Evolving IEP Practices for Preschoolers

At a state department meeting last week, the following points were emphasized for preschool age children (3-5) on instructional based IEPs:

• Preschool age children on instructional IEPs MUST be placed in programs that are using: Head Start Standards, or Quality Preschool Program Standards (QPPS) or National Association Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Standards.
• The teacher in the program MUST have an Early Childhood License.
• Instructional services MUST be provided by an ECSE teacher.
• IEP instructional services are beyond monitoring.
• Instruction is no longer just consulting and monitoring monthly.
• ECSE teachers need to be instructing WEEKLY. (co-teaching, modeling, small group practice, consulting, monitoring,etc).
• Are the goals IEP worthy if they only need monitoring 1x/month?

Please don't go out and "amend" every IEP you are involved in, however, as we move forward, more attention needs to be given to the above points so that we will be in compliance with the state recommendations.