Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities
Stored: Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities
| Type | Program |
|---|---|
| Sponsor Organization | Office of Special Education Programs |
| Top Organization | Department of Education |
| Creation Legislation | Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-476), Part C |
| Website | Website |
| 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. |
| Program Start | 1986 (as Part H, reauthorized as Part C in 1990) |
| Initial Funding | $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.[1] 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.
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.[2]
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).[3]
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.[4] 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.[5] 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.[6] 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
References
- ↑ "Part C Early Intervention". U.S. Department of Education. https://sites.ed.gov/idea/part-c-early-intervention/.
- ↑ "IDEA Part C". U.S. Department of Education. https://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/leg/idea/partc.html.
- ↑ "About DOE Leadership". U.S. Department of Education. https://www.ed.gov/about/leadership.
- ↑ "Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004". U.S. Congress. https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/house-bill/1350.
- ↑ "Part C Early Intervention". U.S. Department of Education. https://sites.ed.gov/idea/part-c-early-intervention/.
- ↑ "Monitoring and Enforcement". U.S. Department of Education. https://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/monitor/index.html.