(a) In General.--A statewide system described in 20 USC 1433 shall include, at a minimum, the following components:
(1) A rigorous definition of the term "developmental delay" that will be used by the State in carrying out programs under this part in order to appropriately identify infants and toddlers with disabilities that are in need of services under this part.
(2) A State policy that is in effect and that ensures that appropriate early intervention services based on scientifically based research, to the extent practicable, are available to all infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families, including Indian infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families residing on a reservation geographically located in the State and infants and toddlers with disabilities who are homeless children and their families.
(3) A timely, comprehensive, multidisciplinary evaluation of the functioning of each infant or toddler with a disability in the State, and a family-directed identification of the needs of each family of such an infant or toddler, to assist appropriately in the development of the infant or toddler.
(4) For each infant or toddler with a disability in the State, an individualized family service plan in accordance with 20 USC 1436, including service coordination services in accordance with such service plan.
(5) A comprehensive child find system, consistent with part B, including a system for making referrals to service providers that includes timelines and provides for participation by primary referral sources and that ensures rigorous standards for appropriately identifying infants and toddlers with disabilities for services under this part that will reduce the need for future services.
(6) A public awareness program focusing on early identification of infants and toddlers with disabilities, including the preparation and dissemination by the lead agency designated or established under paragraph (10) to all primary referral sources, especially hospitals and physicians, of information to be given to parents, especially to inform parents with premature infants, or infants with other physical risk factors associated with learning or developmental complications, on the availability of early intervention services under this part and of services under 20 USC 1419, and procedures for assisting such sources in disseminating such information to parents of infants and toddlers with disabilities.
(7) A central directory that includes information on early intervention services, resources, and experts available in the State and research and demonstration projects being conducted in the State.
(8) A comprehensive system of personnel development, including the training of paraprofessionals and the training of primary referral sources with respect to the basic components of early intervention services available in the State that--
(A) shall include--
(i) implementing innovative strategies and activities for the recruitment and retention of early education service providers; (ii) promoting the preparation of early intervention providers who are fully and appropriately qualified to provide early intervention services under this part; and (iii) training personnel to coordinate transition services for infants and toddlers served under this part from a program providing early intervention services under this part and under part B (other than section 619), to a preschool program receiving funds under section 619, or another appropriate program; and (B) may include--
(i) training personnel to work in rural and inner-city areas; and (ii) training personnel in the emotional and social development of young children.
(9) Policies and procedures relating to the establishment and maintenance of qualifications to ensure that personnel necessary to carry out this part are appropriately and adequately prepared and trained, including the establishment and maintenance of qualifications that are consistent with any State-approved or recognized certification, licensing, registration, or other comparable requirements that apply to the area in which such personnel are providing early intervention services, except that nothing in this part (including this paragraph) shall be construed to prohibit the use of paraprofessionals and assistants who are appropriately trained and supervised in accordance with State law, regulation, or written policy, to assist in the provision of early intervention services under this part to infants and toddlers with disabilities.
(10) A single line of responsibility in a lead agency designated or established by the Governor for carrying out--
(A) the general administration and supervision of programs and activities receiving assistance under 20 USC 1433, and the monitoring of programs and activities used by the State to carry out this part, whether or not such programs or activities are receiving assistance made available under 20 USC 1433, to ensure that the State complies with this part; (B) the identification and coordination of all available resources within the State from Federal, State, local, and private sources; (C) the assignment of financial responsibility in accordance with 20 USC 1437(a)(2) to the appropriate agencies; (D) the development of procedures to ensure that services are provided to infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families under this part in a timely manner pending the resolution of any disputes among public agencies or service providers; (E) the resolution of intra- and interagency disputes; and (F) the entry into formal interagency agreements that define the financial responsibility of each agency for paying for early intervention services (consistent with State law) and procedures for resolving disputes and that include all additional components necessary to ensure meaningful cooperation and coordination.
(11) A policy pertaining to the contracting or making of other arrangements with service providers to provide early intervention services in the State, consistent with the provisions of this part, including the contents of the application used and the conditions of the contract or other arrangements.
(12) A procedure for securing timely reimbursements of funds used under this part in accordance with 20 USC 1440(a).
(13) Procedural safeguards with respect to programs under this part, as required by 20 USC 1439.
