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Summary Chart
of
Early Childhood Special Education Eligibility Criteria
as of April, 1998
| State | Early Childhood Specific
Category/ Classification and Criteria1 |
Age Range for Preschool Category | Use of Part B Categories
(Use, Modify,Omit)2 |
Changes Under Consideration3 |
| Alabama | "Developmentally
Delayed" 2 SD or 30% delay in one area 1.5 SD or 25% delay in two areas |
3 through 5 | Use: All | Considering extending category through age 9 with revised criteria for ages 3 through 9. |
| Florida | "Developmentally
Delayed:" 2 SD or 25% delay in one area 1.5 SD or 20% delay in two areas, or informed clinical opinion |
3 through 5 | Modify: Speech/language, learning
disabled, deaf or hard of hearing, visually impaired, dual sensoryimpaired Use: All others |
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| Georgia | "Significantly
developmentally delayed:" 2 SD in one area 1.5 SD in two areas |
3 through 5 | Use: All | Proposing extended category through age 9. Considering different criteria for ages 3 through 5 (2 SD in one area and 1.5 SD in two areas) and ages 6 through 9 (SD in one area). Additionally, children must be eligible and have an IEP by their 7th birthday to use "significantly developmentally delayed" category. |
| Kentucky | "Developmentally
delayed:" 2 SD in one area 1.5 SD in two areas or Professional judgement of atypical development if normed scores are inconclusive and there is written documentation |
3 through 5 | Modify: All (also note that categories include diagnosed conditions) | Not at this time |
| 1 Criteria for early childhood
specific eligibility categories typically reference a child's status in one or more
developmental areas. The term "area" in this column refers to developmental
area. Although states vary somewhat, most list five areas (or some variation thereof):
cognitive, language, physical, psychosocial, and self-help. SD refers to standard
deviations below the mean on a norm-referenced standardized instrument. 2 Part B categories not specifically listed in this column are assumed to be used by the state, unless noted. Use = As per criteria for school age. Modify= Definition or criteria modified for preschoolers to make it more age appropriate than that for school-age students. The state's terminology is used for any categories listed as modified. Omit = These categories not used for early childhood because children with these disabilities are assumed to be included in the preschool-specific categories. 3 References to "extending" refer to the states' option to use the disability category, "developmental delay" or other term chosen by the state, to determine eligibility for children through age 9. |
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This information is from Eligibility Policies and Procedures for Young Children Under Part B of IDEA by Joan Danaher at NEC*TAS |
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| Mississippi | "Developmental
delay:" 1.5 SD or 25% delay in two areas or Diagnosed condition |
3 through 5 | Use: Vision, hearing impaired,
deaf-blind, autistic Modify: Speech/language impaired Omit: Learning disabled, mentally handicapped, physically handicapped, emotionally disturbed |
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| North Carolina | "Preschool
delayed/atypical:" 2 SD or 30% delay in one area 1.5 SD or 25% delay in two areas-delayed or atypical behavior or Informed clinical opinion or appropriate assessment measures-delayed or atypical behavior |
3 through 5 | Use: Orthopedically impaired, hearing
impaired, other health impaired, deaf-blind, autistic Modify: speech-language impaired, traumatic brain injured, visually impaired Omit: Behaviorally-emotionally handicapped, mentally handicapped, multihandicapped; specific learning disabled |
Considering extending category. Forming a task force to look at the issue during the coming school year. |
| South Carolina | "Preschool
Children with Disabilities:" 2 SD in one area 1.5 SD in two areas or IQ 25-50 +/- standard error, consistent subnormal interest performance, disability not result of behavior disorder, cultural or educational deprivation, adaptive behavior consistent with cognitive ability or IQ below 25, severe impairment in all areas evaluated |
3 through 5 | Modify:
Speech/language, other health impaired, sensory impaired, orthopedically impaired Omit: Learning disabled, mentally retarded, emotionally disturbed, multiply impaired, traumatic brain injured, autistic |
None |
| 1 Criteria for early childhood
specific eligibility categories typically reference a child's status in one or more
developmental areas. The term "area" in this column refers to developmental
area. Although states vary somewhat, most list five areas (or some variation thereof):
cognitive, language, physical, psychosocial, and self-help. SD refers to standard
deviations below the mean on a norm-referenced standardized instrument. 2 Part B categories not specifically listed in this column are assumed to be used by the state, unless noted. Use = As per criteria for school age. Modify= Definition or criteria modified for preschoolers to make it more age appropriate than that for school-age students. The state's terminology is used for any categories listed as modified. Omit = These categories not used for early childhood because children with these disabilities are assumed to be included in the preschool-specific categories. 3 References to "extending" refer to the states' option to use the disability category, "developmental delay" or other term chosen by the state, to determine eligibility for children through age 9. |
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This information is from Eligibility Policies and Procedures for Young Children Under Part B of IDEA by Joan Danaher at NEC*TAS |
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