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

If you have a child that has an individual education plan (IEP) developed under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and which is being met at their current school, there are several long term and short term steps that should be taken to insure a successful relocation or transition for your child:

• Parents should keep an active file of all their children's special education paperwork. This file should contain, as appropriate, copies of past and current IEPs, any progress reports, any evaluations conducted (educational evaluations, cognitive or psychological evaluations, speech, OT, PT, etc), functional behavioral assessment and behavior improvement plans, related medical evaluations or services and copy of most recent medical reports, the results of any vision or hearing assessments, current progress reports and report cards, and placement paperwork documenting decisions from any previous schools. This folder needs to be hand-carried by parents during any PCS move so that all the information will be readily available to the new school when the child enrolls.
• Prior to the relocation, parents may want to have a meeting with appropriate school personnel at the current school to discuss the progress the child has made since the last review of the IEP. If a student is within two or three months of annual or triennial review, we highly recommend that the school conduct these meetings prior to the PCS. Be sure to take any special equipment and refill medication prescriptions that your child may need for the next few months. If enrolled in the Special Needs Identification Program (SNIP), contact the SNIP coordinator at your new location and ask for assistance in identifying resources at your new duty location.
• Take the folder with all special education paperwork with you to the new school when you go to enroll. Keep in mind that special education eligibility and services under IDEA can and often do vary between DODEA and civilian schools, as well as from state to state and school to school. When you enroll at a new school, your child's current IEP will be initially serviced or provided as practically as possible. The new school, whether DODEA or civilian, however, may need to conduct new evaluations to determine eligibility and/or appropriate accommodations, placement, and services based upon their own regulations, guidelines, and eligibility criteria. Additional direction is also available through the DOD Special Needs Toolkit located at the Military Homefront link.

Special Needs Identification Program (SNIP)

Be sure to bring copies (originals are normally mailed separately) of all SNIP records when you PCS. This service is designed to allow special consideration in ensuring services for family members are maintained at each assignment. Eligible persons include active duty members with family members having physical, emotional, mental, or special education needs. Assistance with obtaining the following services is also available: information, referral, rehabilitation, special education, therapy, and support organizations.