(14) A system for compiling data requested by the Secretary under 20 USC 1418 that relates to this part.
(15) A State interagency coordinating council that meets the requirements of 20 USC 1441.
(16) Policies and procedures to ensure that, consistent with 20 USC 1436 (d)(5)--
(A) to the maximum extent appropriate, early intervention services are provided in natural environments; and (B) the provision of early intervention services for any infant or toddler with a disability occurs in a setting other than a natural environment that is most appropriate, as determined by the parent and the individualized family service plan team, only when early intervention cannot be achieved satisfactorily for the infant or toddler in a natural environment.
(b) Policy.--In implementing subsection (a)(9), a State may adopt a policy that includes making ongoing good-faith efforts to recruit and hire appropriately and adequately trained personnel to provide early intervention services to infants and toddlers with disabilities, including, in a geographic area of the State where there is a shortage of such personnel, the most qualified individuals available who are making satisfactory progress toward completing applicable course work necessary to meet the standards described in subsection (a)(9).
(c) Flexibility To Serve Children 3 Years of Age Until Entrance Into Elementary School.--
(1) In general.--A statewide system described in 20 USC 1433 may include a State policy, developed and implemented jointly by the lead agency and the State educational agency, under which parents of children with disabilities who are eligible for services under 20 USC 1419 and previously received services under this part, may choose the continuation of early intervention services (which shall include an educational component that promotes school readiness and incorporates preliteracy, language, and numeracy skills) for such children under this part until such children enter, or are eligible under State law to enter, kindergarten.
(2) Requirements.--If a statewide system includes a State policy described in paragraph (1), the statewide system shall ensure that--
(A) parents of children with disabilities served pursuant to this subsection are provided annual notice that contains--
(i) a description of the rights of such parents to elect to receive services pursuant to this subsection or under part B; and (ii) an explanation of the differences between services provided pursuant to this subsection and services provided under part B, including--
(I) types of services and the locations at which the services are provided; (II) applicable procedural safeguards; and (III) possible costs (including any fees to be charged to families as described in 20 USC 1432 (4)(B)), if any, to parents of infants or toddlers with disabilities; (B) services provided pursuant to this subsection include an educational component that promotes school readiness and incorporates preliteracy, language, and numeracy skills; (C) the State policy will not affect the right of any child served pursuant to this subsection to instead receive a free appropriate public education under part B; (D) all early intervention services outlined in the child's individualized family service plan under 20 USC 1436 are continued while any eligibility determination is being made for services under this subsection; (E) the parents of infants or toddlers with disabilities (as defined in 20 USC 1432(5)(A)) provide informed written consent to the State, before such infants or toddlers reach 3 years of age, as to whether such parents intend to choose the continuation of early intervention services pursuant to this subsection for such infants or toddlers; (F) the requirements under 20 USC 1437 (a)(9) shall not apply with respect to a child who is receiving services in accordance with this subsection until not less than 90 days (and at the discretion of the parties to the conference, not more than 9 months) before the time the child will no longer receive those services; and
(G) there will be a referral for evaluation for early intervention services of a child who experiences a substantiated case of trauma due to exposure to family violence (as defined in section 320 of the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act).
(3) Reporting requirement.--If a statewide system includes a State policy described in paragraph (1), the State shall submit to the Secretary, in the State's report under 20 USC 1437 (b)(4)(A), a report on the number and percentage of children with disabilities who are eligible for services under 20 USC 1419 but whose parents choose for such children to continue to receive early intervention services under this part.
(4) Available funds.--If a statewide system includes a State policy described in paragraph (1), the policy shall describe the funds (including an identification as Federal, State, or local funds) that will be used to ensure that the option described in paragraph (1) is available to eligible children and families who provide the consent described in paragraph (2)(E), including fees (if any) to be charged to families as described in 20 USC 1432 (4)(B).
(5) Rules of construction.--
(A) Services under part b.--If a statewide system includes a State policy described in paragraph (1), a State that provides services in accordance with this subsection to a child with a disability who is eligible for services under 20 USC 1419 shall not be required to provide the child with a free appropriate public education under part B for the period of time in which the child is receiving services under this part.
(B) Services under this part.--Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require a provider of services under this part to provide a child served under this part with a free appropriate public education.
(Amended by P.L. 108-446, Sec. 635.)