Personnel Preparation Support

Early Intervention (EI) programs provide essential support and services for infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities, ensuring their unique needs are met during the critical early years of life. These services, mandated by Part C IDEA regulations and available in every U.S. state and territory, are tailored to the needs of each child and can include therapies such as speech and physical therapy. States are tasked with delivering these services to all eligible children.

Early childhood special education (ECSE) focuses on supporting the educational and social-emotional development of children aged 3–5 with disabilities, ensuring they receive the specialized instruction and related services necessary to participate in developmentally appropriate activities. Governed by Part B, Section 619 of the IDEA, ECSE guarantees a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment for young children with disabilities. The Department of Education emphasizes increasing access to high-quality early learning programs, strengthening the early learning workforce, and enhancing state capacity to ensure effective program implementation.

Special Education (SE) refers to specially designed instruction provided at no cost to families to meet the unique needs of students with disabilities, aged 5–21. Defined under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) at 34 CFR §300.39, it encompasses a wide range of services, including instruction in classrooms, homes, hospitals, and other settings, as well as physical education. Special Education (SE) may also include services such as speech-language pathology, medical services, and vocational education when they meet the criteria of specialized instruction under state standards. This critical framework ensures that students with disabilities receive the support they need to achieve their Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals and succeed academically, aligning with state content standards.

Related Services (RS) refer to developmental, corrective, and other supportive services for infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities, ages birth through 21 and their families. These supportive services are design to meet the individualized needs of children with disabilities to optimize their learning outcomes. These services can include:

• Therapeutic Services

• • Speech-language pathology and audiology services
  • Physical and occupational therapy
  • Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

• Support and Accessibility Services

• • Assistive technology services
  • Sign language interpreting services
  • Intervener services
  • Orientation and mobility services

• Psychological and Social Services

• • Psychological services
  • Social work services
  • Counseling services
  • Rehabilitation counseling

• Recreational and Cultural Services

• • Recreation
  • Therapeutic recreation
  • Artistic and cultural services, such as:
    • Music therapy
    • Art therapy
    • Dance therapy
    • Movement therapy