Laws for Children from Birth to Three
Early intervention is a term reserved for medical and educational services provided to children who are between the ages of zero to three years. Infants and toddlers from birth through two years and 11 months are covered by specific laws. These laws usually use the terms “early childhood” or “early intervention”. When a child turns three years old, the child’s rights and protection are covered by general education laws.
On the Federal Level
Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) defines the processes and accountability measures in providing support for infants and toddlers. The goal is to ensure that these children and their families receive the supports (e.g., language, physical and socio-emotional) to lay a successful foundation for optimal growth and development.
The supportive process begins with Child Find, a component of IDEA. Child Find requires states to identify, locate and evaluate all children with disabilities, from birth to age 21, who are in need of early intervention or special education services.
Infants and toddlers can receive early intervention services after they complete a hearing screening and have been identified with either a suspected or confirmed change in hearing levels.
Further resources on Part C of the IDEA:
On the State Level
As early intervention laws and regulations are established at the federal level, states are responsible for statewide rules and processes to carry out federal mandates. Texas Early Hearing Detection and Intervention carries out these mandates, providing oversight and administration of the state early childhood system.
