Outlines major points in Early childhood special education

1. Early Childhood Special
Education!
Shandell Landon

2. ECSE History
• Prior to 1986 young children were
primarily educated at home.
• Institutionalization was a common
practice for children with moderate
to sever disabilities
• Early intervention for infants and
toddlers went into law in 1986.
• Part H became part C and allowed for
children 3-5 to receive services and
required states to outline the
assessment and identification
process.
• In 2011, over 300,000 students
between the ages of birth to 2
received services. (nichy.org)
• “The preschool program (serving
children ages 3-5 years) serves
about 4.88% of the population
(Wolery/Bailey).”
• Early intervention services is going
in need and across the country.

3. Now
• Eligibility requirements for each state vary
• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
of 2004
• Part C – determine how students will be
identified, screen and will receive services.
• No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 – more
accountability for schools
• Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 –
Nations first civil rights law recognizing
persons with disabilities as equals who
must be treaded with equality.
Then
• Reauthorization in 1986 – early
intervention (birth to age 5) was
added to the law
• Education for All Handicapped
Children Act of 1975 – not for
children birth to 5, but did require all
school aged children to receive a free
and appropriate education.
• The Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Laws in Early Childhood

4. Trends in education
• Previously, majority of early education was done at home
• “Good Start, Grow Smart” – “initiative that is attempting to strengthen Head
Start and partner with states to improve early childhood education (Russo).”
• “Even Start, is a program that supports projects providing educational services
to low-income families (Russo).”
• Growing movement for comprehensive early education programs for all children
3-5.

5. 1. Encyclopedia of Education Law, Charles J. Russo. Print pages: 276-
277. Pub. date: 2008 | Online Pub. Date: August 27, 2008. DOI:
http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/10.4135/9781412963916.
Print ISBN: 9781412940795. Publisher: SAGE
2. http://nichcy.org/laws/idea
3. Early Childhood Special Education Research. Wolery, Mark; Bailey,
Donald B, Jr. Journal of Early Intervention. 25.5 (Summer 2002) p. 88-
99.
4. http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/history/35th/1990s/ada.html
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