IDEA Section 619 IDEA Preschool Grants Program

1. IDEASection 619IDEA Preschool Grants Program Maria Synodi, 619 Coordinator Early Childhood Special Education State Department of Education

2. IDEA Section 619 Federal Statute Federal Regulations

3. IDEA 2004 – Legal Landscape • Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) of 2004(Public Law 108-446) • IDEA has four (4) “Parts” • Part A: General Provisions • Part B: Assistance for the Education of All Children with Disabilities – Includes Section 619* • Part C: Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities • Part D: National Activities to Improve the Education of Children with Disabilities

4. IDEA Part B: Implementing Regulations: Sub-Parts A-H • IDEA Implementing Regulations found at 34 CFR Parts 300 & 301: Assistance to States for the Education of Children with Disabilities and Preschool Grants for Children with Disabilities • Sub-Part A: General Provisions • Sub-Part B: State Eligibility • Sub-Part C: LEA Eligibility • Sub-Part D: Evaluations, Eligibility, IEPs and Placement • Sub-Part E: Procedural Safeguards • Sub-Part F: Monitoring, Technical Assistance and Enforcement • Sub-Part G: Use of Funds • Sub-Part H: Preschool Grants Program* (section 300.800-300.818)

5. IDEA Preschool Grants Program • IDEA, Part B Statute: Includes Section 619 • IDEA 619 Regulations at sections 300.800-300.818 • Called the “Preschool Grants Program” or “Section 619” • The Secretary provides grants under section 619 of the Act to assist States to provide special education and related services • (a) To children with disabilities, three through five years of age; and • (b) At a State's discretion, to two-year-old children with disabilities who will turn three during the school year. • State Identified IDEA Section 619 Coordinator • Section 619 responsibilities for the implementation of IDEA Part B for the population of children ages 3 through 5 with disabilities

6. IDEA – Special Education • IDEA Part B: • Children ages 3 through 21, or graduation from high school, whichever is first attained • IDEA Part B, Section 619: • Children ages 3 through 5 – Regardless of grade

7. IDEA Preschool Grants Program • Section 619 Fiscal Responsibilities – State Allocation of $4,818,610 in 2010-2011 - $3,943,828 to school districts • IDEA 619 grant dollars • 82% is disbursed to school districts (80% minimum) • 13% is set aside by the state for state-level activities • 5% supports 619 in the State Department of Ed • IDEA 619 funds to school districts are spent on the excess cost of providing special education to children ages 3-5 • Annual IDEA 619 grant application for school districts • Federal formula for determining how much each school district receives is specified in section 619 • Annual IDEA 619 funds flat-funded since 1997 (no federal increase – actual decrease in funding to state)

8. What Is Special Education?

9. IDEA Part B – Purpose (applies to 619*) The purposes of this part are— (a) To ensure that all children with disabilities have available to them a free appropriate public education that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living; (b) To ensure that the rights of children with disabilities and their parents are protected; (c) To assist States, localities, educational service agencies, and Federal agencies to provide for the education of all children with disabilities; and (d) To assess and ensure the effectiveness of efforts to educate children with disabilities. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1400(d))

10. IDEA Services = Special Education • IDEA, Part B = Special Education: means that a free appropriate public education (FAPE) is provided to a child with a disability who requires special education and related services. • Special Education means “specially designed instruction, at no cost to parents, to meet the unique needs if a child with a disability including instruction conducted in the classroom, in the home, in hospitals and institutions and in other settings.” • Speech and Language Pathology is considered special education “only if the service is considered special education rather than a related service.”

