State and National Resources

The Council for Exceptional Children is a professional association of educators dedicated to advancing the success of children with exceptionalities.

Dear Colleague Letter addresses the evaluation process for an infant or toddler suspected of being deaf or hard of hearing to determine eligibility for early intervention services under Part C of the IDEA.

The Division for Early Childhood (DEC) promotes policies and advances evidence-based practices that support families and enhance the optimal development of young children (0-8) who have or are at risk for developmental delays and disabilities.

The Early Childhood Hearing Outreach (ECHO) Initiative is focused on extending the benefits of periodic hearing screening to young children in a variety of health and education settings. The ECHO Initiative is part of the National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management at Utah State University and serves Early Head Start/Head Start programs as the National Resource Center on Early Hearing Detection and Intervention. This website has online training modules on implementing the Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) Hearing Screening and Follow-up as self-guided learning curriculum webinar as well as web classes.

The Early Childhood Technical Assistance (ECTA) Center supports the implementation of the early childhood provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

This online directory provides information for families and the general public who are looking for resources to support their infants or toddlers who have developmental delays and/or disabilities.

The Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC) is dedicated to serving and advancing the interests of young children in Michigan. They provide research-based information to guide policy and program decision making so that every child has an equal opportunity to succeed in school and life. A fundamental tenet of their work is striving to find links between research, policy, and practice.

Great Start to Quality helps families find the best early learning setting for their children and helps educators improve the care they give to children.

Michigan supports 8 different Home Visiting Models.  Please visit this link to connect you to information about each model and to identify which programs are available in your area.  

Michigan Alliance for Families provides information, support, and education for families who have children (birth through 26 years of age) who receive (or may be eligible to receive) special education services. This website can help you with finding information on special education issues as well as disability specific information.

MI-AIMH works across Michigan to equip and support professionals who serve infants, young children and their families through specialized in-service training, advocacy, and Endorsement. MI-AIMH hopes to supply these professionals with everything they need to support strong relationships for infants, young children and their families, and those who care for them all.

Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children (MiAEYC) works to promote high-quality early learning for all children, birth through age 8, by connecting practice, policy, and research.

The Michigan Council for Exceptional Children (MCEC) is a state chapter of the National Council for Exceptional Children, and part of the national community of educators who are the voice and vision of special and gifted education.

Information line, parent resources, procedural safeguards, SPP/APR reports and more related to Special Education in Michigan.

The Office of Early Childhood Education is charged with ensuring that all children birth to age eight, especially those in highest need, have access to high-quality early learning and development programs and enter kindergarten prepared for success. The Governor outlined a single set of early childhood outcomes against which all public investment will be assessed:

• Children born healthy;
• Children healthy, thriving, and developmentally on track from birth to third grade;
• Children developmentally ready to succeed in school at the time of school entry; and 
• Children prepared to succeed in fourth grade and beyond by reading proficiently by the end of third grade.

The Michigan Division for Early Childhood (MiDEC) of the Michigan Council for Exceptional Children (MCEC) is a state chapter to the national Division for Early Childhood (DEC). MiDEC is dedicated to promoting policies and evidence-based practice to support families and enhance the optimal development of all children. MiDEC encourages and promotes professional growth and quality practices to support young children with exceptional needs and their families.

The Michigan Interagency Coordinating Council (MICC) is charged with advising and assisting MDE in the development and implementation of a statewide, comprehensive, coordinated, multidisciplinary, interagency system that provides early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families.

START is a statewide collaborative effort to make systems-level changes to improve the educational programming and quality of life for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).