We are excited to announce an important update regarding our website URL. As part of our ongoing efforts to improve functionality and increase internet security, we are changing our current URL from k12.wa.us to ospi.k12.wa.us. Read more about this change and its impact.
Ryan Guzman
TTY:
This web page contains technical assistance resources for special education staff, administrators, and families of preschool children who receive special education services. The resources are organized according to the three federal early childhood indicators of the State Performance Plan. The State Performance Plan is Washington's plan for improving school district performance on the federally required program indicators. For more information on the indicators, please visit the Technical Assistance Web page.
Guidance for Families: Young Children and Special Education is an online resource that explains the steps involved when evaluating a child for special education services through the school district. OSPI also maintains a more general resource, Guidance for Families: Special Education Services.
This interactive map shows where the Early Childhood Special Education Initiative sites are located.
In partnership with the Washington State Early Childhood Special Education Coordination Team, OSPI Special Education has developed guidance on the Provision of Services to Children with Disabilities in Early Childhood Programs during School Facility Closure. The guidance document addresses early childhood transition from IDEA, Part C to Part B, including the role of school districts in the initial eligibility process. Other topics include child outcome summary (COS) entry and exit ratings, and considerations for students transitioning to kindergarten during a school facility closure.
For additional information, please contact Ryan Guzman, OSPI Early Childhood Special Education Coordinator.
Governor Inslee has requested the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) work in collaboration with the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) to identify near-term administrative efficiencies and long-term strategies to improve the alignment and integration of high-quality early learning programs. An important goal of this work is to streamline regulatory functions across various programs aimed at kindergarten readiness that allow for the braiding of multiple funds in school- and community-based classrooms.
OSPI with the help of the Early Childhood Technical Assistance (ECTA) Center presented the PreK Inclusion Finance Toolkit.
Early childhood LRE refers to the Least Restrictive Environment where children receive their special education services.
Early childhood outcomes for preschool children receiving special education services are reported each year to OSPI. The Child Outcome Summary Form (COSF) is the tool used by Washington to measure early childhood outcomes.
Part C to B Transition refers to children transitioning from Early Intervention (Part C) to Early Childhood Special Education (Part B) at age three. Indicator 12 requires that children transitioning from Part C to Part B have their initial IEP in place by the third birthday.