11. IDEA Related Services Related services include transportation and developmental, corrective and other supportive services as required to assist a child with a disability to benefit from special education, and can include: • Speech-language pathology • Audiology • Physical and occupational therapy • Interpreting services • Counseling • Mobility services • Social work services in schools • Parent counseling and training

12. Who Are The Children 3-5?

13. In Connecticut - Section 619 • In 2010-2011, there were 7,933 Children • 2,149 = 3-year-olds (27.09%) • 2,813 = 4-year-olds (35.46%) • 2,971 = 5-year-olds (37.45%) • In 2010-2011, there were • 2,347 girls (29.59%) • 5,586 boys (70.41%) • In 2010-2011, of the 7,933 Children • 4,666 were in preschool (58.82%) • 2,848 were in kindergarten (35.91%) • 418 were in first grade (5.27%) • Represents approximately 6.3% of the population of children ages 3 through 5

14. IDEA Special Education Eligibility • The determination that a child requires special education and related services is a decision of each child’s planning and placement team (PPT) – which includes the parent(s). • The determination of a child’s eligibility is based upon the results and review of each child’s initial evaluation information. • Child is determined to be eligible for special education when their educational needs meet one of the IDEA disability categories and it is determined by reason thereof, that the child requires needs special education and related services.

15. Intellectual Disability Hearing Impairment (including deafness) Speech or Language Impairment Visual Impairment (including blindness) Serious Emotional Disturbance Multiple Disabilities Autism Orthopedic Impairment Traumatic Brain Injury Other Health Impairment Specific Learning Disability Deaf-Blindness Neurologically Impaired DEVELOPMENTAL DELAY (for children 3 through 5) IDEA Special EducationDisability Categories

16. Disability Category: Children 3-5 (2010-2011) • Intellectual Disability (also called Mental Retardation = 36 Children (0.45%) • Hearing Impaired = 94 Children (1.18%) • Speech and Language Impaired = 2,354 Children (29.76%) • Visually Impaired = 18 Children (0.23%) • Seriously Emotionally Disturbed = 9 Children (0.11%) • Other Health Impaired = 182 Children (2.29%) • Learning Disabled = 48 Children (0.61%) • Deaf-Blind = 0 Children • Multiple Disabilities = 98 Children (1.24%) • Autism = 763 Children (9.62%) • Traumatic Brain Injury = 5 Children (0.06%) • Developmental Delay = 4,318 Children (54.43%)

17. Race & Ethnicity: Children 3-5 (ECO)

18. Time in Pre-K Special Education (ECO)

19. Parent Participation & Satisfaction • 93.7% of parents of children ages 3-5 and 90.0% of parents of children ages 18-21 indicated that they are satisfied with their child’s special education program . • 94.5% of parents of children ages 3-5 identified that general education teachers make accommodations and modifications as indicated on their child’s IEP. • More than 90% of parents of children ages 3-5 agreed that their child was learning skills that will enable him or her to be as independent as possible. • Similarly, 93.4% of parents of children ages 3-5 were also most likely to agree that their child is learning skills that will lead to a high school diploma, further education or job. • Parents of children with a developmental delay and a speech and language impairment were the most likely to agree that they have the opportunity to talk to their child’s teachers on a regular basis (98.0% and 95.2%, respectively).

20. Who Provides Special Education?

21. Responsibility for Special Education • In Connecticut, school districts are responsible for the provision of special education and related services to the eligible population of children ages 3-21, including children ages 3 through 5 • In IDEA, school districts are referred to as LEAs – local educational agencies • In Connecticut, there are approximately: • 169 towns • 143 school districts for 619 • 13 regional school districts for 619 • 1 state school district: USD II, DCF for 619

22. Child Find • Child Find is the obligation to “locate, identify and evaluate” children who have a disability or who are suspected of having a disability • Child Find is an obligation of Part C and Part B – an overlapping responsibility of the two systems • The Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center (CPAC) serves as the statewide Child Find agent on behalf of the IDEA, Part B: Special Education, including 619 • The Child Development Infoline (CDI) serves as the statewide Child Find agent on behalf of Part C and 619 • Referrals received for children nearing the age of 3 are referred on to the responsible school district • MOA between Birth to Three and SDE on Child Find

