data and monitoring progress towards the child’s individual goals and objectives as documented on the child’s Individual Education Plan (IEP).
February to May: Parents receive materials from your child’s home school about Kindergarten Round-Up and registration for kindergarten. Parents are encouraged to attend Kindergarten round-up. ECSE staff schedules a transition planning conference with the child’s family, the child’s current team and the kindergarten team to discuss the child’s strengths, areas of need and to determine the most appropriate services for the child in the spring before starting Kindergarten.