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

All public schools are required by law to provide free and equal access to education for children with special needs. Larger school districts maintain their own Special Education departments, offering a full range of services, while smaller districts may contract with the Pikes Peak Board of Cooperative Services to deliver programs for students with special needs.

There are ten public school districts in Colorado Springs and the surrounding communities, and the district your child attends is determined by where you live. If the neighborhood school cannot meet your child’s needs, transportation to the appropriate service school will be arranged by the school, parent, or guardian.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law that requires schools to meet the educational needs of eligible students with disabilities. Under IDEA, all children and young adults ages 3 to 21 are entitled to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). This means schools must provide special education services, along with any related supports, to ensure students with disabilities can benefit from their educational programs.

Individualized Education Program (IEP)

Eligibility for special education services is determined through the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process. A student is first referred for evaluations to assess whether they have special needs and qualify for services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Once evaluations are complete, an IEP team is formed. This team typically includes school staff, the student’s parents, and, when appropriate, other individuals familiar with the student’s needs. Together, the team reviews the evaluation results to determine whether the student has an impairment and whether special education and related services are required.

Impairments that may qualify a student for services include intellectual disabilities, hearing impairments (including deafness), speech or language impairments, visual impairments (including blindness), emotional disturbances, orthopedic impairments, autism, traumatic brain injuries, other health conditions, or specific learning disabilities.

Transferring an IEP to Colorado Schools

If your child already has an Individualized Education Program (IEP) from another state or a Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) school, be sure to hand-carry the IEP and all educational records. Do not pack these documents in household goods or checked baggage, as doing so may delay the continuity of special education services.

It is important to note that Colorado schools are not required to implement an IEP exactly as written from the previous school. Instead, they must provide comparable services. An IEP meeting will then be scheduled to develop a Colorado-specific IEP. This process can move more quickly if the existing IEP is presented to school officials at the time of enrollment.