What is Early Intervention?

Early Intervention (EI) Services are designed for children between birth and three years old.

In Minnesota, early intervention services are provided through the public school system under the umbrella of Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE). Your child may qualify for services if they are experiencing delays in their development, including special health conditions.

Zumbro Education District can provide services to help foster the development and growth of your child's skills in cognition, fine and gross motor, social-emotional, adaptive, and speech / language development. Services are provided for children from birth to age three who are found to be eligible through formal evaluation.

Services for eligible children ages birth to age three are provided in their natural environment.  These settings are unique to each family and might include the home, child care, and other community settings.  Parent education and caregiver coaching are a part of the individualized plan of services for children ages birth to three. 

Entrance into early intervention (EI) services begins with a developmental evaluation. This evaluation documents a child’s skills in a variety of areas such as cognition, motor, social-emotional, language-communication, and/or adaptive (self-help) development. There are also certain conditions and medical diagnoses that automatically qualify a child for EI services if they are known to have a high probability of resulting in developmental delay, even if the child is not currently demonstrating a need.

In Minnesota, early intervention services are provided through the public school system under the umbrella of Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE). 

Do you have concerns about your child’s development? You can make a referral through the Help Me Grow Portal: Refer a Child

ECSE Evaluations

Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) services begin with a developmental evaluation. This evaluation documents a child’s skills in a variety of areas, such as cognition, motor, social-emotional, language-communication, and/or adaptive (self-help) development. There are also certain conditions and medical diagnoses that automatically qualify a child for ECSE services. For example, a qualifying condition/diagnosis is one that has a high probability of resulting in developmental delay, and the child currently demonstrates a need.

Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) services are designed for children from age three until the child's seventh birthday.  Children can qualify for services under the ECSE criteria until the child turns seven.

In Minnesota, Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) services are provided through the public school system. Districts within the state of MN often refer to these services as the Help Me Grow Program.Zumbro Education District Evaluators complete the initial developmental evaluation for children ages 3 up to kindergarten within Blooming Prairie, Byron, Hayfield, Kasson-Mantorville, Stewartville, and Triton Public Schools. 

If the child is determined eligible for ECSE services, those services will be provided by the resident district.