EC101 Massachusetts

Special Education

Education & Care
education & care

Services focused on the social, emotional, and cognitive growth of young children taking place in a setting without their parent or caregiver present.

Specifically Designed Instruction

School districts are required by state and federal law to provide children with disabilities with individually tailored programs and services that meet their unique needs. Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) services support young children (ages 3-5) whose disabilities cause them to be unable to participate in developmentally appropriate preschool activities and who therefore qualify for specially designed instruction or related services (see section below for more on related services).


Individualized Education Programs (IEP) are often created by educational staff, the child and their family, and identified advocates to ensure the child receives the appropriate and tailored support they need to succeed in their educational institution.

education & care
Ages
3 years - 5 years
Usage

Intensive

Services that provide intensive, individualized interventions for specific issues facing children and/or families
Geography
Statewide
Professionals
Special Educators, Related Professionals
Settings
Home, Child Care Setting, Public School
Oversight, Guidance, OR Regulation
Department of Elementary & Secondary Education
Children are able to be referred to special education services starting at age 2 years and 9 months, allowing them to start the process before they enter school at the age of 3 years. For more information, visit the Department of Elementary & Secondary Education's Special Education website.
education & care
Ages
3 years - 5 years 
Usage

Intensive

Services that provide intensive, individualized interventions for specific issues facing children and/or families
Geography
Statewide
Professionals
Special Educators, Related Professionals
Settings
Home, Child Care Setting, Public School
Oversight, Guidance, OR Regulation
Department of Elementary & Secondary Education

Related Services

Related services support children with disabilities to benefit from their special education services by providing extra support in targeted areas. These supports include therapy or specialist services to support a child's progress towards age-appropriate developmental benchmarks.

Equity Considerations
Special education meetings can be confusing and stressful for even the most experienced parents. Parents are often in the position of initiating the process to get their child on an IEP and receiving special education services through their school district, which puts more of a burden on them to successfully navigate this system. Further, there is great variability between school districts and their criteria for how to qualify for services which can limit access to certain families depending on where their child is enrolled.
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