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Early Childhood Special Education Resources and Guidance

News

New information about preschool special education services and universal preschool (UPK)

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Child Find

Child Identification Process

Guidelines for Identifying Preschool Children for Special Education (PDF) - Updated July 2022, these guidelines developed by CDE support a comprehensive Child Identification System.
Child Identification Guidelines: Administrative Unit Broad Self-Assessment (DOCX) - A companion self-assessment tool for implementing Part B Child Find for children ages 3 through 5 years old.

Colorado Part B Child Find Coordinators have access to the CDE Learning Management System.  Colorado Part B Coordinators may access the Child Find Part B Child Find Coordinators Hub which includes self-paced educational modules based on the Child Identification Guidelines as well as the Child Find Coordinator’s Forum, a place for connecting with other coordinators across the state.

Hearing Screening

Vision Screening

Child Evaluation and Initial Eligibility

Extended Part C Option for Colorado

Extended Part C Eligibility

For the year 2025, parents whose children turn three between May 1, 2025 and the beginning of the 2025-26 school year, and meet the requirements for eligibility, may choose for their child to participate in the Extended Part C Option for the spring and summer of 2025.

Third birthday range for potential eligibility for the Extended Part C Program is posted annually by August first on the Colorado Department of Early Childhood’s Early Intervention Website under the Extended Part C Option tab. Contact Melissa Taucher with questions.

Transitions from Early Intervention to Preschool Special Education


Early Childhood Special Education

Developing Individual Education Programs (IEPs)

Making Decisions about Least Restrictive Environments (LRE)

High Quality Inclusive Environments

Funding for High Quality Inclusive Programing

Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) in Preschool

Partnering with Families

  • CDE Resource Document - Planning for Kindergarten (PDF) - Updated August 2023
  • 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

Transportation


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If you have problems with broken links or accessing the content on this page, please contact the Exceptional Student Services Unit at ESSU@cde.state.co.us. Please copy the URL link for this page into the email when referencing the problem you are experiencing.