Module II: Evaluation and Assessment
Unit I Lesson 3: Eligibility process
Now that we understand screening, let’s continue to examine the steps in the eligibility determination process.
Once sufficient information has been gathered, one of three eligibility determination decisions is made:
- The child is eligible for First Steps based on review of existing information, such as screening, medical records, parent report, etc.
- The child is in need of additional evaluation activities to determine eligibility for First Steps.
- The child is ineligible for First Steps.
The first possible decision is that, based on a review of the existing information, the child is determined eligible for First Steps.
The second possible decision is that the child needs additional evaluation activities to determine eligibility for First Steps. In this case, the service coordinator shares procedural safeguard information (for example, consent for evaluation, confidentiality, ability to examine records, prior notice to activities) with the parents. Parents are also clearly informed about their right to refuse all recommended evaluation and assessment activities for their child. If the parents give consent, then providers are selected to complete the evaluation.
Evaluation in First Steps is the procedure used by appropriate qualified personnel to determine a child’s initial and continuing eligibility, including determining the status of the child in each developmental area.
The third possible decision is that the child is ineligible for First Steps. In this case, parents are given a copy of the procedural safeguards, provided with a Notice of Action for Ineligibility, and are referred, as appropriate, to other community resources.
The following describes the steps and the role of the provider in the eligibility determination process if it is determined that additional information is necessary to determine eligibility.
- The service coordinator obtains parental consent to conduct the evaluation.
- The service coordinator works with the parent(s) to determine areas of concern and to plan for the evaluation if additional information is necessary to determine eligibility.
- The service coordinator, with the help of the parent(s), as appropriate, arranges for the evaluation to take place.
- The service coordinator produces the authorization for the evaluation.
- The provider conducts the evaluation and writes a report. The evaluation report should contain sufficient assessment information to develop the IFSP outcomes.
- The provider sends the report to the service coordinator along with the protocol. It is important that this information be sent in a timely fashion. The service coordinator reviews the report along with all the available information and determines whether the child is eligible.
- If there is not enough information to determine whether or not the child is eligible, then the service coordinator consults the evaluator(s) to reach a decision about eligibility.
- If the child is found eligible, the service coordinator documents eligibility in the child’s early intervention (EI) record. If the child is found ineligible, then the service coordinator provides a Notice of Action to the parents.
A little later on in this training, we will review the guidelines for writing evaluation reports.
At this point, we are ready to review the state regulations regarding the criteria for determining a child’s eligibility for First Steps.
Please review the Guidance Letter regarding Eligibility Determination by clicking here ( or go to: http://dese.mo.gov/divspeced/FirstSteps/pdfs/FSGL2002_001.pdf )
You need to review the Eligibility Criteria from the Missouri State Plan for Part C by clicking here. (or go to http://dese.mo.gov/divspeced/Compliance/Part-C/stateplan/seci_i.pdf)
Missouri’s eligibility criteria is more restrictive than that of many states, and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is aware that there are some children who have some delays who are not, in fact, eligible for First Steps. Service coordinators can be instrumental in helping these families link with other resources, such as Parents as Teachers, physicians who do periodic health screening, and county health facilities who also do screening. The child can be referred again if the parent has concerns later on (as long as the child is still within the age guidelines of First Steps). The parents also can be informed about early childhood special education and told that, if there are concerns shortly before or anytime after the child turns 3, the school district will take their referral for evaluation to determine if the child is eligible for special education services.
Now that we have examined the criteria for eligibility determination and steps in process, let’s review some key points to remember when determining eligibility for the First Steps program.
- No single procedure is the sole criterion for determining a child eligible.
- Formal screening is NOT a required step in the eligibility determination process.
- When a child is referred based upon a newborn or neonatal/infant/toddler condition, written documentation from a physician or other professional who can verify that the child has this condition must be requested and placed in the early intervention record.
- Typically children referred with a condition will not need a formal screening or formal evaluation to determine eligibility.
- Assessment for IFSP planning will need to be done if sufficient developmental information was not obtained during evaluation for eligibility.
As we review the process for determining a child’s eligibility for First Steps, it is important to think about the various types of information gathered to make this determination. The service coordinator collects information in a variety of ways and then organizes that information. Test data may or may not be a part of that information, but test data is not all that is needed. For this reason, the individuals participating in the multidisciplinary evaluation process must understand that informed clinical opinion, not formal tests, drive the eligibility process. Multidisciplinary means the involvement of two or more different disciplines or professions. It’s important, therefore, to begin by looking at a formal definition of informed clinical opinion.
Review questions:
1. What are the three possible eligilibity determination decisions that can be made?
2. What is the role of the provider in the eligibility process?
3. What percentage of delay must a child exhibit to be found eligible for FS services?
4. What are the five areas that are used to assess a child to be found eligible for a FS developemental delay?
5. What are Missouri's Eligibility Criteria for FS (Missouri Regulations for Part C Section I)?
Reflection questions:
1. With your background (medical model, teaching model, etc.) what is the largest difference in determining a delay with the FS guidelines?
2. Why are the subtest scores of the Vineland not sufficient as the only criteria for eligibility?
3. What should a service coordinator do it all information on a child is test data?
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If you have a question about this module please check the Q & A pages. If you still have a question after reviewing the Q & A pages please send an email to: webreplyspefs@dese.mo.gov or call 573.751.0187