Special Education/EIS

All states and territories must provide early intervention services to children who have, or are at risk for having, developmental delays, from birth to their third birthday.

Most CONUS locations, local school districts or health departments provide these early intervention services. The program is called different names in different areas, but it is often referred to as Part C because that is the section of the law that pertains to early intervention. The Education Directory for Children with Special Needs has a list of resources specific to each state to help you determine who you should contact. Your installation EFMP Family Support provider can also answer your questions.

If you are moving OCONUS or to a CONUS location with a DODEA school (and you live on installation), your child will receive EIS through the Defense Department’s Educational and Developmental Intervention Services, or EDIS, program.

When moving, you should hand carry copies of your child's most current individual family service plan, or IFSP, and the most current evaluation reports to your new home to ensure they are not lost.

All states and territories provide special education and related services to eligible children between the ages of 3 through 21.

When a child transfers to a different district in the same state, the new school must provide a free, appropriate public education, including comparable services, until the previously held IEP is adopted or a new one is developed and implemented. When a child transfers to another state, the receiving school must provide comparable services until an IEP review can determine if a new evaluation or IEP is appropriate.

If you are moving and your child receives special education and related services, you should hand carry all necessary school and medical documents, including the most current IEP and current evaluation reports. Hand carrying these documents ensures that they are not lost and allows the new school to begin the process as soon as you arrive.

• Education Directory for Children with Special Needs
• EFMP & Me digital tool
• Individualized Education Program & Moving
• Special Needs Parent Toolkit
• Special Needs Resources
• Exceptional Family Member Program videos

Personnel arriving at Ft. Detrick with an Exceptional Family Member should contact the EFMP office upon arrival. The office is located in building 1520, Room 125, telephone 301-619-3385. At your initial appointment you will learn the medical appointment system the community referral process and be offered supportive counseling.

Special Education

Many different educational opportunities exist within the Frederick County Public Schools. The Special Education Office telephone number is 301-644-5281. Most students are taught entirely or partly in regular classrooms or in special education classrooms within community schools.

Operating in each of our schools, Child Find is designed to identify all children from birth through age 21 who have special needs and connect them with appropriate educational and other services. Parents suspecting their child may have a disability should contact the nearest school. If a child is 2 years, 9 months or older and not enrolled in FCPS, parents should contact the Child Find Office at 301-644-5292 for preschoolers and 301-644-5003 for school-aged students. Information regarding the Child Find process for children younger than 2 years, 9 months may be obtained from the Frederick County Developmental Center 301-600-1611. For those living outside of the Fort Detrick/Frederick area please contact your local school system or your EFMP Manager for additional assistance.

Infants and Toddlers Program    

This interagency program provides early intervention services for children from birth through age 2 who are experiencing developmental delays in areas such as motor development, cognition, communication, social-emotional or self-help skills. For information, call the Frederick County Developmental Center at 301-600-1611.

Washington County Early Intervention Program's goal is to provide comprehensive and coordinated Early Intervention Services to families who have an eligible infant or toddler with, or at risk for, developmental delays. If you have a concern about your infant s or toddler s development, call Early Intervention Program at 301-766-8217. A service coordinator will help you arrange a multidisciplinary evaluation and assessment to determine program eligibility.