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Effingham County board hears detail on Babies Can’t Wait transition, preschool intervention services
Summary
District special education leaders told the board about identification pathways, a 60-day evaluation timeline, and rising community referrals; staff reported PSI served 141 students last year, began this year with 72 and currently has 42 pending evaluations.
Dr. Ashley Hunter, director of Exceptional Students for Effingham County, told the school board the district serves about 2,575 students with disabilities and that staff are focusing on timely transitions from Babies Can’t Wait to district services for children who turn 3. "We have to have that evaluation completed within 60 calendar days," Hunter said, describing the state-required timeline that the district reports under Indicator 11.
Ms. Merritt, the presenter on preschool intervention, explained the district receives monthly client lists from the Babies Can’t Wait program (administered through the Georgia Department of Public Health), community referrals and school-based pre-K referrals. She said district staff encourage families to register before evaluations so residency and enrollment in Infinite Campus and Go IEP can be confirmed. "Services cannot begin until they have fully registered and completed that process, and that they have turned 3 years old," Merritt said.
Staff reported last year the PSI program served 141 students; many of those students entered kindergarten this year and the district began the school year with 72 PSI students. Merritt said the district is conducting about 42 PSI evaluations now and that not all evaluated children will qualify, but many will, noting referrals have climbed since the pandemic-era dip. "For the community referrals, they really have shot back up," she said.
Ms. Rollins described how PSI classrooms are organized and staffed. Each elementary school has one PSI classroom so students can attend their home schools when appropriate; some children receive related services in community child-care settings or attend PSI part time depending on their IEP team’s recommendations. Rollins listed related services available to students, including occupational and physical therapy, assistive technology and special transportation.
Courtney Wood, a PSI teacher at South Effingham Elementary School, showed a short classroom video and said the program emphasizes student-led learning and hands-on play for children ages 3–5. "This is my fourth year doing PSI, and it is an amazing position that I have," Wood said. A parent in attendance praised the program, saying one of her children came in largely nonverbal and "blossomed" after PSI support.
Board members heard data-use details: preschool outcomes reporting compares entry and exit measures in social-emotional skills, knowledge and skill, and adaptive behavior for students who receive at least six months of services. Hunter noted that federal IDEA funding covers only about 11% of special education costs, underscoring reliance on local funds and grants to provide services and staff.
The presentation closed with staff describing transition planning for kindergarten, how the district uses data for continuous improvement and steps the team takes to coordinate with families and Babies Can’t Wait providers to meet reporting timelines.
