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 Resources
• Exceptional Family Member Program videos

The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) is a Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of the Army (DA) mandated program that requires enrollment to assist, through selective assignment and reassignment, the individual who has a family member(s) with special needs obtain and maintain availability and continuity of care for those needs. An Exceptional Family Member is a family member (child or adult) with any physical, emotional, developmental, or intellectual disability that requires on-going or special medical treatment, therapy, education, training, or counseling.

At Fort Leonard Wood, the EFMP is committed to helping improve the quality of life and the readiness of service members and their families. By coordinating EFMP needs, Army Community Service seeks to ensure that families receive appropriate services to meet special physical, emotional and/or educational needs. The Army Community Service EFMP offers information and referrals to guide families to appropriate services and resources.

The FLW EFMP offers the following services:

1. Information and Referral (services in local area and next duty station).
2. Advocacy for medical and school issues.
3. Respite Care.
4. Education and Support Groups.
5. Relocation Assistance. The General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital (GLWACH) EFMP is responsible for enrollment, updating records, conducting medical overseas screenings for family members and confirming available services before assignment to FLW.