Preschool Outcomes Process Overview

The Preschool Outcome application is a multi-step process involving several steps before entering the Summarized Data in the Preschool Outcomes SE Application. 


This is an annual process that occurs over the entire school year. LEAs need to ensure that a process is in place to accurately capture the Preschool Entrance and Exit Data using the Child Outcome Summary process as students enter and exit the program.


Throughout the Year

Step 1: Complete the Child Outcomes Summary form (This is only for newly identified SWDs or those students for whom no previous entrance data from any LEA in GA is available. (See Template Reminders). 

  • The IEP team, including the parents(s), completes the Preschool Entrance Data for all students qualifying for special education and related services. (Child Outcomes Summary form is included in the last part of the Preschool Outcomes section of the Help manual or by selecting the link inside the Preschool Outcomes application.)
  • The entrance data should be collected by the first LEA which served the student in Georgia.
  • If a student transfers to another GA LEA, the sending LEA should include the student’s Preschool Entrance data form with the student’s special education paperwork provided for the receiving LEA. 
  • This can be easily accomplished for GO-IEP LEAs by uploading the entrance data on the Documents tab in GO-IEP.




Step 2: Provide services and collect data on the student’s progress during his/her time in Preschool Special Education.


Step 3: Upon exiting Preschool Special Education, the IEP team, including the parent, completes the Preschool Exit Data form. Ideally, the Exit Data form is completed at the student’s transition meeting.


Step 4: In the Spring, the Special Education Director downloads and saves the Preschool Outcomes Template (located inside of the SE Applications Dashboard at the bottom of the landing page) to his/her computer. 

  • Do not change the name of the template. 
  • Pull a list of all Preschool special education students served this year from your Student Information System (SIS). Use this list to help verify preschool SWDs who have or will exit preschool special education this year. 
  • Enter the Entrance Data for preschool SWDs who have or will exit preschool this year. 


Screenshot of Preschool Outcomes landing page with link to the LEA’s Preschool Outcomes Data Template.


April-May (Use Preschool Entrance/Exit Template)

Step 5: Ensure that all students who meet the exit criteria (listed in the Template Reminder section) have a completed Entrance and Exit Data form. If any are missing, work with the IEP team to complete it.


June-July (Use Preschool Entrance /Exit Template)

Step 6: LEA completes entering demographic information and the data from all Preschool Entrance and Exit Data forms into the Preschool Outcomes Template. 

  • Follow the directions included on Tab 1 of the template. 
  • The Preschool Entrance and Exit template include rules that prevent any student that does not meet the criteria set forth in the guidelines from being submitted.
  • The LEA enters the entrance and exit rating results for each student and whether the student made progress while in the special education preschool program. 
  • Ratings should be based on formal and informal assessments gathered by the IEP team. 
  • Entering data into the template may occur over multiple sessions. Be sure to save it each time additional information is entered.


Step 7: Select Calculate for students meeting the criteria to report his/her data. This step is particularly important. The LEA should always use the calculator to obtain the appropriate rating (a, b, c, d, or e).

  • There are edit checks included in the calculator to prevent inaccurate reporting.
  • If you enter data and it is not an accurate possibility, the calculator will turn red and report that the calculation is Impossible. Check and correct your data when that happens.
  • If you forget to enter if the student made progress (Y) or no progress (N), the calculator will turn red and show ‘progress?.’  


Enter ‘Y’ if the student made any progress while receiving Preschool special education and related services. 

If the student improved in one or more skills in any area, then select ‘Y.’


  • When finished, make sure it is saved to computer with its original name.


The template calculates each student’s progress trajectory. The trajectory is a rating of a, b, c, d, or e. The trajectory results are summarized on the second tab for each student in the three outcome areas. Use the Summary Data Tab (Tab 4) to complete the Preschool Outcome Application in the SE Applications Dashboard. The directions for completing the Preschool Outcome Template are not in this document. They are on Preschool Outcome Template on Tab 1 inside of the Preschool Outcome Excel Template. 


By July 31st (GaDOE portal – SE Applications – Preschool Outcomes application)

Now that Preschool Outcomes template is completed and saved, the LEA can enter the Summarized Results in the GaDOE Special Education Application – Preschool Outcomes application.


Step 8: Log into the GaDOE portal and enter the Preschool Outcomes application.


Step 9: Enter the results from the Summary Data Tab (in the Preschool Outcomes template) into the Preschool Outcomes SE Application by July 31. 


Detailed steps with screenshots on how to enter the Summary Data results in the SE Application Dashboard are included in the section Viewing and Completing Preschool Outcomes Application.


Template Data Reminders

Entrance data must be collected on any student eligible for special education services regardless of the disability category(ies) identified. If the student meets one or more of the following criteria, complete an entrance rating for each of the three skill areas:

  • Every child aged 3 years to 5 years, 11 months who is initially placed.
  • Every child aged 3 years to 5 years, 11 months transferring from another state and already placed in special education.
    • If a student transferred to you from another LEA in Georgia, please obtain the Child Outcomes Summary form (entry data) from the first LEA that provided services to the student.
    • COS forms may be uploaded in the document section of GO-IEP.


Exit data must be collected when a child 

  • is leaving Preschool and entering Kindergarten next school year.
  • turns 6 years of age.
  • moves out of STATE.
  • no longer qualifies for special education and related service due to a revocation or following a revaluation resulting in a dismissal.
  • is deceased.


Entrance and Exit Ratings are based on the child’s functioning across settings and situations. Each child’s functioning is compared with what is expected for the child’s current age. 


To meet the requirements of the SPP, the Preschool Outcomes application for students with disabilities exiting preschool during the school year will be completed and submitted between May 15 and July 31 each year.