23. Referral, Evaluation, Eligibility, IEP • Referral • Can be made by Birth-3, the parent, MD, child care • School district completes appropriate forms, sends notice, procedural safeguards • School sends invitation to planning and placement team (PPT) meeting • Convene PPT • PPT discusses referral • PPT reviews available information and parent concerns • PPT determines evaluation is needed – identifies “existing data” • Maybe: PPT designs “initial evaluation” • If PPT proceeds to evaluation, parent written consent obtained to conduct • Convene PPT • PPT reviews evaluation results • PPT determines this is a child with a disability under the IDEA • PPT identifies the IDEA Disability Category • PPT develops IEP based upon evaluation [FAPE By Age 3 for B-3 children] Evaluation Conducted

24. Special Education Plan: IEP • IEP = Individualized Education Program (IEP) • IEP means a written statement for a child with a disability that is developed, reviewed and revised in accordance with the IDEA • IEP Team – In Connecticut, a planning and placement team (PPT) – a group of individuals that is responsible for developing, reviewing and/or revising an IEP for a child with a disability

25. Location of Services • Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) • To the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities, in public or private institutions or other care facilities, are educated with children who are not disabled; and • Special classes, separate schooling, or other removal of children with disabilities from the regular educational environment occurs only if the nature or severity of the disability is such that education in regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily.

26. LRE for 3-5 In Connecticut (2010-2011) • 70.40% or 4,259 children, ages 3-5, spent 80-100% of time with non-disabled peers • There was an increase of 800 children, ages 3-5, or a 3.7% increase in spending 80-100% of time with non-disabled peers from the prior year • 6.60 % or 594 children were spending 40-79% of their time with non-disabled peers • 2.90% or 296 children were spending 0-39% of their time with non-disabled peers • 13.60% or 1,206 children were served in an ECSE program • 5.20% or 371 children were served in a provider location • 0.06% of children were served in a separate school • 0.04% were served in a residential facility • 0.02% of children were served at home

27. Children with IEPs Participate in … • Public Schools, integrated early childhood programs • Magnet Schools, Charter Schools with Pre-K Programs • School Readiness • Head Start • State-Funded Child Care • Private Nursery Schools, Preschools • Parochial Schools • Participation may or may not be a part of a child’s IEP • Inclusion: Access, Participation and Benefit

28. Where Is The Accountability?

29. Monitoring, Accountability • State Performance Plan (SPP) & Annual Performance Report (APR) – 20 Indicators (3 of which are 619) • Federal monitoring of state (OSEP visit 11/2011) • State monitoring of school districts (e.g., LEAs) – State ‘general supervision’ responsibilities • Fiscal Accountability for 611 and 619 Funds • Focused Monitoring – 2010-2011 = Academic Achievement • Complaints, Mediations and Due Process • Identification and correction of non-compliance within 12 months • Monitoring of district improvement activities • Annual public posting of school district APRs • Results Based Accountability (RBA)

30. Indicator #12: A Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) By Age 3 Indicator #12 This indicator measures the percent of children who were referred by the Birth to Three System and who had an IEP developed and implemented by their third birthday. This is a compliance indicator, meaning that the IDEA requires 100% of all children referred by the Birth to Three System to have an IEP in place by their third birthday, or for children with a summer birthday, by the start of the school year. The graph represents the state’s trend data, indicating substantial to full compliance, on this indicator for the last five years.

31. Indicator #6: LRE for Children 3 through 5 Indicator #6 This indicator measures the percent of children who spend time in programs that comprise a class composition of no less than 50% of children without disabilities. This data represents the 2010-2011 school year. The data has yet to be reported in the SPP/APR. The 2010-2011 data indicate that 70.40% of children, ages 3 through 5, spend 80-100% of time with non-disabled peers. This data represents time with non-disabled peers (TWNDPs) that includes, but is not limited to, the setting that a child with an IEP receives their special education and related services. • 70.40% of children spend 80-100% TWNDPs • 6.60% of children spend 40-80% of TWNDPs • 2.90% of children spend 0-40% of TWNDPs • 13.60% of children are in ECSE classrooms • .06% of children are in a separate school • .04% of children are in a residential facility • .02 of children are served at home • 5.20% of children receive services in a service provider location

