Home Policy & AdvocacyIDEA Resources Celebrating 25 Years of Early Childhood Programs

25 Years, Countless Success Stories:
 
CEC Celebrates the 25th Anniversary of
IDEA’s Early Childhood Programs

IDEA Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities Program (Part C)
IDEA Preschool Program (Part B, Sec. 619)

During the month of October 2011, the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) will reflect on the 25th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) early childhood programs, initiatives that marked a turning point in how our nation addresses the needs of young children with disabilities and their families.

CEC also applauds the Obama Administration for its recent release of the final IDEA Part C regulations, which will provide clarity within the field on implementation of the law.

Official CEC/DEC Statement
IDEA Part C Regulations -- Then and Now
25 Years, 25 Stories
Share Your Own Story
Resources

Official CEC/DEC Statement

The following is a statement from Marilyn Friend, President of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), and Kristie Pretti-Frontczak, President of CEC’s Division for Early Childhood (DEC), on the 25th anniversary of the IDEA Infants and Toddlers (Part C) and Preschool (Part B, Sec. 619) Programs for children with disabilities. Read more.

IDEA Part C Regulations -- Then and Now

CEC and DEC have worked with the IDEA Infant and Toddler Coordinators Association (ITCA) to create a side-by-side comparison of the new Part C regulations released in early September. We hope that this side-by-side will help special educators and early interventionists in their monumental task of implementing the updated regulations and ensuring quality early intervention services for young children with disabilities and their families.

Official Press Release Announcing the Part C Side-by-Side

Download the full side-by-side document.

• Subpart A: General
• Subpart B: State Application for Grant and Requirements for a Statewide System
• Subpart C: Procedures for Making Grants to States
• Subpart D: Program and Service Components of a Statewide System of Early Intervention Services
• Subpart E: Procedural Safeguards
• Subpart F: State Administration
• Subpart G: State Interagency Coordinating Council
• Subpart H: Monitoring and Enforcement, Reporting, and Allocation of Funds

25 Years, 25 Stories

Read about 25 young children whose lives have been touched by IDEA Parts C and B, Sec. 619.

IDEA Part B619

• Aizaliz Reyes
• Cailee Layton
• Cullen Stafford
• Dawson Scoggins
• Gavin Blount
• Hannah Gross
• Joseph Kuzian
• Kiera Sanderfer
• Spencer Ashrafi

Share Your Own Story

Do you know a young child who has benefitted from IDEA's early childhood programs? Tell us about it on Facebook!

CEC Resources

• CEC's 2012 Federal Outlook for Exceptional Children
• Browse CEC publications about early childhood
• Browse recent CEC journal articles about early childhood

Other Resources

• CEC's Division for Early Childhood (DEC)
• IDEA Infant & Toddler Coordinators Association (ITCA)
• National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (NECTAC)
• Part C Web site, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)
• Part C Video, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS)