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EI/ECSE - Families

Families

Families are critical in defining a child’s learning and development. Early Intervention and/or Early Childhood Special Education (EI/ECSE) impacts a child’s life span across daily activities. These impacts happen both during and after the time that a child engages with services and supports provided by EI/ECSE Agencies.

At the Oregon Department of Education, we believe the following principles to be true:

  • Families are the first and true expert on their child, and as partners bring a wealth of information to those who provide special education services to their child.
  • Families have their own unique culture and context within a community.
  • Families are teaching their children all of the time.
  • Families have hopes, dreams, and aspirations for their child.
  • Every family deserves to be heard, seen, and respected in all of their humanity including their race, language, and disability by those who provide services and supports to them and their child.
  • Families have rights that are outlined clearly under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and are leaders that join us in partnership to improve outcomes for their child experiencing disability.
  • Together, we are stronger when families have what they need to care for and educate their child.

The following resources may support you as you begin to understand your child's development and navigate developmental screening and evaluation in Oregon



  • ​State Interagency Coordinating Council (SICC): The State Interagency Coordinating Council (SICC) was established to ensure interagency coordination and to support the development of quality statewide services for young children and their families.
  • State Advisory Council for Special Education (SACSE) : SACSE will provide policy guidance with respect to special education and related services for children with disabilities in the State (34 CFR 300.167).
  • ​Early Learning Council (ELC)​: The ELC is charged with coordinating a unified and aligned system of early learning throughout Oregon to ensure that all children, no matter what their background or their community, enter school ready to learn and that all families are healthy, stable and attached.





Contact:

Meredith Villines