Screening
Under Part C, screening is at a state's discretion and is part of post-referral procedures. Screening is conducted using appropriate instruments, administered by trained personnel, by the lead agency or an early intervention program. The purpose of screening is to determine whether an infant or toddler is suspected of having a disability and is, therefore, in need of early intervention services.
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Federal Requirements
Screening requires parental notice and consent, must be performed within the 45 day timeline, and, at a parent's request and with consent, the EI program must conduct an initial evaluation of the infant or toddler even if the results of the screening do not identify the child as suspected of having a disability. Under Part B, screening may be conducted as part of child find activities in order to ascertain whether the child should be referred for an evaluation to determine if the child has a disability and is in need of special education and related services.
See also: eNotes on Developmental Screening
Screening Resources
Developmental Screening and Referral: Early Head Start and the Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities (Part C of IDEA) (2019)
This flyer, developed by OSEP, describes ways to link Early Head Start and developmental screening in through the Early Head Start Program to referral to Part C Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities. Federal, local and technical assistance resources are provided.
Early Childhood Developmental Screening: A Compendium of Measures for Children Ages Birth to Five (2014)
This compendium published by OPRE contains information about the reliability and validity of commonly-used developmental screening tools into language easily understood by early childhood practitioners. It discusses the purpose of developmental screening, how it differs from child assessment, and highlights areas in which the field is lacking information on reliability and validity of available tools as applied to different languages and populations.
Birth to 5: Watch Me Thrive!
A national interagency developmental and behavioral screening initiative launched in March 2014 and is now part of the Help Me Grow National Center resources. A user guide for multiple audiences, a Screening Passport for Families, and lists of providers that support early intervention and services are included.
Understanding and Choosing Assessments and Developmental Screeners for Young Children Ages 3-5: Profiles of Selected Measures (2011)
The Administration for Children and Families released this report, which provides a general overview of screening and assessments, as well as reviews of specific assessments and developmental screeners appropriate for this age group.
The Center for Disease Control's National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
This page provides multiple resources on developmental screening and milestones, including the Milestone Tracker.
Referral and Care Coordination
The National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) maintains this interactive map of states with Standardized Referral Forms with imbedded links to the state form. These forms are compliant with federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) privacy and confidentiality requirements. A standardized form can support more efficient and effective referral and feedback loops to support earlier identification.
Save Babies Through Screening Foundation
This organization supports, assists and advocates for disorders that are detectable through filter paper newborn screening, are unlikely to be clinically diagnosed without screening and cause mental retardation, physical disability and/or death in early childhood when left untreated. Their site lists states and their newborn screenings, frequently asked questions and a guide about newborn screening for parents (in both English and Spanish).
State Guidance
Developmental and Behavioral Screening Guide for Early Care and Education Providers (2015)
California Statewide Screening Collaborative - Discusses the provider's role in screening and monitoring within the context of early care and education settings and provides a comprehensive list of online resources related to developmental and behavioral screening, as well as a list of related resources that are available for California's young children and their families.