Nebraska Department of Education Homepage

Early Childhood Special Education Services

2023 OSEP Reporting for Nebraska Early Childhood

Using TS GOLD to Generate OSEP Reports

NDE ECSE OSEP Reporting Webinar
2023 OSEP Reporting Handouts for TS GOLD

To request additional support, please contact Heather Ottoson at heather.ottoson@nebraska.gov OR Ginny Howard at ginny.howard@nebraska.gov

Early Childhood Special Education Guidance

Video Series

Compulsory Age of Attendance

Kindergarten Age Eligible (5-Year-Old) Preschool IEP and LRE Guidance

Preschool Least Restrictive Environment

Preschool Transportation

Teaching Strategies GOLD

Entry/Exit Checklists

NDE Part B – GOLD Entry Checklist
NDE Part B – GOLD Exit Checklist
NDE Part C – GOLD Entry Checklist
NDE Part C – GOLD Exit Checklist

District Contact Forms for GOLD

(update annually by district GOLD administrator)

GOLD Administrator:
Data Verification:
Child Transfer:
GOLD Child Transfer Contact List for Administrators (LINK)
Child Transfer Form

Results Matter Technical Assistance Document 2022-2023

Results Matter TA Document 2022-2023

Nebraska Technical Assistance Part B Preschool Guidance Document

NETA B Preschool Guidance Document

Nebraska Department of Education - Department of Health and Human Services Early Intervention

Early Childhood Special Education (EI/ECSE)

Part C/EDN COVID-19 RESOURCES

Kindergarten and the IEP

Kindergarten Age Eligible (5-year-old) Preschool IEP and LRE Guidance (Dec. 2021)

Ready for Success:  A School Readiness Guide for Nebraska Families

Additional ECSE Resources

Breaking the Preschool to Prison Pipeline
NeMTSS Pyramid Model
Position Statement on Multitiered System of Support Framework in Early Childhood
Subscribe to the Preschool Post (LINK)

Transitioning to Kindergarten for Preschool Children with Disabilities

Resource Documents and Links

Nebraska Transition to Kindergarten Toolkit and Resource Guide

The Nebraska Transition to Kindergarten Toolkit and Resource Guide is for families, school district leadership and kindergarten teachers, and early childhood care and education (ECCE) providers and administrators. This toolkit presents a common understanding of developmentally appropriate expectations and practices that support continuity in transitions for young children. Research-based activities, strategies, and resources specific to families, schools, and ECCE providers are outlined to support the transition into kindergarten for young children.

Learn more & download the Toolkits.

A Family Guide To Early Childhood Transitions: Birth to Kindergarten

Helping Children With Special Needs Transition to Kindergarten

Making the Move From Preschool to Kindergarten

Transitioning from Early Childhood Special Education to Kindergarten

Transitioning from Preschool Special Education to Kindergarten

Tools for Improving Child Find

OSEP Part B 619 Child Find Self-Assessment (CFSA)

OSEP, with the collaboration and support of the ECTA Center and DaSy Center (for Sections II and III), developed this voluntary self-assessment tool to help Local Education Agencies (LEAs) strengthen their ChildFind system with the goal of ensuring children eligible for special education and related services are referred and enrolled. This toolkit can also be used by State Education Agencies (SEAs) to look across LEAs to support understanding and documenting their work around child find regulations, identifying best practices, and improving the efficiency of their Child Find efforts.

Making Sound Preschool LRE Decisions

The IEP process includes requirements and actions that ensure IEP teams have the information needed to discuss and consider access to and participation in high-quality inclusive settings for every young child with a disability during IEP placement discussions. These documents list important actions in the IEP development process along with guiding principles and practices that should inform placement decisions for young children with disabilities.

Guiding Questions for Discussing Services in LRE

Preschool LRE Reference Points and Discussion Prompts

Preschool Special Education Services Guiding Questions Form

Nebraska Department of Education Crosswalk of Early Childhood-Related Endorsements

Crosswalk of Early Childhood-Related Endorsements

Federal Guidance for Preschool

Educational Environments Ages 3-5 – LRE Data Reporting Tool
Federal Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) related to Preschool Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) 2017
Federal Policy Statement on Expulsion and Suspension Policies In Early Childhood Settings (2016)
Federal Policy Statement on Inclusion of Children with Disabilities in Early Childhood Programs 2015
OSEP Memo RTI Cannot Be Used to Delay-Deny an Evaluation for Preschool (2016)
US DOE Non-Regulatory Guidance Early Learning in the Every Student Succeeds Act (2016)

Updated January 3, 2023 2:26pm