Category: IDEA

Transition Policy Available for Public Comment

April 1, 2021

NOTICE OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, COMMENTS, AND HEARINGS – Posted April 1, 2021 The draft policy available here TransitionPolicy-DRAFT-1Apr2021 is being proposed as an addition to the Birth to Three Transition Policy currently on file with the US Department of Education.  The Office of Early Childhood (OEC) as the lead agency for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part C “Birth to Three”, in partnership with the Connecticut State Department of Education, proposes to extend the definition of “Eligible Children” in Connecticut General Statute (CGS) §17a-248, Definitions (4), as well as §§38a-490a and 38a-516a.  This policy changes the maximum age … Continue reading


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Welcome Elisabeth Teller to the OEC B23 team!

October 26, 2020

The OEC lead agency team is building back up to be able to fully support our 19 EIS programs.  Elisabeth comes on board from Sarah, Inc.-KIDSTEPS where she served as the Director of Children’s Services, and the B23 program director for 16 years.  Before that she was a developmental therapist at the STAR Rubino Center.  It has been a long few years for Part C in Connecticut starting with the massive change to a fee for service system, then moving to a new lead agency (and a few new commissioners), then the RFP and related transitions and of course now … Continue reading


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BAGL Webinar series

September 30, 2020

Here is a link for the first webinar in a new series: “Building a Great Life in Our Schools and Communities” Friday, October 23, 2020 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM Via Zoom (link provided once registered) https://www.eventbrite.com/e/building-a-great-life-in-our-schools-and-communities-tickets-123017613995 The University of Connecticut Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities and the CT Council on Developmental Disabilities are pleased to announce the first in our Building a Great Life webinar series for famlies, advocates, providers and members of our communities Presented by Dr. Erik Carter, Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Special Education at Vanderbilt University, his research and teaching focuses on evidence-based strategies for supporting access to the general … Continue reading


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Draft Part C Application Available for Comment

February 28, 2020

Each year Connecticut submits an application to the US Department of Education (ED) Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) for about $4M in funding to support the administration of Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA Part C). Here is a link to the draft FFY20 Part C Application. Written comment on the draft application must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 24, 2020. Comments should be sent to the attention of Alice E. Ridgway, by mail at the Office of Early Childhood, 450 Columbus Boulevard Suite #205, Hartford, CT, 06103-1835; by Fax 860-622-2789 or … Continue reading


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FFY19 Part C Federal Application Draft Available for Comment

February 26, 2019

The Draft FFY19 (7/1/19-6/30/20) Part C Federal Application is now available for public comment. It can be found here. https://www.birth23.org/aboutb23/fedapp/ Written comment on the application must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 23, 2019. Comments should be sent to the attention of Alice E. Ridgway by mail at the Office of Early Childhood, 450 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford, CT, 06103-1835, fax 860-622-2789, or e-mail: Alice.Ridgway@ct.gov. Two public hearings concerning the proposed application will be held as follows: Monday, April 15, 2018 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Silas Bronson Library, 267 Grand Street, Waterbury, CT 06702 Tuesday, … Continue reading


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New MOA with CT Dept. of Public Health

May 12, 2017

The Office of Early Childhood, Birth to Three System, and the CT Department of Public Health have shared interests for improving families’ access to health and developmental supports.  Recently, the ability to coordinate efforts was enhanced by a new Memorandum of Agreement. Terms are specified for confidential, limited data sharing to improve Birth to Three Child Find for infants and toddlers meeting Birth to Three automatic eligibility due to diagnoses of: lead poisoning deaf or hard of hearing extreme prematurity, extreme low birth weight, and selected birth defects including Zika-related disorders DPH tracking of these children will be enhanced by knowing when they … Continue reading


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FFY17 Part C Federal Application Draft Available for Comment

February 17, 2017

The Draft FFY17 (7/1/17-6/30/18) Part C Federal Application is now available for public comment. It can be found here. https://www.birth23.org/aboutb23/fedapp/ Written comment on the application must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 18, 2017. Comments should be sent: by e-mail to Alice.Ridgway@ct.gov. by Fax to 860-622-2789 or by mail at 450 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford, CT, 06103-1835; Two public hearings concerning the proposed application will be held. Monday, March 20th, 2017 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Office of Early Childhood, 450 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford, CT, 06103-1835, Meeting Room H Plaza Level Wednesday, March 22nd, 2017 from 3:00 to … Continue reading


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Transition Updates in SDE Bureau Bulletin

December 7, 2016

Below is a link to an important blog post by the CT State Department of Education Bureau of Special Education.  It clarifies expectations for LEAs when children from Birth to Three are referred for Early Childhood Special Education. Birth to Three Transition Update Please read it. Thank you to the Birth to Three Program Directors and Maria Synodi for addressing this important time in the lives of many of the families we support. To subscribe to the CSDE Bureau Bulletin after you click on the link above (and read it) click on the white Home link in the black menu bar at the … Continue reading


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Join in Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Baby IDEA

September 28, 2016

Colleagues, This October marks the 30th Anniversary of the passage of Public Law 99-457, which established Part C and mandated Part B, Section 619 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). As key partners in improving results and upholding the rights of infants, toddlers, and preschool children requiring early intervention and special education services, OSEP invites you to join in celebrating this important occasion! Throughout the week of October 3-7, 2016, OSEP will run a campaign showcasing many perspectives from the field, including researchers, families, practitioners, and even individuals who participated in early childhood services through Part C and … Continue reading


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