Early Childhood Education (3-5)

When children who are deaf and hard of hearing become 3, they can start in early childhood education. Early childhood education includes Preschool or pre-kindergarten.

Enrollment can occur through one of two ways explained below. Before reading about enrollment, review placement options. Becoming familiar with placement options and each school's impact on your child's academic and language achievement will better prepare you for making decisions.

ECE Placement Options

Preschool and prekindergarten programs for deaf and hard of hearing children are available in three different types of settings. Each setting has its own available resources, communication philosophies and instructional approach. We recommend contacting each option to learn more about available resources.

1. Local Education Agency (LEA)

Local school districts may provide services directly to a student who is deaf or hard of hearing at the student’s local school. Services are provided at the student’s “home” school, meaning whatever local campus the child would normally attend based on their residence. Typically services for children who are deaf or hard of hearing are in the Preschool Program for Children with Disabilities or PPCD. Find your Local Education Agency (local school).

2. Regional Day School Program for the Deaf (RDSPD)

Throughout the state, RDSPDs provide deaf education teachers, interpreters, and other specialized staff to support deaf and hard of hearing toddlers in a classroom setting. Toddlers who do not live near the RDSPD will be transported daily. RDSPDs vary in their educational approaches and language use. To enroll at an RDSPD, begin the process with the local school district and request an RDSPD placement.

3. Early Learning Center at Texas School for the Deaf (TSD)

TSD is based in Austin, TX, and provides an on-campus full day program for children between 3 - 5 years old. The program specializes in deaf education and American Sign Language and English language development. To enroll at the Early Learning Center, parents/legal guardians can begin the process by either:

Requesting a referral from the LEA or home district: Parents or legal guardians can discuss with the home district ARD committee to request a referral to TSD.
Requesting placement directly from TSD: A parent or legal guardian can contact TSD to request placement. TSD will then have an ARD meeting to decide if placement at TSD is appropriate.

Pathway One: Families receiving ECI services will work with ECI to transition to early childhood education.

When a child who is receiving services from Early Childhood Intervention turns three, services and support from ECI will end. Before the child becomes three, ECI and the local school district begin a transition plan. This plan shows the steps to prepare the child to move from ECI to the school district.

There are several steps in this process.

1. Transition Steps and Services Meeting

When the child is around 27 months, ECI will have transition steps and services meeting with the family. At this meeting, ECI gets the family's permission to share information about the child with the local school district. They also talk about the steps that will happen as the child approaches age 3.

2. Transition Conference

When the child is around 30-33 months, ECI will schedule a transition conference with the family and the local school district. The school district will explain the support and services they have for children who are deaf or hard of hearing including placement options.

3. After the Transition Conference

The school district will schedule an assessment for your child. The assessment looks at four important developmental areas—sensorimotor, emotional and social, communication, and cognitive—through observation of the child's interaction with family members, peers, and professionals. After the assessment is finished, the school district staff will write a report called a Full and Individual Evaluation (FIE). This report will talk about your child’s history, skills, strengths, and needs.

4. The Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) meeting

During the ARD meeting, the committee will review the FIE, any other assessments, your child’s IEP goals, and the educational placement that will best meet the needs of your child. This will replace the IFSP and Outcomes that ECI used. At this meeting, you will have the date your child will begin early childhood education.

Pathway Two: Families who did not receive ECI services will contact their local school district to begin the process.

Deaf and hard-of-hearing children who are 3 and did not receive ECI can contact their local school district to start the process. TEA outlines the process and provides a School District Locator.

When contacting the local school district, let them know that your child is deaf or hard of hearing and that you will need special education services. This will ensure that your child can begin receiving the right services and accommodations for full access to education.

Steps In This Process Include:

1) Filling out required school enrollment forms. The school will provide that to you.

2) Scheduling a meeting with a special education specialist or coordinator. They may want to proceed with an admission, review and dismissal (ARD) meeting or they may want to do a preliminary meeting to learn more about your needs.

3) Participate In the ARD. During the ARD meeting, the committee will review the FIE, any other assessments, your child’s IEP goals, and the educational placement that will best meet the needs of your child.