Part C Early Intervention Services

The Office of the State Superintendent of Education, Department of Special Education, DC Early Intervention Program (OSSE DC EIP), as the Lead Agency for Part C, is required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (DCMR)) to develop a statewide system of coordinated, comprehensive, multidisciplinary, interagency programming that provides appropriate early intervention services to all infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families within the District of Columbia.

Proposed Part C Regulations

The proposed regulations set clear standards for the operation of the OSSE’s DC EIP, including family eligibility and cost participation guidelines for early intervention services. Additionally, they establish a comprehensive system of early intervention services for infants and toddlers with special needs. Specifically, the regulations will address the following key components:

• Appropriate early intervention services based on scientific research;
• Central directory of services;
• Comprehensive child find and referral system;
• Comprehensive system of personnel development;
• Definition of developmental delay;
• Individualized family service plan and service coordination;
• Procedural safeguards;
• Procedures for securing timely reimbursement of funds;
• Provision of early intervention services in a natural environment to the maximum extent appropriate
• Public awareness program;
• Single line of authority in a lead agency;
• State interagency coordinating council; and
• System for compiling data on the early intervention system;
• Timely and comprehensive multidisciplinary evaluations;