Maine's Early Intervention Services, Special Education and Developmental Therapist Certification Process

Why and how are these changes being implemented?

• As part of the Maine Department of Education’s efforts to increase the number of appropriately qualified personnel working with children birth though 5 years in the CDS system, the temporary certification process is being phased out.
  
• As of 8/31/05 temporary certifications will no longer be valid and the Department will no longer be issuing new temporary certifications for developmental therapy.
  

• For the safety of our children, it is required to have your fingerprints done prior to being issued any type of Maine certification. You MUST have your fingerprints taken through a process approved by the Maine Department of Education. Information regarding fingerprinting sites in Maine is available at: Fingerprint Registration Service  or by calling the Certification office at (207) 624-6603. Finger print packages (for out of state residents only) may be received by filling out the application request form or by calling the Certification Office directly.

• Having an adequate supply of qualified special education, regular education, early intervention and related services personnel to provide entitlement services through the CDS system is outlined in the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA).  The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is federal legislation. 
  
• This law requires that states receiving federal assistance under Part B and Part C of the Act, identify, locate and evaluate (Childfind), at no cost to the family, children with disabilities and provide free appropriate public education (FAPE) or early intervention services to those found eligible under relevant parts of the Act.

To learn more about IDEA
http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSERS/Policy/IDEA/index.html
http://www.nectac.org/idea/idea.asp
http://www.cec.sped.org/law_res/doc/law/index.php

Who is responsible for IDEA in Maine?

• The Maine Department of Education is the State Education Agency (SEA) that oversees the provision of services under IDEA.
  
• Child Development Services (CDS) within the Maine Department of Education was established by Maine law to implement the entitlements under IDEA.
  
• Statewide coverage is established by a network of regional sites which ensure the coordination and delivery of services designed to meet the developmental (for children age Birth-2) and educational (for children age 3-5) needs of eligible children and their families. These regional sites are governed by Boards of Directors whose responsibilities are prescribed by law.
  

Learn about the Maine Department of Education & the Child Development Services System:
http://www.maine.gov/education
http://www.maine.gov/education/speced/cds/index.htm

If you are not familiar with Child Development Services (CDS) or Developmental Therapy (DT) contact the
regional Child Development Services site in your area to request information.

Learn more about the Maine Department of Education Chapter 180 Early Intervention and Special Education for Children Birth to Under Age Six (2003 Rules): http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/rules/05/chaps05.htm