early intervention
What is early intervention?
The Pennsylvania Department of Education is responsible by law for providing early education services for eligible children age three (3) to school age in the Commonwealth. The Montgomery County Intermediate Unit 23, through an agreement with the Department of Education, is contracted to deliver those services in Montgomery County.
In order to become eligible for Early Intervention preschool services, children of this age group must exhibit 1) a developmental delay of 25 percent or a qualifying disability and 2) require specially designed instruction.
What is an evaluation?
The Evaluation Report summarizes the information from the evaluations and from the parents in the following areas:
- Cognitive skills
- Adaptive (self-help) skills
- Social/emotional skills
- Communication skills
- Gross and fine motor skills
The Evaluation Report will determine whether a child is eligible and in need of special education services. The report is shared with the IEP team, which includes the child’s parents.
WHAT IS AN IEP?
An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is developed if a child has been determined to be eligible and in need of special education services, based on the conclusions of the Evaluation Report.
The IEP outlines the child’s educational goals and specially designed instruction necessary to demonstrate developmentally appropriate progress. The IEP is reviewed annually. The IEP can be revised at any time during the year at the request of any team member, including the parents.
WHAT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO MY CHILD?
Early Intervention preschool education services are tailored to meet the child’s individual educational needs.
Services might include:
- Specialized instruction
- Occupational therapy
- Physical therapy
- Hearing support
- Speech and language support
- Vision support
Services are provided in the least-restrictive educational environment in various placement locations throughout Montgomery County. Children may receive services individually or as part of a small or large group.
SCREENING
Screenings are completed in the area of speech and language for Head Start and Pre-K Counts families. The parents and the child’s teacher are asked to complete a questionnaire. During a screening, an Early Intervention staff member will meet with the parents and the child.
Early Intervention Calendar:
2023-2024 School Year Calendar
(click to enlarge)
EARLY INTERVENTION REFERRAL PROCESS
Welcome to MCIU Preschool! It is our intent to ensure a smooth transition and entry to Preschool Early Intervention services. Parent/caregivers and teachers, in order to obtain copies of our referral forms, please contact us at: 484-685-1856.
Please select the option below that pertains to your child:
Take the Virtual Tour:
LOCAL INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COUNCIL (LICC)
The Montgomery County Early Intervention Family Partnership strives to support local interagency collaboration to maximize coordination, cooperation, and communication between families, caregivers, community agencies and partners in order to increase family engagement and awareness and to provide comprehensive support services to eligible infants, toddlers, young children and their families.
0-3 TO 3-5Â TRANSITION
EVENT
3-5 TO KINDERGARTEN TRANSITIONÂ EVENT
LIVING IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC
STEAM GOES TO PRESCHOOL
The MCIU and WHYY partnership will bring content aligned resources to MCIU Early Intervention classroom students across the county. Students in each EI Special Education Classroom will receive:
- A grab and go box with content related materials that align STEAM activities to WHYY programming. Boxes will be used between home and school to extend classroom instruction. Boxes include:
- Adaptive crayons, scissors and pencil
- Glue and construction paper
- Curious George Wind book
- Stylus for iPad and smartboard extensions
- Wind exploration tools: feather, tube, bubbles, sensory ball
- WHYY programming guide and curated resources aligned to PBS and WHYY
- Digital TV antennas to connect to WHYY
Teachers in the program will receive:
- Instructional coaching on program implementation including lesson plans and learning guides
- Professional development on STEAM activities in preschool EI
regions and program contact information
Our Early Intervention Program is split on school district lines into 4 regions within Montgomery County:
Central
Norristown Area School District
Upper Dublin School District
Upper Merion Area School District
Upper Moreland Township School District
Wissahickon School District
CONTACT:
Dr. Susan Brousseau
Program Administrator
sbrousseau@mciu.org
(610) 755-9313
Eastern
Abington School District
Bryn Athyn School District
Cheltenham School District
Colonial School District
School District of Jenkintown
Lower Merion School District
Lower Moreland Township School District
Springfield Township
CONTACT:
Chris Stewart
Program Administrator
cstewart@mciu.org
(610) 755-9499
Northern
Hatboro-Horsham School District
North Penn School District
Souderton Area School District
Upper Perkiomen School District
CONTACT:
Dr. Ashley Lee
Program Administrator
alee@mciu.org
(610) 755-9334
Western
Methacton School District
Perkiomen Valley School District
Pottsgrove School District
Pottstown School District
Spring-Ford School District
CONTACT:
Dr. Jennifer Smerecky
Program Administrator
jsmerecky@mciu.org
(610) 755-9323
