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

Federal and state laws require all public school districts to provide a "free, appropriate, and individualized education for all disabled children." Both federal and state legislation mandate timeliness for referral, assessment, certification, placement, and provisions of appropriate services to all students with exceptional needs.

The California Master Plan for Special Education is implemented in all districts through a variety of educational programs for the learning disabled, communicatively, physically and severely disabled. Instruction is given according to the needs of each student based on an individualized education plan. Parents participate in planning the specific educational program for their special education child.

In the San Diego City Schools, about 10% of the total student enrollment, or over 12,000 students, receive some kind of education services. Disabling conditions range from the very mild, requiring only the occasional involvement of a resource teacher, to the severely impaired student who needs constant attention and care.

An individualized educational program (IEP) is written for each special education student. The program is developed with the participation of the student's parents or guardian, who must approve the program. All special education teachers must be certified by the state for the specific instruction or services they provided to disabled children.