Eligibility Determination for

Children Birth through

Age Five in Maine
Carlena Lowell
SEI 514
April 1, 2014

Objectives of the presentation
To discuss how eligibility is determined for
children in Part C

To discuss how eligibility is determined for
children in Part B

To discuss the eligibility determination
process in the Part C to Part B transition
process
Break out session

You have five minutes to discuss your experiences with
eligibility determination with
children birth through age five.


Please consider:
The age of the child
The role you played in the process
What were your concerns and or feelings?



The Three Ways of Eligibility
Determination for Part C in Maine
Three ways in which a child can be found eligible in Part C:

Scores of an evaluation
Established Condition
Informed Clinical Opinion alone

All three ways of eligibility determination require the use of
informed clinical opinion as defined in the federal
regulations.

Scores to Determine Eligibility
In the state of Maine we use two evaluations to determine
eligibility in Part C, which are:


The Battelle Developmental Inventory-II


The Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler
Development, 3
rd
Edition


Qualifying parameters in Maine are 2 standard deviations
below the norm in one area, or 1.5 standard deviations
below the norm in two areas.
Established Condition
An established condition is a diagnosed physical or
mental condition that has a high probability of resulting
in a developmental delay (MUSER, 2013, p. 71)

Some states (or districts) that have an established
conditions list:
Massachusetts
Michigan
Florida
Colorado
Washington DC





Informed Clinical Opinion
Informed clinical opinion is the
professional judgment of qualified
early intervention personnel
(MUSER, 2013, p. 73).



Four things must be documented to support the qualification of a
child when using informed clinical opinion:
1. Explanation of the invalid findings of the evaluation tool
2. Indicate the objective data that was collected to
determine the child has a developmental delay
3. Indicate which data has the greatest relevant importance
4. Indicate agreement of the IFSP team
Fun Picture I Drew
Eligibility Determination
in Part B
A child with a disability is an individual who:
At least three years old;
Has not graduated from high school,
and is not yet 20;
Has been observed in the learning
environment; and
Has been evaluated and has been
determined to need special education
services
The Three Questions
Is there a disability?

Is there an adverse affect?

Is there a need for services?
14 Categories
Autism
Deaf-blindness
Deafness
Developmental delay
Emotional
disturbance
Hearing impairment
Intellectual disability
Multiple disabilities

Orthopedic impairment
Other health
impairment
Specific learning
disability
Speech and language
impairment
Traumatic brain injury
Visual impairment,
including blindness
Transition from C to B: Eligibility
Determination Process
Referral to the IEP team
Transition conference
Evaluations and observation
Transition meeting to discuss
eligibility and, if eligible, write an IEP

Differences in Part C and Part B
Can you name some of the
differences between eligibility
determination in Part C and Part B in
Maine?


References
Assistance to States for the Education of Children With Disabilities and Preschool Grants for Children
With Disabilities; Final Rule, 71 Federal Register 156 (14 August 2006) pp. 46783-46787.

Assistance to States for the Education of Children With Disabilities and Preschool Grants for Children
With Disabilities; Final Rule, Title 34 Code of Federal Regulations, Pts. 300 and 301. 2006
ed.

Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers With Disabilities; Assistance to States for the
Education of Children With Disabilities; Final Rule and Proposed Rule, 76 Federal Register
188 (28 September 2011) pp. 60261-60264.

Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities; Assistance to States for the
Education of Children With Disabilities; Final Rule and Proposed Rule, Title 34 Code of
Federal Regulations, Pts. 300 and 303. 2011 ed.

Image of Battelle Developmental Inventory-II logo [Computer Generated Image]. (n.d.). Retrieved on
March 15, 2014 from http://www.riverpub.com/products/bdi2/

Image of Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development logo [Computer Generated Image]. (2014).
Retrieved on March 15, 2014 from
http://www.pearsonclinical.co.uk/AlliedHealth/PaediatricAssessments/Motor/BayleySc
alesofInfantandToddlerDevelopment-ThirdEdition(Bayley-
III)MotorScaleKit/BayleyScalesofInfantandToddlerDevelopment-ThirdEdition(Bayley-
III)MotorScaleKit.aspx





References
Image of boy with red B [Photograph]. (2014). Retrieved on March 27, 2014 from
http://learning-english.co/toefl-level-videos.html

Image of Early Intervention Colorado logo [Computer Generated Image]. (2010). Retrieved on
March 23, 2014 from
http://www.eicolorado.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=diagnoses.main&letter=C

Image of Einstein quote [Computer Generated Image]. (2010). Retrieved on March 23, 2014 from
http://www.rbbdigitalpark.com/2013/02/13/the-meat-on-public-relations-measurement-
part-1/

Image of Eligibility Requirements mother and son [photograph]. (2013). Retrieved on March 23,
2014 from
http://das.ohio.gov/Divisions/HumanResources/BenefitsAdministration/EligibilityRequireme
nts/EligibilityrequirementseffectiveJuly12013.aspx

Image of eligible stamp [Photograph]. (2014). Retrieved on March 23, 2014 from
http://www.valdosta.edu/administration/finance-admin/auxiliary-
services/housing/apply/on-campus-housing-eligibility.php

Image of puzzle bridge [Computer Generated Image]. (2012). Retrieved on March 30, 2014 from
http://thegradstudentway.com/blog/?p=251










References
Image of talking hands [Computer Generated Image]. (2014). Retrieved on March 15, 2014 from
http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photos-hand-people-talking-cartoon-bubble-
image22493063

Image of three question marks [Computer Generated Image]. (2014). Retrieved on March 27, 2014
from http://recoveringengineer.com/resolving-conflict/three-questions-to-consider-before-
you-speak-assertively/

Image of zebras [Computer Generated Image]. (2013). Retrieved on March 15, 2014 from
http://blog.postjoint.com/lateral-marketing-be-different/

Maine Department of Education. (2013). Maine Unified Special Education Regulation Birth to Age
Twenty (05-071 Chapter 101). Retrieved from
http://www.maine.gov/doe/specialed/laws/chapter101.pdf