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Early Start Proposed Policy Changes
Early Start for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities: PART C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
In accordance with Title 34 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Section 303.110, California is required to make proposed policies and procedures available for public review for 60 days and accept comments for at least 30 days. The Department of Developmental Services (DDS), as lead agency for Part C, is considering submitting the following proposed policy changes to the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). The proposed policy changes will be posted for 60 days,
July 1, 2009 through August 29, 2009.
These policy changes limit eligibility for Early Start services, effective October 1, 2009, to only those infants/toddlers identified as "developmentally delayed" and/or as having an "established risk” and eliminates the use of non-required services in the Early Start Program. Related policy change establishes a “Prevention Program" at regional centers, outside of the Early Start Program, for infants and toddlers who will no longer be eligible for Early Start services. The posting of the Early Start policy change also reflects the previous eligibility policy change limiting eligibility for toddlers with a developmental delay entering at 24 months of age or older.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD EXTENDED
Written comments will be accepted for 37 days beginning July 2, 2009 until August 7, 2009. Written comments must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. August 7, 2009. Written comments may be:
- Mailed to Michael Miguelgorry, Community Program Specialist with the Early Start State Services Unit at the Department of Developmental Services; 1600 9th Street, MS 3-8; Sacramento CA 95814; or
- Facsimile at (916) 654-3255; or
- E-mail to Michael Miguelgorry at michael.miguelgorry@dds.ca.gov
The Department of Developmental Services is hosting a public hearing via teleconference on
August 10, 2009, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The public hearing is not a discussion forum but an opportunity for the public to provide comments on the proposed policy changes. Only comments related to these policy changes will be accepted and documented. The conference line has a capacity for 100 individuals at any one time. An additional teleconference will be held if capacity is reached. To participate in the teleconference, please call the toll free number listed below, and enter the participant code at the prompt.
Toll free teleconference: (866) 222-0917
Participant code: 507301