MCRD Parris Island  Exceptional Family Member Program

The IDEA requires that all states and territories provide special education and related services to eligible children between the ages of 3 through 21. Each local school district has a special education director, and each school should have an individualized education program, or IEP, team or school-based committee that supports students with special education needs.

The IDEA requires that if 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. If a child transfers to another state, the receiving district must provide comparable services until the receiving district completes an evaluation and creates a new IEP, if appropriate.

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

The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education, offers the Parent Center Hub – also known as the Center for Parent Information and Resources – which has collections of links to serve families and adults with special needs from birth through age 26. They assist families in getting appropriate education and services for their children, work to improve education services for all children, train and inform parents and professionals, resolve problems between families and schools or other agencies and connect those with disabilities to community resources. Find your local parenting center and more by visiting their website.

You can also try these resources from Military OneSource:

• EFMP & Me digital tool
• Special Needs Parent Toolkit download
• Special needs resources 
• Education Directory for Children with Special Needs
• Exceptional Family Member Program videos 

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, requires all states and territories to provide early intervention services to children from birth through 3 years of age who have, or are at risk for having, developmental delays. 

Local school districts or health departments often provide these early intervention services. The program is called different names in different areas, but it is often referred to as Part C because it is the section of the law that pertains to early intervention. The national Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center provides a list of State Part C coordinators and funded programs on their website. 

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

The Exceptional Family member Program (EFMP) is a mandatory program that supports families with exceptional needs by ensuring access and availability to medical and educational services to provide continuum of care. 

EFMP services include:

• Assignment of a family case worker
• PCSing coordination and relocation assistance
• Family Training
• Special Needs forums
• Family support groups
• Local resources for education and TRICARE
• Support before and during IEPs and Inclusion Action Team (IAT) meetings
• Assistance with housing consideration and accommodations based on qualifying medical conditions and/or needs
• EFMP attorney assistance
• And more

EFMP is an inclusive environment that allows participation by persons of all abilities.

EFMP offices are located on Laurel Bay in the Family Service Center (843-228-7752, 843-228-7695, 843-228-6903) and MCRD Parris Island in Bldg 404 (843-228-3843, 843-228-3188, 843-228-3489)

For more information visit the EFMP website http://www.mccs-sc.com/mil-fam/efmp/index.shtml or http://www.mccs-sc.com/mil-fam/efmp/training.shtml

School Age (3-21 years) - Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools (DDESS)

The Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools (DDESS) at Laurel Bay provide special education.

Galer Elementary School, Bolden Elementary School, and Elliott Elementary School provides special education services to all eligible students whose families meet the housing requirements for their children to attend a Department of Defense stateside school.

• Services are provided to students with all types and levels of disabilities within a variety of settings.
• Preschool children with disabilities are educated in a full inclusion preschool program.
• Due to the small nature of the school system and geographical location, there may be some specialized services for students that are contracted out 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 two of the elementary schools. 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.

Special Education Records

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.

For additional information, please contact the local EFMP office.

Family Service Center, Laurel Bay (843-228-7752, 843-228-7695, 843-228-6903)

MCRD Parris Island (843-228-3843)

http://www.mccs-sc.com/mil-fam/efmp/index.shtml