Early Childhood Special Education-Oahe Special Education Cooperative

Oahe Special Education Cooperative

Early Childhood Special Education

All kids are special; some just need more attention.

Early Childhood Special Education is available for children ages birth to six years of age who meet the eligibility requirement of Developmental Delay. Typically, for children younger than the age of three, these services are provided in the home and are coordinated through the Hub Area Birth-to-Three Agency. Once a child is three years of age, a reevaluation is done to ensure that they still meet the eligibility requirement. At that point Early Childhood Special Education services are provided in the student’s local school district.
 

Early Childhood Special Education focuses on teaching cognitive skills that focus on improving attention and memory; teaching fine skills that allow them to manipulate objects and gross motor skills that are needed for walking, jumping, and running; and adaptive skills that focus on the child being able to do various tasks that are typical of their age. Some typical activities might be learning shapes, colors, concepts, and other vocabulary development; holding a crayon in order to color and draw; and learning letters, counting, and finger plays.
 

Prior to the age of six, a child who has received Special Education under the category of Developmental Delay must be reevaluated in the area of suspected disability to determine if they will continue to qualify for Special Education.