Amid concerns about a decline in referrals, federal officials are pressing states to ensure that young kids with disabilities receive the early intervention services they’re entitled to.
The U.S. Department of Education released two guidance documents late last week clarifying expectations for states and early intervention service providers under what’s known as Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act during the ongoing pandemic. The Part C program covers early intervention for children from birth to age 3.
The agency noted that referrals to Part C dropped as the coronavirus first emerged last year and have yet to rebound to pre-pandemic levels. As such, officials say that states need to do more to meet their obligations under IDEA’s “child find” provision, which requires states to identify, locate and evaluate all infants and toddlers with disabilities.