The Early Childhood Special Education Program can answer questions and provide you with information about your child's development. This dedicated team of professionals provides support to families and community partners so that all children have the same learning opportunities. Free developmental screenings and/or evaluations are available to all children birth - age 5 with parental consent. A child may be eligible for services according to Nebraska Rules 51 or 52 criteria if he or she is not developing typically or has been diagnosed with a health condition that may affect his or her development.

If you have concerns about a child’s development you can contact the Early Development Network at (308) 635-3427 to make a referral. Referral sources include health care providers, child care providers, preschool teachers, or family members.

An evaluation of your child’s skills may be completed by a team of special education providers dependent upon your concerns. Your child may be eligible for early childhood special education services according to state and federal guidelines.  If your child meets the criteria for verification, an educational team will develop an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) for children birth to three years of age or Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for children three-five years of age. These plans are created based on the needs of your family and/or child.  The most appropriate placement, as well as any necessary related services, will be determined by the IFSP/IEP team in partnership with you.

Service Providers May Include:

• Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) Teachers

• Speech/Language Pathologists

• Occupational Therapists

• Physical Therapists

• School Psychologists

• Teachers of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

• Teachers of the Visually Impaired

MTSS: What is it all about?

Some students struggle with academics. Others struggle with behavioral challenges. Still others struggle with both. How do schools respond to students with challenges or struggles that interfere with their ability to learn? Many schools use a framework of interventions and supports designed to address these behavioral and academic challenges.  This framework, known as MTSS, helps schools to identify struggling students early so that they may receive assistance quickly.

Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) is a framework that helps educators provide academic and behavioral strategies for students with various needs. MTSS grew out of the integration of two other intervention-based frameworks: Response to Intervention (RtI) and PBIS.

As part of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) updated by Congress in 2004, the Response to Intervention model of assessment originally sought to identify students who would benefit from more intensive supports. From these beginnings as a tool to help improve educational outcomes for students in special education, MTSS has grown to encompass all students at every level.

Key Components of MTSS

Instead of the “waiting for failure” assessment model of pre-IDEA days, MTSS takes a proactive approach to identifying students with academic or behavioral needs. Early assessment and intervention for these students can help them catch up with their peers sooner. The key components of MTSS include:

• Universal screening of all students early in the school year

• Tiers of interventions that can be amplified in response to levels of need

• Ongoing data collection and continual assessment

• Schoolwide approach to expectations and supports

• Parent involvement

Special education means specially designed instruction to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability.  This means adapting, as appropriate to the needs of an eligible child under IDEA and state law, the content, methodology, or delivery of instruction. Special Education is designed to address the unique needs of the child that result from the child's disability; and to ensure access of the child to the general curriculum, so that the child can meet the education standards within the jurisdiction of the public agency that apply to all children.

Educationally Related Services such as Speech Language Therapy, Occupational and Physical Therapy, Hearing and Vision Resource and Audiology are accessible at ALL BUILDINGS.