Early Childhood Special Education
Providing Early Intervention Services to Young Children
Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) provides early intervention services to young children, from birth to kindergarten, who show a developmental delay in one or more of these areas:
- Speech and language
- Large and fine motor skills
- Social, emotional, and behavior skills
- Cognitive and/or adaptive skills
- Vision or hearing loss
To learn more about a child's developmental stages, ages birth to 5, view developmental milestones at Help Me Grow Minnesota.
The process for a child to be considered for ECSE services starts with a referral, which is often made by a child's parents. Next, an evaluation is conducted to determine eligibility and to identify specific needs. If a child does qualify for services, ECSE teachers and specialists work with the child and parents to improve skills in the areas of need.