Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities (Part C of IDEA)

Part C of IDEA topic editors: Joan Danaher and Sue Goode

Most recent additions to this page:

National Program Data – Annual federal appropriations and number of children served (updated January 5, 2012) – See also, Part C Appropriations and Child Count 1987-2012 (updated January 5, 2012) (PDF: 158kb)

Part C State Performance Plan (SPP) and Annual Performance Report (APR) Information Collection 1820-0578 for February 1, 2012 submission - Expiration Date: 08/31/2014 (posted December 1, 2011)

Part C Updates: 12th in a Series of Updates on Selected Aspects of the Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities, (Part C) of IDEA (2011) (posted November 23, 2011)

2012 Part C Formula Grant Award Application Package – Information Collection 1820-0550, Expiration Date: 08/31/2014. Part C applications due April 16, 2012 (posted November 18, 2011)

Overview and Discussion of 2011 Part C Regulations: Information, Implementation and Implications
Materials from OSEP 's 11/16/11 training session, including: Model IFSP Form, EC Transition Checklist, Fiscal Certification Checklist, Grant Application TA Checklist, Application Package, SPP/APR Package, and Part C Non-Regulatory Guidance. The Webcast will be posted on 11/21/2011. See related resources on our Part C Regulations Web page. (posted November 17, 2011)

Side-by-Side Comparison of the 2011 Final Part C Regulations to the 1999 Regulations (2011)
Developed by the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), its Division for Early Childhood (DEC), and the IDEA Infant Toddler Coordinators Association (ITCA). Available for downloading in its entirety or by subparts. See related resources on our Part C Regulations Web page. (posted October 17, 2011)

The Final Part C Regulations were published in the Federal Register on September 28, 2011. Our collection of related resources is being updated regularly. (posted October 6, 2011)

2011 Part C SPP/APR Indicator Analyses: FFY 2009-2010 (2011) (PDF: 2983kb) (posted September 7, 2011)

The Basics

Overview to the Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities (Part C) under IDEA

Minimum Components required under IDEA of a statewide, comprehensive system of early intervention services

Lead Agencies for the Part C Early Intervention Program in each state and participating jurisdiction

Data Tables – Section 618 of IDEA requires states to annually collect and report data for Part C: child count, settings for early intervention services, numbers of and reasons for children exiting services, counts of services and service categories. Data is also shown by race/ethnicity. For state rankings on selected Part C data elements, see State Rank-Ordered Tables.

Federal Law and Regulations

IDEA 2004 Statute (P.L. 108-446) for Part C

The Final Part C Regulations were published in the Federal Register on September 28, 2011. Our collection of related resources is being updated regularly. (posted October 6, 2011)

States' Part C Rules, Regulations and Policies

NECTAC has collected a list of links to states' rules, regulations and policies for implementing Part C of IDEA. If your state has similar resources available online, please contact Sue Goode to add them to our list.

Extended Part C Option

MD and NM Plans for Extended Part C Option

(PDF: 583kb) April 2010 Newsletter from the IDEA Infant & Toddler Coordinators Association (ITCA)

Part C Contacts

State Part C Program Coordinators List – Contact information for the coordinator of the Early Intervention Program under IDEA in each state and participating jurisdiction

ICC Chairs List – Contact information for the chairperson(s) of each state's Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC) under Part C of IDEA

IDEA Infant & Toddler Coordinators Association (ITCA)

Early Intervention Families Alliance (EIFA)

OSEP State Contacts for Part C (March 2011) (PDF: 214kb)

Part C Coordinator Orientation Video Training Series

Video training series collaboratively produced by NECTAC, RRCP, MSIP, EIFA and ITCA provides both video and supporting documents. (posted September 29, 2010)

Part C SPP/ APRs

Part C State Performance Plan (SPP) and Annual Performance Report (APR) Information Collection 1820-0578 for February 1, 2012 submission - Expiration Date: 08/31/2014

Factsheet - 2011 State Determinations on the Implementation of the IDEA for Part B and Part C for FY 2009 (June 2011) (PDF: 39kb)

2011 Part C State Determination Letters – The Office of Special Education Programs' responses to the States' Part C SPPs and APRs – Grant Year 2009-2010

SPP/APR Indicator Analyses:
2011 SPP/APR Indicator Analyses (FFY 2009-2010)
2010 SPP/APR Indicator Analyses (FFY 2008-2009)
2009 SPP/APR Indicator Analyses (FFY 2007-2008)

Part C Verification Visit Letters – Letters from OSEP to states and entities on the results of visits made to verify the effectiveness and accuracy of their general supervision, assessment and data collection systems (Systems Verification). (updated 04/01/2011)

Technical Assistance Resources on the Part C SPP/APR Indicators and Determinations to assist States in their improvement efforts (posted August 28, 2008)

Part C State Grants

2012 Part C Formula Grant Award Application Package – Information Collection 1820-0550, Expiration Date: 08/31/2014. Part C applications due April 16, 2012

FY2011 Part C State Allocation Table

Part C Grant Award Letters, Fiscal Year 2010

Regulations regarding public participation policies and procedures for Part C applications (Sec 303.208) and an explanation of change (posted September 13, 2011)

Reports from The National Early Intervention Longitudinal Study (NEILS)

NEILS
Early Intervention for Infants & Toddlers with Disabilities and their Families: Participants, Services, and Outcomes (2007) (PDF: 2458kb)
NEILS Expenditure Study (2004) (PDF: 2063kb)
Family Outcomes at the End of Early Intervention (2004) (PDF: 2704kb)

NECTAC Publications Related to the Early Intervention Program

The Importance and Outcomes of Early Intervention for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities and their Families (Fact Sheet) (2011)
Part C Updates: 12th in a Series of Updates on Selected Aspects of the Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities, (Part C) of IDEA (2011) (posted November 23, 2011)
State and Jurisdictional Eligibility Definitions for Infants and Toddlers With Disabilities Under IDEA (2006)

Overview to the Part C Program Under IDEA

Congress established this program in 1986 in recognition of "an urgent and substantial need" to:

enhance the development of infants and toddlers with disabilities;
reduce educational costs by minimizing the need for special education through early intervention;
minimize the likelihood of institutionalization, and maximize independent living; and,
enhance the capacity of families to meet their child's needs.

The Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities (Part C of IDEA) is a federal grant program that assists states in operating a comprehensive statewide program of early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities, ages birth through age 2 years, and their families. In order for a state to participate in the program it must assure that early intervention will be available to every eligible child and its family. Also, the governor must designate a lead agency to receive the grant and administer the program, and appoint an Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC), including parents of young children with disabilities, to advise and assist the lead agency. Currently, all states and eligible territories are participating in the Part C program. Annual funding to each state is based upon census figures of the number of children, birth through 2, in the general population.

On December 3, 2004, President Bush signed legislation reauthorizing IDEA. Please see our Web page on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The current statute and regulations for Part C contain many requirements states have to meet, including specifying the minimum components of comprehensive statewide early intervention system. States have some discretion in setting the criteria for child eligibility, including whether or not to serve at risk children. As a result, definitions of eligibility (PDF: 207kb) differ significantly from state to state. States also differ concerning which state agency has been designated "lead agency" for the Part C program. In fact, statewide early intervention systems differ in many ways from state to state.

Links on this site are verified monthly. This page content was last reviewed on 01/05/2012 SG.