Welcome to the Preschool through Kindergarten NE/LRE 
 

Team Decision Making Module

The Preschool through Kindergarten NE/LRE Team Decision Making Module was developed by the Maryland State Department of Education in partnership with Johns Hopkins University Center for Technology in Education. 

The module highlights best practice for effective decision making by:

• Extended IFSP and IEP teams in Maryland in selecting natural environments (NE) and least restrictive environment (LRE) for children with disabilities, ages three through kindergarten.
• Early childhood implementation teams in providing early intervention or preschool special education and related services to young children with disabilities in regular early childhood settings with children without disabilities.

Preschool through Kindergarten NE/LRE Team Decision Making Module focuses on three of the five key decisions a team makes to provide appropriate early intervention or preschool special education and related services for each young child with a disability:

• Considering the full continuum of regular early childhood settings as the NE/LRE for providing Extended IFSP or IEP services.
• Selecting the NE/LRE for each child, guided by the discussion of their identified outcomes/goals and need for services.
• Implementing an Extended IFSP or IEP with identified supports, services, accommodations, and modifications to assure a child’s development, educational progress and participation with peers without disabilities.

The content of the Preschool through Kindergarten NE/LRE Team Decision Making Module is organized in four sessions:

1. NE/LRE Options for early intervention or preschool special education and related services in community early childhood settings.

Outcome: Extended IFSP/IEP teams, including parents as essential members, will select the community early childhood setting(s) where young children with disabilities, age three through kindergarten, can learn and participate with their peers without disabilities.

2. Foundations for early intervention or preschool special education and related services in community early childhood settings.

Outcome: All partners will understand the benefits and legal requirements specific to providing early intervention, preschool special education, and related services for young children with disabilities in community early childhood settings.

3. Instructional practices supporting early intervention or preschool special education and related services in community early childhood settings.

Outcome: All partners will identify and implement the supports, modifications and accommodations needed for young children with disabilities to achieve their Extended IFSP outcomes/IEP goals and participate with their peers without disabilities in community early childhood settings.

4. Collaboration and Teaming among all partners.

Outcome: All partners will share information and collaborate in adapting materials and modifying instruction to provide effective early intervention or preschool special education and related services for young children with disabilities in community early childhood settings.
 

Target Audience

Preschool through Kindergarten NE/LRE Team Decision Making Module guides the following partners in their collaborations to provide early intervention or preschool special education and related services in regular early childhood settings for young children with disabilities, age three through kindergarten:

• Extended IFSP and IEP teams, including families as essential members;
• Community early care and education personnel;
• Referral sources, agencies and organizations serving preschool children with disabilities, and their families.