Improving Systems, Practices and Outcomes

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

photograph of child

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

Most recent additions to this page:

The Basics

Federal Law and Regulations

States' Part C Rules, Regulations and Policies

The ECTA Center 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

(See Extended Part C Option)

Part C Contacts

Part C Coordinator Orientation Video Training Series

This WWW: 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 Grants

Reports from The National Early Intervention Longitudinal Study (NEILS)

ECTA Center Publications Related to the Early Intervention Program

Overview to the Part C Program Under IDEA

photograph of child

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 WWW: 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, PDF: definitions of eligibility 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 06/19/2013 CF
Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center
CB 8040
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-8040

phone: 919.962.2001
fax: 919.966.7463
email: ectacenter@unc.edu
The ECTA Center is a program of the FPG Child Development Institute of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, funded through cooperative agreement number H326P120002 from the Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education. Opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent the Department of Education's position or policy.
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