33% delay in one or more areas (per emergency rule change 2 years ago)
2,000 fewer students receiving services. Need to increase options and make it sustainable.
$8.6M from JBS and told to change eligibility.
Work group meetings ensued.
3rd meeting 10/24 - data and feedback from these meetings to gain consensus on change to eligibility definition.
Once determined. Federal Partners (Office of Special Education)
Rulemaking will ensue through another emergency rule. January 1 implementation date targeted.
What happens to the Early Start model. (Didn’t get to implement because of JBC decision)
Still wants to fund and implement it. Need philanthropic funding to implement on a pilot basis.
Concerns:
Equity - difficult for families and systems when basing eligibility on available funding.
Workforce Crisis – vacancies are impacting capacity. More families are needing services (extended part C started implementation May1-school year care) has added additional systems pressure.
Now assessing eligibility for services. (added more strain)
Country Wide data:
1/3 states have 1 qualifying criteria. ½ have 2 qualifying criteria for entry
The CDE's DD criteria indicates standard score of 77 or 1.5 SD below the mean in one or more developmental areas. (Steve Sandoval comment)
Consider changing eligibility to sustain more children. (JBC directive)
the general fund contributes to 70-85% of special education costs (IDEA only 15 - 25%). Since IDEA funding not likely to increase, are we asking our districts to contribute more than they are for this?
---Steve Sandoval (Westminster Public Schools)
Part C has separate criteria for children under 3.
My thoughts: The 3 year old gateway to public schools will drive more low-income children into that system (without additional care requirements due to disabilities) to increase funding for the public school system as a whole. They aren’t able to fill all of their staff positions either (and they pay more).
Christy Scott – CDEC presented. Don’t know how many children the change in definition will increase. Details will be in the October 24th meeting.
The older a child is the harder it is for them to qualify.
34 % of older children did not qualify for that need as they got older.
Workload is causing their workforce shortages (not pay)(Westminster)
From Jean Larsen to Everyone 09:49 AM: Coming into EI after the age of 2 does not allow sufficient time for providers and parents to make beneficial changes - usually these kids are in program less than 2-3 months prior to going to preschool. We have also seen a number of our families choosing not to have Part B evaluations - instead choosing private therapy and/or private preschools until age 4 or so.
Kids are coming to the school with Significant social emotional delays due to COVID.
35% of IE families qualify for IEP’s We have also seen a number of our families choosing not to have Part B evaluations - instead choosing private therapy and/or private preschools until age 4 or so.
tails are from a townhall meeting on 10/17/22