The Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act, or IDEA – section 303.601 – requires that each state must have an Interagency Coordinating Council.  Members are to be appointed by the governor.  The state of Kansas enacted a law calling for this advisory body prior to the federal law.

Federal Statute

Most members are appointed by the Governor to a four year term of office.  If you are interested in learning more about the Council and/or would like to serve on the Council, please contact the ICC Chair, Dave Lindeman by email at:  kansasicc@ksde.org

Legislative members are chosen by their respective bodies (House of Representatives and the Senate).  The potential members (one from each body) are confirmed by the Legislative Coordinating Council.  (K.S.A 74-7801, section 7).

Through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), three state agencies – the Kansas Department of Health and Environment/KDHE, the Kansas Department of Education/KSDE, and the Kansas Department for Children and Families – contribute funding to cover the costs of the Council.  Funding covers administrative expenses – including the ICC staff person, meeting costs and stipends for those members who wish to take it.

Through an interagency agreement the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Kansas Department for Children and Families and the Kansas State Department of Education support interagency coordination, including support for the State ICC. Currently, under that agreement, KSDE employs the ICC staff person to fulfill those responsibilities. The staff person’s office is located within the KSDE offices. 

Less than half of the states have designated their health agency, whether alone or in combination with other agencies.  For a listing, please go to: ectacenter.org/partc/ptclead.asp

Where are your meetings held? Would a change in location (or rotating locations) be more accessible?  When are your meetings held?  Is there the possibility to join meetings remotely (via phone, computer, etc)? Is there flexibility with the meeting date/time?

Are you asking your parent members how they feel they can contribute to the Council?  Are they able to do so?

Finally, can you support them in other creative ways?  Childcare provided by appropriate volunteers, or a small stipend are two possible examples. 

Each program has its own criteria for eligibility. 

Part C/Kansas Early Childhood Developmental Services/Part C has three different ways to determine eligibility:  percentage of delay when compared to same-aged peers (25% in one are or 20% in two or more areas in the state of Kansas), auto-eligibility due to extenuating circumstances, Micro-prematurity, a genetic disorder, and Failure to Thrive are just a few examples.  The third method of determining eligibility is the use of professional judgment.  If the evaluation team (comprised of two professionals from different areas of development) feels that the child is showing signs that they could struggle with issues not necessarily related to child development, such as feeding difficulties, nutritional issues, behavioral or sensory issues, the child could be found eligible.  www.ksits.org/download/part_c_manual/ELIGIBILITY.pdf

Kansas Early Childhood Developmental Services/Part C programs use an Individualized Family Service Plan, or IFSP, to document current levels of development as well as the objectives the family would like to meet within a certain timeframe, usually within 6 months.  The IFSP can be reviewed at any time but is usually reviewed twice yearly.  The family is actively involved in the provision of services, following through on the strategies given by their provider/s.  Services are provided in the natural environment, the family’s home, daycare, the park – the places that the child would naturally go as part of their daily routines.

Part B /Preschool services are part of the educational system.  When children reach the age of three, the criteria for determining eligibility changes from child development and how the child’s delay/s impact/s the child and family throughout their daily routines, to how the child’s area/s of need will impact their ability to learn. Children are evaluated according to the guidelines of each individual school district.  Eligibility is based on the child’s functioning in an educational setting. 

The Part B planning document is called an Individualized Education Program, or IEP.  It also lists the current levels of development as well as goals and objectives to be worked on, but they are broken down into four benchmarks to be met throughout the term of the IEP.  IEPs are for a one-year time period but can be reviewed at any time by calling a meeting of the team (which includes parents) to revisit the plan and make any changes.  Services can be provided within a school, or in the community, depending on the need of the child and the service delivery model use by that particular program.     

There is no difference – they are the same entity. 

Infant Toddler Services/Part C serve children with special needs from birth to their third birthday. Services focus on both the child and the family, with services provided in the child’s natural environment.  Part C services are overseen by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE).  www.ksits.org

Children aged three until they start kindergarten may receive services through their local school district if determined eligible. Eligibility is determined based on how the child’s delay/s may impact his/her ability to learn.  The Kansas Department of Education oversees the Part B programs throughout the state.  www.ksde.org/Default.aspx?tabid=514

Part C networks have at least one LICC per program. You can locate your LICC by contacting the SICC at kansasicc@ksde.org or

calling 785-296-3953

You can also contact your local Infant-Toddler program and ask about their LICC: Kansas-Early-Childhood-Developmental-Services-Brochure-PDF (ks.gov) 

At minimum, they meet four times each year to discuss early childhood issues.  On occasion, they will need to make decisions about boundary lines or administration of tiny-k services.  Each community will have its own agenda with tasks and projects that are important to that particular community.

The current Part C regulations in the state of Kansas require the involvement of at least two parent members whose child was eligible for Part C services.  The child does not have to currently be receiving services in order to participate on the LICC.

Part C of IDEA—the Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities—is a federal grant program that assists states in operating a comprehensive statewide program of early intervention services for infants and toddlers ages birth–2 with disabilities, and their families.

Part C Overview

Part B, Section 619 of the IDEA authorizes additional preschool formula grants to states that are eligible for grants under Section 611 of Part B. States are eligible if they make Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) available to all children ages 3–5 with disabilities. While not mandatory, all states are currently providing IDEA services to preschool-aged children.

Part B, Section 619 Overview