IDEA Part C Early Intervention Family Survey Data for FFY 2021
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What are the Part C Family Data?
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) funds state Part C programs to provide early intervention services to support infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families. All states and jurisdictions receiving Part C funding are required to report data annually to the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) in the U.S. Department of Education on the percentage of families who agreed that early intervention has helped their family know their rights, effectively communicate their child's needs, and help them help their child develop and learn.
How Do States Collect Data From Families?
All states collect family data using a survey, although the specific survey items and methods for collection vary. Three survey tools are commonly used by states to collect family data: the ECO Family Outcomes Survey-Original, the ECO Family Outcomes Survey-Revised, and the NCSEAM Family Survey. Some states have developed their own survey.
States distribute and collect their surveys using different methods, including in-person, mail, online, and telephone. Some states survey a sample or subset of families, while others survey all families in the program each year. Regardless of approach, each state must collect this information with the greatest possible accuracy and completeness.
What Do the Data Show?
The great majority of families indicate that early intervention has been helpful to them with knowing their rights, communicating their child's needs, and helping their child develop and learn.
Percentage of Families that Reported that Early Intervention Helped Them
| Know their rights | 89% |
|---|---|
| Communicate children's needs | 90% |
| Help their child develop and learn | 91% |
National Family Survey Data Trends
Family survey data trends show consistently high national averages. Many states conduct further analyses by local districts, family demographics, and program variables to understand patterns and trends.
For additional information and resources related to state approaches, resources on using family data, and tools to assist with analyzing and displaying family data see our page on Family Outcomes.
National Family Survey Data Trends: FFY 2016–2021
| Outcome | FFY 2016 | FFY 2017 | FFY 2018 | FFY 2019 | FFY 2020 | FFY 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Know their rights | 90% | 90% | 91% | 91% | 89% | 90% |
| Communicate children's needs | 91% | 91% | 91% | 92% | 90% | 91% |
| Help their child develop and learn | 92% | 92% | 93% | 93% | 91% | 91% |
Using Family Data to Improve Practices
In addition to reporting these data to OSEP, state and local programs use family survey data in combination with other programmatic data to inform their decisions and improve systems and services. Program improvement plans may focus on a variety of practices, such as helping programs be responsive to the family's concerns, priorities, and changing life circumstances. A valuable resource for states is the DEC Recommended Practices that support high-quality services in Part C early intervention. Implementing a continuous improvement process supports the use of evidence-based practices and ultimately the accomplishment of positive outcomes for children and families.
Please cite as:
Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (2023). IDEA Part C Early Intervention Family Survey Data FFY 2021. Retrieved from https://ectacenter.org/eco/pages/familyoutcomeshighlights.asp