Early Childhood Special Education

Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) services are designed for children birth until the child's seventh birthday who have been identified with a delay in development. Services begin with a developmental evaluation. This evaluation documents a child’s skills in a variety of areas such as cognition, motor, social-emotional, language-communication, and/or adaptive (self-help) development. There are also certain conditions and medical diagnoses that automatically qualify a child for ECSE services. 

In Minnesota, Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) services are provided through the public school system. Early Childhood Special Education services are provided for children birth through age 2 under Early Intervention Services and for children 3 through 6 years 11 months under Preschool Special Education.

If you have concerns about a child's development, contact Help Me Grow to make a referral. For information about early childhood development and developmental milestones, click here.