32. Positive Social Emotional Skills Indicator #7: ECO Progress in the development of positive social emotional skills, including positive social relationships is measured by the percent of children who: • Attained growth near same-age peers, and • Attained developmental and functional skills within age expectations. The graph represents data from the school year 2008-2009, the year in which baseline data was established and the school year 2009-2010, the first year of progress data on this indicator. The 2009-2010 state target reflecting the percent of children who attained growth near same-age peerswas 56.0%. The state did not meet that target, with data indicating that only 54.3% of children grew to near same age peers. The 2009-2010 target for children who attained age expectations was 52.0% and the state data exceeded the target with data identifying that 55.5% of children attained age expectations.

33. Acquisition & Use of Knowledge and Skills Indicator #7: ECO Progress in the development of children’s acquisition and use of knowledge and skills, including the areas of early language and literacy is measured by the percent of children who: • Attained growth near same-age peers, and • Attained developmental and functional skills within age expectations. The graph represents data from the school year 2008-2009, the year in which baseline data was established and the school year 2009-2010, the first year of progress data on this indicator. The 2009-2010 state target reflecting the percent of children who attained growth near same age peers was 59.0%. The state exceeded the target with data indicating that 63.8% of children grew closer to same age peers. The 2009-2010 state target for children who attained age expectations was 31.0% and the state data exceeded the target with data identifying that 33.9% of children attained age expectations.

34. Use of Behaviors to Meet Needs Indicator #7: ECO Progress in the development of children’s use of behaviors to meet their needs is measured by the percent of children who: • Attained growth near same-age peers, and • Attained developmental and functional skills within age expectations. The graph represents data from the school year 2008-2009, the year in which baseline data was established and the school year 2009-2010, the first year of progress data on this indicator. The 2009-2010 state target reflecting the percent of children who attained growth near to same age peers was 48.0%. The state exceeded the target with data indicating that 50.7% of children grew nearer to same age peers. The 2009-2010 target for children who attained age expectations was 24.0% and the state data exceeded the target with data identifying that 26.1% of children attained age expectations.

35. IDEA 619 and Links to Early Childhood Cabinet

36. Workforce & Professional Development • 619 and work with Bureau of Certification on certification regulations for teachers (translates to work with higher education institutions) • 619 and CCAC: Inclusion Strand, Inclusion Saturday Series • 619 and Professional Development • Offering stipends, fee waivers for EC personnel to attend professional development events focused on inclusion and supporting children with disabilities in EC settings • PD Offerings designed to include general and early childhood special education: literacy, behavior, etc. • 619 partnership with Birth to Three offering birth-5 PD • 619 specific PD • TWW statewide conference – multi-agency, organization planning and delivery of conference

37. Tiered Quality Rating System (T-QRIS) • 619 funds to CCAC and AFP for NAEYC accreditation (2-year MOA) • Funds pay for accreditation, re-accreditation • Eligible programs provide an integrated early childhood opportunity • Training and technical assistance is available • In 2009-2011: • 85 early childhood programs received financial support • 70 programs attained accreditation • 15 program in the accreditation process • 5,462 children • 646 children were children with disabilities (an IEP) • NAEYC accreditation also supports workforce

38. Curriculum & Instruction • Approximately one quarter of children who receive special education receive a single service (e.g., speech only) • Districts offer integrated early childhood programs through a variety of options – part-day; full-day • Average length of hours per month = 36.5 • District operated early childhood special education programs are delivered by a certified teacher • Department supports the use of the PCF and PAF for all children, as appropriate • Department supports a preschool curriculum for all children to be implemented with the appropriate accommodations, modifications, supports

39. Data and Data Interface • State Department of Education Data Systems: Registration System; Public School Information System (PSIS); Special Education Data Application and Collection (SEDAC) and Preschool Information System (PKIS); • State Assigned Unique Student Identification Numbers (SASID Numbers); • State Department of Education provides a SASID Number to every child receiving early intervention; • Data used for federal reporting, accountability;

40. Thank You