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Early childhood is the most crucial time for a child’s brain development and for family engagement. Obtaining early intervention and preschool special education services and creating an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP)/Individualized Education Program (IEP) can help families find the supports and services for their child with a disability that are crucial to their success in school — the earlier, the better.
The Division’s Early Childhood Imperative provides a seamless and comprehensive statewide system of coordinated services for very young children with disabilities (birth - Kindergarten) and their families. These services are implemented within the context of everyday routines and activities in the home, in the community, and in early childhood settings to narrow the school readiness gap.
The focus of the DEI/SES is to narrow the gap between students with disabilities and their nondisabled peers by providing specially designed instruction meant to accelerate student progress and allow them to compete with nondisabled peers in the general education curriculum.
To achieve this vision and focus, the DEI/SES has organized itself around three action imperatives: early childhood; access, equity, and progress; and secondary transition.
The vision of the Maryland State Department of Education Division of Early Intervention and Special Education Services (DEI/SES) is that all students, including students with disabilities, will be ready for school, achieve in school, and be prepared for college, career, and community living.