I am concerned about the removal of developmental delay category for determining eligibility for 6-9 year olds and feel it will be harmful to do this. It is important for a child's self esteem that he/she be able to accomplish and learn academic materials and get along socially with peers.  When there are delays in these areas a child starts to struggle and is at risk for acting out without proper interventions.  If students are delayed enough to qualify for special education services and then you take away the developmental delay category, what is going to happen to these kids?  If they don't have a diagnosed condition they will not qualify for "other helath impairments", and because they are young and just getting started with their academic curriculum,  the testing may not show specific learning disablities as of yet.  The other eligibility categories are too specific or too severe for someone that may need extra help for awhile but not necessarily long term.  To say children are being overly served is crazy.  Either they meet the criteria for eligibility or they don't.  You can't look at if they are in a Title 1 school or what their skin color is. Are services being determined by statistics or by what the needs of the individual children are?  Please reconsider and keep the developmental delay category for as long as possible.  It doesn't mean the other eligiblity categories can't be used.  They just need to be used when they are appropriate.  Thank you for your consideration.