Assessment and Eligibility
Domain 3 tests screening, evaluation, eligibility under IDEA Parts C and B, and authentic assessment of young children.
Screening versus evaluation
Screening is brief and identifies children who need further evaluation; it does not determine eligibility. Evaluation is comprehensive, multidisciplinary, and uses multiple measures. Under Part C, eligibility may be established by developmental delay (state criteria, often 25% delay or 1.5 SD in one domain, or 20% in two), established risk (e.g., Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, sensory impairment), or informed clinical opinion. Part B preschool eligibility uses one of the IDEA categories, including developmental delay where the state has adopted it for ages 3 through 9.
Assessment practices
Use instruments validated for the child's age, language, and purpose; assess in the native language and with interpreters as needed. Play-based and authentic assessment, family interviews, observation across routines, and curriculum-based measures such as the Assessment, Evaluation, and Programming System (AEPS) or Battelle Developmental Inventory provide functional information. Norm-referenced tests document delay; criterion-referenced and play-based tools guide intervention. Timelines: Part C initial IFSP within 45 calendar days of referral; Part B eligibility determination within 60 calendar days of parental consent.
Worked example
A 3-year-old is referred for limited speech. The team evaluates in the home language with a bilingual SLP, collects parent report, observes snack and play, and uses a language sample. Scores show a moderate expressive language delay but age-appropriate understanding. Eligibility depends on whether the delay adversely affects educational performance and requires specially designed instruction, not on the score alone. The reasoning: multiple sources, native language, and functional impact are required.
Traps
Do not treat a screening score as eligibility, test only in English, rely on a single instrument, ignore informed clinical opinion, or overlook established risk. Do not confuse a diagnosis with eligibility.