ECSP 403/503 INTRODUCTION TO EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION: SEMINAR AND FIELD EXPERIENCE This course examines the state and federal special education laws with regard to children with disabilities birth through grades three. Additional emphasis will be placed on the following topics: education philosophies and theories that form the basis of current practices in early childhood special education, the models of delivery of educational services to individuals with disabilities from birth through adulthood, the special education process including child find practices, referral, assessment procedures, eligibility determination and programmatic needs, the use and purpose of an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP), the differentiate between program models in early childhood special education and how they relate to service delivery in child care or other settings, the roles and responsibilities of all members who serve on interdisciplinary teams, and current trends and issues in Early Childhood Special Education. Students will participate in a 30-clock hour field experience in at least two different Early Childhood Special Education programs in order to be able to apply the knowledge gained in this class. Students taking this course for graduate credit will be required to complete all undergraduate assignments plus successfully complete a graduate action research project. Prerequisites: EDUC 213, EDUC 303, and/or concurrently with ECED 353. Three Hours, Fall Credits: 3 Prerequisites: EDUC213LEC AND EDUC303LEC AND ECED353LEXP Co-requisites:

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