Young Child With a Developmental Delay

Definition

Young Child with a Developmental Delay is a child from ages 3 through 5 who is experiencing developmental delays, as measured by appropriate diagnostic instruments and procedures, in one or more of the following areas: physical development, cognitive development, communication development, social or emotional development or adaptive development, and who need special education and related services.

Criteria

 A child has a developmental delay when:

For children ages 3 through 5 (not kindergarten-age eligible)

A.The child's development is at or below 1.5 standard deviations, or equivalent levels, of the mean in any TWO areas of development OR at or below 2.0 standard deviations, or equivalent levels, in any ONE area of development. Areas of development that can be used to determine eligibility include physical, cognitive, communication, social-emotional or adaptive.

B. The child needs special education and related services.

Professional Judgment

 A child may also be deemed eligible when:

A.The evaluation report documents through formal and informal assessment that a significant deficit exists and a child is eligible for services even though the standard scores, or equivalent levels, do not meet the stated criterion levels in A above. 

B. The team may determine that a child who is functioning above the stated criterion level and because of intensive early interven-tion, is eligible for services based on expected regression if services were to be terminated.

 For children ages 5 (kindergarten-age eligible)

1. Children kindergarten-age eligible may continue eligibility as a Young Child with a Developmental Delay if they were identified as such prior to attaining kindergarten.