Preschool Special Education: New Responsibility for Schools.

Overview & Synopsis

The Education of the Handicapped Act Amendment of 1986 extended the six basic rights established in the Education for All Handicapped Children Act to preschoolers. All preschool handicapped children (ages 3 to 5) will receive a free, appropriate public education in the same manner that the K-12 students benefit from federal law for the handicapped. Furthermore, by the 1991-92 school year, states accepting federal funds for handicapped preschoolers must guarantee a full range of services to 3- to 5-year-olds. Whether or not the state receives federal funds, schools with preschool classes must include special education in their planning. The legislation also calls for the development of a statewide interagency delivery system for services to handicapped infants and toddlers (birth to 2-years-old). The intent of the 1986 amendment is to reduce or to eliminate the number of special education placements and related services in later years. Although the benefit of these public services for obviously handicapped children is clear, the need to extend programs to children identified as "at risk" of future learning difficulties remains controversial. (KM)