Early Childhood Referral

SPECIAL EDUCATION PROCESS MAKE A REFERRAL PARENTAL RIGHTS BIRTH-3 REFERRAL 

Early Childhood Special Education Process

Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District (MMUUSD) provides Early Childhood special education services to resident students between the ages of 3-6.

Referral process: Referrals can come from a number of sources - Parents, child care centers, and PreK teachers, or agencies within the community like DCF. Students also enter our program via Children's Integrated Services - Early Intervention (CIS-EI) at Northwestern Couseling and Support Services. CIS-EI provides services to eligible children between the ages of birth - 3.

Eligibility for Services: Eligibility for special education services is determined through an evaluation process. The Early Childhood Educators generally look at five domains of development - cognitive, social and emotional, speech and language, motor (fine, gross, and perceptual), and adaptive. A child is found eligible when there is a 40% or greater delay in one area of development or a 25% delay in two or more areas. If a child is found eligible, the team develops an Individual Education Plan (IEP) with the family. In writing the IEP, specific services are addressed.

Types of services: MMUUSD Early Childhood Educators provide special education, speech and language, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. Services for our children are based on eligibility and need. The amount and type of services provided is individually determined.

Where services are provided: Special education services are provided in our school based preschool programs and in community child care centers and at home child care settings located in the MMUUSD district. Our intent is to provide services at a place that meets the needs of the child and their family. We operate on the school calendar.

Special Education Referrals

Children are referred for special education services by parents, physicians, community early childhood programs, and community agencies when there is a concern or question about a child's development. Referrals are assigned to a case manager who contacts the parent(s)/guardian(s) to discuss their interest in moving forward in the referral process. All of our services are voluntary and require approval from the parent(s)/guardian(s). The referral process may lead to a screening and/or evaluation. If you have any questions or concerns about your child's development please call our Early Ed office at 802-434-2962 and/or complete the Early Childhood Referral Form.

Parental Rights

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Federal law concerning the education of students with disabilities, requires schools to provide parents of a child with a disability with a notice containing a full explanation of the procedural safeguards available under the IDEA and Vermont Department of Education Special Education regulations

Notice of Procedural Safeguards: Rights of Parents of Students with Disabilities

Birth-3 Referral

Children's Integrated Services (CIS) is a statewide prevention and early intervention program that promotes a child's growth and development through supports to children aged birth to six, their families, pregnant people, and specialized child care programs.

CIS services include:

  • Nursing

  • Family support

  • Specialized child care

  • Early childhood and family mental health

  • Early intervention.

In Chittenden County, CIS services are delivered by the University of Vermont Health Network Home Health and Hospice (formerly the VNA), Northwestern Counseling and Support Services (NCSS), Milton Family Community Center, Lund, Howard Center, and Child Care Resource. If you have concerns about your child, ages birth-3, contact Children's Integrated Services using this link.

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