ECSE

What is Early Childhood Special Education?

Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE)  is a program for students with disabilities ages three, four and some five-year-olds. This program is designed to provide instruction for students with delays in cognition, communication, psychomotor, self-care, and social-emotional areas. Options for the ECSE program include self-contained, inclusive/blended classrooms and kindergarten with special education support through specially designed instruction. To be eligible to receive services under the Early Childhood Special Education Program, a child must meet both the following criteria for eligibility:

1. a category of disability, and 
2. a need for specially designed instruction.  

Categories of Disability:

• Auditory Impairment*
• Autism
• Deaf-Blind*
• Emotional Disturbance
• Intellectual Disability
• Learning Disability
• Multiple Impairment
• Other Health Impairment
• Orthopedic Impairment
• Speech/Language Impairment
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Visual Impairment*

*Services may begin at birth for children with visual and/or auditory impairments.

If you are concerned that a child you know may have a disability and need specialized instruction, please contact Lewisville ISD’s Child Find Secretary, Michaela Bullough, at bulloughm@lisd.net or 469-948-8515.

Who do I contact to refer a child younger than 2 years 9 months?

Contact your local ECI provider:
MHMR of Tarrant County
ECI of North Central Texas
3880 Hulen Street, Suite 400
Fort Worth, TX 76107
Referral Number - (888) 754-0524   
Fax Number - (817) 569-4492
Email: ECINorthTexas@mhmrtc.org
Web: www.mhmrtc.org