 Executive
Summary/OverviewThe Early
Intervention Program providing services to children with
disabilities, birth to two, is the responsibility of the Department
of Health (DOH). The New York
State Education Department (SED) and the New York State (NYS) DOH have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that
focuses on activities that will result in a smooth transition from
Part C to Part B services for children beginning at age three. This
MOU is updated annually as part of the revision of the joint
workplan. In 2003-04, the MOU increasingly focused on collaborative
efforts on transition. This included joint training, technical assistance
and monitoring. In addition, DOH designates a representative to the
SED’s Commissioner’s Advisory Panel (CAP) and a representative of
the Department participates as a member of the Early Intervention
Coordinating Council (EICC).
Early Intervention Officials (EIO) have responsibility under Public
Health Law for notifying school districts (with parental consent) of
an Early Intervention (EI) child’s potential eligibility for services under preschool
special education and for arranging a transition conference at least
120 days before the child is first eligible for preschool programs
and services. A parent may also refer the child directly to the
Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE). The transition
conference is scheduled at least 90 days before the child is first
eligible for preschool programs and services, and is attended by the EIO,
the service coordinator, the parent(s) and the Chairperson of the CPSE.
The purpose of the transition conference is to decide whether the
child should be referred to preschool special education for
determination of eligibility, to review program options available to
the child and family, and to develop a transition plan. This process ensures
continuity of services for the child. The timely referral and
evaluation of children to preschool special education and the
provision of a free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least
restrictive environment by school districts are reviewed under the
Special Education Quality Assurance (SEQA) Preschool Focused Monitoring
Review process.
The DOH EICC requested that the SED representative act as chair of the EICC
Task Force on Transition. This task force is charged with the
following:
- reviewing
and providing comments on the Transition Guidance document;
- developing recommendations for joint training by DOH and SED for all
stakeholders to ensure the smooth transition for children leaving
Part C and entering Part B programs;
- developing recommendations for
materials to assist parents in the transition process; and
- developing
recommendations on specific issues raised by the federal Office of
Special Education Programs in their verification visit with DOH in
the fall of 2003.
The EICC Task Force on Transition
was scheduled to complete this work by March 2004. The vast majority of children who are eligible for Part B services
and who are transitioning from EI to preschool special education in
greater New York State are
receiving services by their third birthday.
However, there are a small number of children in New York City (NYC)
from EI and other referral sources who are not
receiving all of their required services. The majority of preschool
students are awaiting related services only. SED and the New York
City (NYC) Department of Education (DOE) are working to resolve
these issues and to ensure that all services are provided. |
