Evaluating our youngest learners requires a specialized lens that balances clinical data with developmental trajectories. With the formal introduction of Developmental Delay (DD) as a standalone eligibility category in Texas, evaluators must now navigate new criteria, age limits, and documentation requirements.
This session utilizes the "A Closer Glance" framework to refine evaluation practices for children ages 3 through 5. We will move beyond standardized testing to explore play-based assessment, informed clinical opinion, and the strategic use of the DD category to ensure students receive the most appropriate support without premature or inaccurate labeling.
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Analyze Identification Trends: Compare Texas’s historical and current early childhood identification rates against national averages to identify local "under-identification" risks.
- Navigate the ECI Transition Timeline: Execute the "90-Day Rule" for transition meetings and referrals to ensure that an IEP is developed and ready for implementation by a child’s 3rd birthday.
- Apply DD Eligibility Criteria with Precision: Utilize Texas eligibility criteria to appropriately identify students ages 3 through 9 under the Developmental Delay category.
- Apply Play-Based & Ecological Assessment: Integrate data from natural environments and "Play-Based" models to supplement standardized scores, especially for students with limited testing compliance.
- Synthesize Multidisciplinary Data: Integrate evaluation data from cognitive, language, social-emotional, and motor domains to create a holistic "student profile" that informs legally defensible eligibility decisions.
- Optimize Report Writing & Professional Resources: Review relevant resources and review structured report templates to synthesize ecological observations and clinical data into a cohesive narrative that clearly supports eligibility and service recommendations.
Upon completion of your Connect20 registration for this session, you will receive an automated confirmation message. If you do not receive this message, please first check your spam/junk folder. If you are still unable to locate the message, contact Central Registration at Central.Registration@esc20.net or call 210-370-5671 for assistance during business hours 8 am - 4:30 pm.
This session is free to members of the Special Education Cooperative.