Special Education - SPE 220

Course Description

Early childhood special education focuses on children with special needs birth to age eight. This course reviews categories of special needs for young children, available services, and the role of educators as team members who support the educational and care needs of children. Students will learn about the importance of working respectfully with families. Current best practices for identifying special needs in young children will be explored.

Prerequisites

(A requirement that must be completed before taking this course.)

Course Competencies

Upon successful completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• Characterize the current categories of special needs in the young child birth to eight years old.
• Identify key services for children birth to three years for assessing potential special needs.
• Identify key services for children three to eight years old for assessing potential special needs.
• Outline services for children birth to three years old with special needs.
• Outline services for children three to eight years old with special needs.
• Defend a strength based approach to working with families of young children with special needs.
• Investigate best practices for identifying and communicating potential special needs in the young child.
• Contrast current legislation that covers special education for children in Michigan.
• Illustrate the roles of the team that may be involved in referring, identifying and providing services to young children with special needs with a key focus on the early childhood educator.
• Investigate the Child Protection Law and Mandated Reporting of Suspected Abuse and Neglect.
• Contrast ages and stages of typical child development with neuro typical development for children birth through eight years old.

Course Schedule