Fort Jackson  Exceptional Family Member Program

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

Parents of children enrolled in special education should hand-carry copies of all pertinent school and medical documents, to include their children’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) and current testing and evaluation reports, to provide to the new school.

It is helpful if parents call the Ft. Stewart/South Carolina Superintendent’s office in advance of their arrival so we can plan for a smooth transition to our schools.

South Carolina & Fort Stewart District
SC/FS District Superintendent’s Office
376 Davis Avenue, Bldg. 5605
Fort Stewart, GA 31315

912-408-6691

Ft Jackson has a very active Exceptional Family Member Program which works very closely with the School Liaison Office. School Districts provide educational services for special needs children. In addition the Columbia area has several special needs advocacy and support groups, e.g. Family Connections of South Carolina and the South Carolina Autism Society.

School Age Services (ages 3 through 21 years)

The Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools (DDESS) provides special education at Ft. Jackson.

Pierce Terrace Elementary School and Pinckney Elementary School provide special education services to all eligible students whose families meet the housing requirements for their children to attend a Department of Defense stateside school.

All types of educational disabilities are represented in the special education population. The schools provide services in a variety of settings to include self-contained life-skills classrooms, resource special education, speech therapy classrooms, and within the general education classrooms.

Due to the small nature of the school system and geographical location, some specialized services for students may be contracted to the local public school or another agency. There has been some difficulty at times finding specific services, such as a vision specialist, to provide services in this area.

Four Year Old Preschool Program

All four year old children are eligible to attend a universal preschool program that operates in Pierce Terrace Elementary School. This program is for all children who turn four years of age on or before the designated date of the respective school year. It is open to all eligible children whose families meet the housing eligibility requirements for their children to attend a Department of Defense stateside school. This is a half-day preschool program provided at no cost to the parents.