Special Education & Early Intervention
Special Education Terms and Acronyms
Below is a list of Special Education Terms and Acronyms that are commonly used when discussing Early Childhood Special Education.
Birth to Five Services
Anne Arundel County Public Schools Birth to Five Services provides free diagnostic and intervention services for residents of Anne Arundel County. These services are provided to all children demonstrating qualifying delays or disabilities for educational services. The services provided can be directed at any area of development and are delivered in diverse modalities to ensure the greatest level of support for children and families, including kindergarten. For more information about the services your child may be eligible for, please visit www.aacps.org/birthtofive.
The Child Find referral process for ages 2 & 10 months to 5 years
Do you have questions or concerns about the development of your child age 2 years & 10 months to 5 years? Parents/guardians can complete a referral for an evaluation to determine if their child is eligible for free early intervention services. Learn about the process and how to complete a referral. Visit Birth to Five Services at www.aacps.org/birthtofive for more information and to complete a referral.
Child Development & when to be concerned
Do you have questions or concerns about your child's development? Birth to Five Services is here to help! Learn how to address these concerns and receive support for your child.
Slideshow presentation with links to resources: Child Development and when to be concerned
What is an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP)?
What is an Individualized Family Service Plan or IFSP? Let's explore what an IFSP is and how it can support your child's development and strengthen your family. For more information, visit the Birth to Five Program at https://www.aacps.org/birthtofive.
Links provided in this video:
Pacer: www.pacer.org
Parents Place of Maryland: www.ppmd.org
Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE): www.marylandpublicschools.org
Parental Rights in Special Education
There are parental rights and procedural safeguards in special education, including federal and state laws and legal processes, that are involved in an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) and an Individualized Education Program (IEP). For more parent resources about parental rights, visit the website for the AACPS Division of Specialized Instruction & Early Intervention Services.
Inclusion: What is it, and why is it so important?
What is inclusion, and why is it so important? Birth to Five Services guides us through the importance of inclusion and how students both in special education and the general education classroom benefit from an inclusive education. For more information about the Birth to Five program, visit www.aacps.org/birthtofive.
Slideshow presentation with links to resources: Inclulsion - What it is and why is it so important?
IEPs and 504s
AACPS provides educational supports through IEPs, 504s, alternative education, restorative practices, and more. What are IEPs and 504s, and what are the differences between the two education plans? Understood.org provides a description of the differences between an IEP and 504.
For more information and resources on special education, visit the AACPS Office of Special Education.
The difference between an IEP and a 504 Plan