Pathways Recommendation
Include at-risk children in NC’s definition of eligibility for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part C Early Intervention Program.
Why This Matters
NC’s current eligibility criteria for early intervention provided via the NC Infant and Toddler Program (Part C of IDEA) requires that young children (up to age 3) have either an established condition or a certain level of developmental delay. Establishing an eligibility category based on risk factors (e.g., poverty, homelessness, abuse and neglect), which several other states have and North Carolina had in the past, would help to address issues earlier for children who are at-risk for delays and support their future success in school.