Note: The name of this program has been changed from "State Pre-K 4 Year Old At-Risk" to “Preschool-Aged At-Risk” to align with changes in statute.

The Preschool-Aged At-Risk Program provides school districts with funding for preschool-aged students. Each preschool-aged at-risk student who is enrolled in a school district and receiving services is counted as 0.5 FTE in calculating a district’s enrollment and accompanying weightings. Districts are encouraged to create integrated programs that include all students and to develop strong community partnerships.

In May 2025 the Kansas State Board of Education approved Preschool-Aged At-Risk programs for 2025-2026. Contact Natalie McClane (natalie.mcclane@ksde.gov) if you are interested in requesting approval for a program. All 3-and 4-year-old students who meet any of the at-risk criteria, are enrolled and attending on count date, and are in an approved program will be funded at .5 FTE.  

Preschool-Aged At-Risk 2026-2027 
2026-2027 Preschool-Aged At-Risk Program Requirements and Assurances (PDF)
Approval Forms are due by April 3, 2026.
2026-2027 Approval Form

Preschool-Aged At-Risk 2025-2026
List of 2025-2026 Approved Preschool-Aged At-Risk Programs
2025-2026 Preschool-Aged At-Risk Program Requirements and Assurances (PDF)

Section 619 of Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) defines the federal preschool program which guarantees a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) to children with disabilities age 3 through 5. Under this program, preschool children who have disabilities are entitled to special education and related services in the least restrictive environment (LRE). The IDEA Preschool Program (Section 619) supports education services for young children with disabilities when they turn 3. It addresses individual needs within the context of developmentally appropriate activities, including early learning experiences in language, pre-reading and writing skills, play, and other social emotional areas.

Children ages 3 through 5 with identified delays or disabilities receive special education services from their local school district. To contact the Early Childhood IDEA Part B staff in the district where the child resides, please refer to this document: Early Childhood Special Education Part B Contact List for Indicators 6, 7 & 12 (PDF). If you find a contact that is in error, please share those updates with Beccy Strohm: beccy.strohm@ksde.gov. 

All Kansas infants and toddlers (birth to age 3) are entitled to a free developmental evaluation to determine if they are eligible for early intervention services. Children identified as having a developmental delay or being at risk for delays can receive no-cost, in-home, early intervention services. Kansas Early Childhood Developmental Services (KECDS) within the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) administers early intervention services under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Visit www.itsofks.org (external link) to find your local Infant Toddler Services of Kansas program.

Early Childhood Special Education resources are available to support families. Families Together is the Kansas Parent Training Information and Resource Center. Families may contact Families Together to access support in navigating daily services for children and youth with disabilities and/or special health care needs. Visit familiestogetherinc.org, call  (800) 264-6343 (English) or (800) 499-9443 (Spanish), or email contactus@familiestogetherinc.org to request support. Additional resources for families include the KSDE Parents Rights resource (available in 19 languages) and the Kansas Parent Information Resource Center (external link).

Early Childhood Special Education Resources

Early childhood special education resources are available on the Kansas State Department of Education / Kansas Technical Assistance Systems Network website, ksdetasn.org (external link), under the TASN Projects tab, KSDE Early Childhood Special Education. The compiled resources are organized into the three Early Childhood Special Education indicators:

State Performance Plan (SPP) Indicator 6 measures the extent to which preschool students with disabilities receive special education and related services in settings with children who are typically developing. More details and explanation can be found at this website: KSDETASN Indicator 6: Preschool Environments (external link).

In November 2023 the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued an updated Federal Policy Statement: Inclusion of Children with Disabilities in Early Childhood Programs (external link). It states that all young children with disabilities should have access to high-quality inclusive early childhood programs that provide individualized and appropriate support so they can fully participate alongside their peers without disabilities, meet high expectations, and achieve their full potential.

State Performance Plan (SPP) Indicator 7 measures the percent of preschool children aged 3 through 5 with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) who demonstrate improvement in positive social-emotional skills (including social relationships), acquisition and use of knowledge and skills (including early language/communication and early literacy), and use of appropriate behaviors to meet their needs. More details about the SPP indicator 7 Early Childhood Outcomes can be found at this website: KSDETASN Indicator 7: Early Childhood Outcomes (external link).

State Performance Plan (SPP) Indicator 12 measures the percent of children referred by Part C prior to age 3, who are found eligible for Part B, and who have an IEP developed and implemented by their third birthdays. More information about this indicator can be found at the following website: KSDETASN Indicator 12: C to B Transitions (external link)

Data Resources for State Performance Plan / Annual Performance Report (SPP/APR) indicators 6, 7, and 12 can be found at the KSDE Special Education SPP/APR webpage through these links:

Indicator 6: Preschool Environments SPP/APR Resources
Indicator 7: Preschool Outcomes SPP/APR Resources
Indicator 12: Early Childhood Transition from C to B SPP/APR Resources

Kansas Coordinating Council on Early Childhood Developmental Services (State Interagency Coordinating Council) (SICC)

This council is responsible for advising and assisting the Kansas governor and legislature on matters that impact Kansas families with children ages birth to five who have, or are at risk for, developmental delays. Visit kansasicc.ksde.gov (external link) for additional information.