Early Childhood Special Education (Part B of IDEA) and Early Intervention (Part C of IDEA), in Virginia, provide services for children from birth to Kindergarten age who qualify according to state and federal law. All localities in the state have services available for children in this age group who are eligible.

Early Intervention Services are provided by the local Infant & Toddler Connection program. Information about local early intervention services can be found at the Infant & Toddler Connection of Virginia web site.

Local school divisions determine the criteria for being found eligibile for services under the developmental delay category.

Early Childhood Special Education services are provided by local school divisions. Local school divisions' Special Education Departments should be contacted for specific information about their programs - see the public school division directory.

The goals, settings, and support personnel needed to assist children grow are different for each child. Staff from the programs listed above, with the child's family, develop an individualized plan with goals and objectives to meet the child's developmental needs. The goals and objectives include a variety of skills and/or activities for the child to achieve. The people who assist in implementing the plan and in supporting the plan vary depending on the child's needs. The settings for implementing the plan also varies, depending on the child's needs, age, and program.

The long term goal for our preschool aged children is for them to be as ready as possible to enter kindergarten. The earlier services are provided for children with disabilities, the better the long term prognosis. Children with special needs, who have experienced support early in life do better in future settings.

	A smooth transition from early intervention to special education is also important. SEE: A Guide for Transition From Early Intervention Programs (Part C) to Early Childhood Special Education (Part B) Programs.
For information from the Virginia Department of Education concerning Early Childhood Special Education please contact: Phyllis Mondak P.O. Box 2120 Richmond, VA 23218-2120 (804)225-2675 pmondak@mail.vak12ed.edu

Links to information about other programs and national and state resources:

Order form for "Crib to Kindergarten" Wheels Request for "FUNdamentals" Calendar Shining Stars: Charting the Future for Today's Children Virginia's Early Childhood Conference Click on: Your region, Events tab, View by month(on top), July(left menu)

Family Support

The ARC Family Involvement Project (ARC-FIP) Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC) Virginia Parent Resource Centers Research and Training Center on Family Support and Children's Mental Health

Government

Virginia Department of Education Infant and Toddler Connection of Virginia Together We Can (deaf/blind project) Partnership for People with Disabilities National Institute for Child Health and Human Development National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center NICHCY Yes I Can (White House Education/No Child Left Behind site) Early Childhood Outcomes Center U.S. Dept of Education – Early Childhood Information Clearinghouses    Education Resources Information Center   Elementary and Early Childhood Education   NECTAC Clearinghouse on Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education

Interagency Agreements

Building Collaborative Partnerships

Organizations

Closing the Gap Division for Early Childhood (DEC) Council for Exceptional Children National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) National Head Start Association TASH The Trust for Early Education Zero to Three

Research

Literacy      Virginia Center for Young Readers   National Reading Panel   National Institute for Literacy   National Center for Family Literacy Behavior      Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning   Center for Evidence-Based Practice: Young Children with Challenging Behavior Collaboration/Inclusion      The Access Center   Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST)   Training and Technical Assistance Centers   University of No. Iowa Inclusion Multi-Cultural      VDOE English as a Second Language   Cultrually & Linguisticallty Appropriate Services Position Statements      NAEYC   DEC