Who We Are
The Early Childhood Team at the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) administers several early childhood programs supporting Kansas students: the Kansas Parents as Teachers program, the Preschool-Aged At-Risk (State Pre-K 4 Year Old At-Risk) program, the Kansas Preschool Pilot, and Early Childhood Special Education services (Section 619 of Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Act). The KSDE Early Childhood Team regularly shares information on the KSDEweekly Newsletter. For information regarding Early Childhood Special Education services contact Amanda Petersen, KSDE Early Childhood Director.
What We Do
Section 619 of Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) defines the federal preschool program which guarantees a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) to children with disabilities ages 3 through 5. Under this program, preschool children who have disabilities are entitled to special education and related services in their least restrictive environment (LRE). The Kansas Special Education Preschool Program (Section 619) supports educational services for young children with disabilities when they turn 3. It addresses individual needs within the context of developmentally appropriate activities, including early learning experiences in language, communication, cognition, motor, and social emotional areas.
IDEA requires states to develop a state performance plan/annual performance report (SPP/APR) that evaluates the state’s efforts to implement the requirements and purposes of the IDEA and describes how the state will improve its implementation. While the Kansas SPP/APR includes several indicators that apply to the provision of services to preschool aged children, there are 3 indicators specific to the provision of early childhood special education services: indicator 6 (preschool environments), indicator 7 (early childhood outcomes) and indicator 12 (early childhood transition).