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- Young Child with a Developmental Delay
Young Child with a Developmental Delay
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Young child with a developmental delay means a child ages 3 through 5 who is experiencing developmental delays, as measured by appropriate evaluation instruments and procedures, in one or more of the following areas: physical development, cognitive development, communication development, social or emotional development, or adaptive development, and who need special education and related services.
NOTE: LEAs in Missouri are not required to adopt and use the term “Young Child with a Developmental Delay” for any children in their jurisdiction. However, if an LEA uses the term “Young Child with a Developmental Delay,” the LEA must conform to both the state’s definition of the term and the age range.
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Read about the specific criteria used to determine eligibility in the educational category of young child with a developmental delay.
Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education – Criteria for Eligibility in the Educational Category of Young Child with a Developmental Delay
A child has a developmental delay when:
For children ages 3 through 5 (not kindergarten age eligible):
- The student’s development is at or below 1.5 standard deviations, or equivalent levels, of the mean in any two areas of development or at or below 2.0 standard deviations, or equivalent levels, in any one area of development as compared to typical development. Areas of development that can be used to determine eligibility include physical, cognitive, communication, social/emotional, or adaptive.
- The child needs special education and related services.
PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT: A child may also be deemed eligible when:
- The evaluation report documents through formal and informal assessment that a significant deficit exists and a child is eligible for services even though the standard scores, or equivalent levels, do not meet the stated criterion levels above, or
- The team may determine that a child, who is functioning above the stated criterion level and because of intensive early intervention, is eligible for services based on expected regression if services were to be terminated.
For students age 5 (kindergarten eligible):
- Students kindergarten age eligible may continue eligibility as a young child with a developmental delay if they were identified as such prior to attaining kindergarten age eligibility.
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Other local, state and national resources related to young child with a developmental delay
Many of the resources listed are generic in nature or pertain to early childhood specifically. To find additional resources for a specific disability, please refer to that section.
Local Resources
- Capable Kids and Families
- United 4 Children
- Childgarden Child Development Center
- Good Shepard School for Children
- Head Start/Early Head Start
- Howard Park Center
- Miriam School
- Parents as Teachers National Center (PAT)
- St. Louis Arc
State Resources
- Early Childhood Special Education -- Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
- Head Start
National Resources
- Child Care Bureau -- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- Council for Exceptional Children -- Division for Early Childhood
- Head Start -- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- National Association for the Education of Young Children
- Center for Parent Education and Resources
- National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
