Ohio Department of Education Extends Eligibility Under Developmental Delay for Students Transitioning from Preschool to Kindergarten

June 30, 2020 

On June 30, 2020, the Ohio Department of Education announced that preschool students with disabilities who were identified under the category of “developmental delay” for the 2019-2020 school year will be able to transition to kindergarten for the 2020-2021 school year without undergoing an evaluation to determine a school-age disability category.  These students can be reported in EMIS when they enter kindergarten for the 2020-2021 school year with the “developmental delay” disability category.

This temporary change was made due to the COVID-19 school-building closures which made completion of reevaluations for these students extremely difficult.  The change is temporary and is in effect from July 1, 2020 through December 1, 2020.  Districts must complete evaluations of any student who transitioned to kindergarten under the “developmental delay” category no later than December 1, 2020.  As of December 2, 2020, the ability to report a kindergarten student under the “developmental delay” category will end.

Districts are urged to utilize this flexibility where needed, but to complete evaluations for students identified under “developmental delay” as quickly as possible.

Christina Peer is chair of the Education Law Group at Walter Haverfield. She can be reached at cpeer@walterhav.com or at 216-928-2918.