Coordinated Early
Intervening Services (CEIS) Step by Step
Learn How To:
- Identify the need for mandatory comprehensive CEIS or voluntary CEIS.
- Understand and implement mandatory comprehensive CEIS or voluntary CEIS.
- Track and report CEIS funds expended and children served.
- Identify Technical Assistance (TA) centers and resources to help states understand and implement these opportunities and requirements.
Do you know that local educational agencies (LEAs) may use up to 15 percent of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B Section 611 and 619 funds for CEIS?
Voluntary CEIS are used for children in kindergarten through grade 12 (with a particular emphasis on children in kindergarten through grade 3) who are not currently identified as needing special education or related services but who need additional academic or behavioral support to succeed in general education. (These services are defined in 34 CFR §300.226.) Congress’s intent was to prevent unnecessary referral for special education and to provide earlier intervention to children who are struggling; for example, through a multitiered system of supports.
Permissible voluntary CEIS activities include:
- Providing professional development for teachers and other school staff to enable them to deliver scientifically based academic and behavioral interventions, including scientifically based literacy instruction and, where appropriate, instruction on the use of adaptive and instructional software; and
- Providing educational and behavioral evaluations, services, and supports, including scientifically based literacy instruction.
Comprehensive CEIS are required when an LEA is identified as having a significant disproportionality. (These services are defined in 34 CFR §300.646.) They must address the factors contributing to the significant disproportionality. They may include professional development and educational and behavioral evaluations, services, and supports and must address a policy, practice, or procedure identified by the LEA as contributing to the significant disproportionality. The funds may be used to serve children from age 3 through grade 12. They may be used for children with and without disabilities. Their use may not be limited to children with disabilities.
This means that you can use IDEA funds to provide professional development for teachers and other school staff as well as scientifically based academic and behavioral interventions to K–12 students without a disability. For LEAs identified with significant disproportionality of racial and ethnic groups in special education, 15 percent of IDEA Part B funds must be reserved for mandatory comprehensive CEIS. (Please note that the IDEA regulations regarding significant disproportionality were revised in December 2016; see 34 CFR §300.646 and 34 CFR §300.647.)
