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Special Education

Preschool Special Education

Preschool Inclusion

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and New York State law require school districts to provide every eligible student with a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE).Ìý The LRE requirement ensures that students with disabilities have the opportunity to learn and participate alongside their peers without disabilities to the maximum extent appropriate. This practice is commonly referred to as inclusion.

For preschool students, inclusion means that services outlined in a child's Individualized Education Program (IEP) are provided in a classroom where most children do not have IEPs. Inclusive preschool settings may include:

  • Universal Prekindergarten (UPK) programs
  • Head Start programs
  • Childcare or early childhood education programs.

Inclusive preschool programs are operated by a school district or a private community-based organization that has been approved to provide preschool special education services.Ìý Collaborations between school districts and approved private preschool special education programs are encouraged to leverage instructional and clinical expertise, respond to regional needs, create partnerships between school districts, and support the preschool continuum of special education services.

Key Terms for Preschool Inclusion

  • FAPE means eligible students with disabilities receive special education and related services at no cost to families.
  • LRE means students are educated with their peers without disabilities to the maximum extent appropriate.
  • Inclusion is the practical application of LRE, allowing students with disabilities to participate in early childhood settings while receiving the supports and services identified in their IEPs.

91ÉçÇø supports opportunities for preschool inclusion through guidance, technical assistance, professional development, and oversight and monitoring under IDEA general supervision.

Resources:

  • To support school districts in ensuring preschool inclusion in the UPK program, 91ÉçÇø has developed guidance to answer questions pertaining to enrollment, reimbursement, and collaborative models:ÌýPromoting Inclusion in Universal Prekindergarten.
  • Federal Technical Assistance Resources:
  • 2021 Guidance:

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