View source for Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities

{{Program
|ProgramName=Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities
|ProgramType=Program
|OrgSponsor=Office of Special Education Programs
|TopOrganization=Department of Education
|CreationLegislation=Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-476), Part C
|Purpose=Early Intervention Program, under IDEA Part C, funds states to provide services for infants and toddlers with disabilities, boosting development and family support through tailored plans nationwide.
|Website=https://sites.ed.gov/idea/part-c-early-intervention/
|ProgramStart=1986 (as Part H, reauthorized as Part C in 1990)
|InitialFunding=$50 million
|Duration=Ongoing
|Historic=No
}}
The '''Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities''', established in 1986 as Part H of IDEA and reauthorized as Part C in 1990 under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), is administered by the Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) to provide formula grants to states, allocating over $500 million since inception to serve approximately 400,000 infants and toddlers annually by 2025. Initially funded with $50 million, it has grown to distribute $500 million in FY 2024 across 56 awards, funding services like physical therapy, speech therapy, and family support in natural environments across communities.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sites.ed.gov/idea/part-c-early-intervention/ |title=Part C Early Intervention |publisher=U.S. Department of Education}}</ref> Despite its impact, challenges like funding constraints and rural service gaps persist (web ID: 0), but it remains a key resource for early childhood development under DOE.

{{Official URL (simple)|url=https://sites.ed.gov/idea/part-c-early-intervention/}}

==Goals==

* Enhance developmental outcomes for infants and toddlers with disabilities or developmental delays.
* Provide family-centered, individualized early intervention services in natural environments.
* Reduce long-term educational disparities through early support and IFSPs.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/leg/idea/partc.html |title=IDEA Part C |publisher=U.S. Department of Education}}</ref>

==Organization==

The Early Intervention Program is managed by OSEP within the Department of Education, overseen by Assistant Secretary Glenna Wright-Gallo since 2023, with states implementing projects under federal oversight. It operates via annual appropriations, guided by IDEA Part C and subsequent reauthorizations like Public Law 108-446 (2004).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ed.gov/about/leadership |title=About DOE Leadership |publisher=U.S. Department of Education}}</ref>

==Partners==

* [[National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center]]
* [[Zero to Three]]
* [[Council for Exceptional Children]]
* [[California Department of Education, Early Start Program]]

==History==

Authorized by IDEA Part C in 1990 (Public Law 101-476), building on Part H from 1986, and launched with $50 million, the program expanded with annual appropriations, reaching $500 million in FY 2024.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/house-bill/1350 |title=Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 |publisher=U.S. Congress}}</ref> It grew from serving 150,000 infants and toddlers annually in 1990 to 400,000 by 2025, addressing disparities with innovations like natural environment services (web ID: 0). By 2025, it has awarded over $500 million, though GAO notes funding constraint concerns (web ID: 0).

==Funding==

Initial funding of $50 million in 1986 supported the program’s launch, with over $500 million appropriated by 2025 via annual DOE budgets—e.g., $500 million in FY 2024.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sites.ed.gov/idea/part-c-early-intervention/ |title=Part C Early Intervention |publisher=U.S. Department of Education}}</ref> Ongoing appropriations under IDEA Part C sustain its operations, with no fixed end as it addresses ongoing early intervention needs.

==Implementation==

The Early Intervention Program distributes formula grants annually, requiring states to provide services in natural environments via IFSPs, tracked via OSEP’s State Performance Plan and Annual Performance Reports.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/monitor/index.html |title=Monitoring and Enforcement |publisher=U.S. Department of Education}}</ref> It progresses through state partnerships—e.g., 400,000 infants and toddlers yearly—and service expansions, adapting to developmental needs with no set end, though rural gaps remain a challenge (web ID: 0).

==Related==

* [[Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Grants]]
* [[Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program]]

==External links==

* https://sites.ed.gov/idea/part-c-early-intervention/
* https://ectacenter.org/
* [[wikipedia:Individuals with Disabilities Education Act#Part C]]

===Social media===

* https://twitter.com/usedgov
* https://www.linkedin.com/company/u-s-department-of-education

==References==

[[Category:Programs and initiatives]]
[[Category:Department of Education]]
[[Category:Partnerships]]