608.2 Early Childhood Special Education Policy

EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION POLICY

 Early Childhood Special Education is a program providing services for children with disabilities to children from birth to age 7. The federal government has designated pervasive development disorder as the disability category for those children from birth to age 7 who demonstrate marked delays in normal child growth and development when there is not an identifiable condition which is known to hinder normal development.

The Reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education has allowed states the option of expanding the disability category of Early Childhood Special Education to age 9. The State of Minnesota has decided that each school district must establish a policy which determines the age of service for the Early Childhood Special Education program.

Policy Statement for Early Childhood Special Education

It is the policy of the Anoka-Hennepin Independent District #11, that every child age birth to 7 who demonstrates a substantial delay or identifiable physical or mental condition known to hinder normal development for which no other disability category can be identified, shall receive appropriate special education and related services under the category of Developmental Delay.