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RSU 11 discusses state-required screening for 3–4-year-olds and moving toward cohort 3
Summary
Administrators told the board Maine will require districts in 2027–28 to find and test 3- and 4-year-olds who may qualify for special education; the state will fund material and staffing for now and the district is considering joining cohort 3 with an early-February intent deadline.
Administrators briefed the board on a forthcoming Maine requirement that, beginning in the 2027–28 school year, school districts must find and screen three- and four-year-olds who may qualify for special education services. Angela Hardy (director of curriculum) said the state currently plans to fund materials, classrooms and instructors for the expansion, and the district is taking preliminary steps to plan outreach and screening processes.
District staff described practical steps under discussion: shifting kindergarten screening from May to March to provide earlier information for staffing and services, building relationships with families and providers to identify young children, and starting with four-year-olds next year before expanding to three-year-olds. Administrators noted the district already has access to lists maintained by CDS (Child Development Services) and can use referrals from pediatricians, daycare providers and community partners.
Superintendent Katie Gold said joining cohort 3 remains under consideration and that she has not signed an intent yet; the administrative team flagged an early-February deadline to decide and emphasized the need for planning around staffing, referral pathways and family outreach.
What happens next: the district will continue planning, refine processes for outreach and screening, and return to the board with implementation details and any budget implications once cohort participation and operational plans are clearer.
