Things You'll Need:
- Medical evaluations
- Birth certificate
- Social security number
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Step 1
Familiarize yourself with the common population for early childhood special education. Children in these programs range from severe-to-mild disabilities and delays. Early childhood special education classrooms serve children between the ages of three and five. Some states serve two- to five-year-olds. To enroll in an early childhood special education program a child must have a significant delay in one of the following areas: social skills, adaptive skills, communication, motor skills or cognitive thinking skills.
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Step 2
Go to the source of the program. Most localities require a written letter to the superintendent requesting an evaluation for your child. Call ahead to find out exactly to whom the letter should be addressed. If you want things to move along faster go the elementary school your child would attend for kindergarten and ask for an evaluation referral. Complete it and return it the school principal. This will take two to three days off the enrollment process.
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Step 3
Know your rights. Once you have submitted your letter the school has to meet with you within 10 business days. If they refer your child for evaluation they have 65 calendar days to complete the testing.
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Step 4
Exercise patience. After the tests are completed the school has two more meetings for you. The first is eligibility, where they decide if your child qualifies for enrollment. The second is an individual education plan (IEP) meeting, where they decide what services your child qualifies to receive. This process, from letter to actual enrollment, can take two to three months.
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Step 5
Ask for the details. Early childhood special education is a highly individualized service. Your child can be bussed to school, but you can also take them. Different systems have different schedules. Some programs are four days a week, while others can be five days a week but half-days. Lunch may or may not be provided.
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Step 6
Remember the basics. Once you have gone through the initial eligibility process it is time for the basic enrollment process. The school will need your child's birth certificate number, social security number, a current physical and shot record and, in some cases, a proof of residency form.
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Step 7
Take a tour of the school before your child's first day of attendance. Try to schedule this with the teacher for a time other than during an open house. Open house time makes the school appear very chaotic and overwhelming to a child with disabilities. It is better to visit in the summer when the halls are quiet and empty.
