California Early Start Program

California Early Start Program is sponsored by San Diego Regional Center (as part of California Department of Developmental Services). A federally funded program through Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Early Start : CA Department of Developmental Services The Early Start (ES) program is California’s early intervention program for infants and toddlers with developmental delays or at risk for having a developmental disability and their families. Early Start services are available statewide and are provided in a coordinated, family-centered system.

Parents, caregivers, and families can find a comprehensive overview of the Early Start Program below. Download the Early Start Information Packet: All links open PDF files in a new browser tab. Arabic Armenian Cambodian (Khmer) Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Traditional) Dari Farsi Hindi Hmong Japanese Korean Lao Mien Portuguese Russian Tagalog Urdu Vietnamese What is Early Start?

(Services for Children ages 0-3) The Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities was enacted in 1986 under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA; 20; U.S.C. , Section 1431 et seq.)

This program is California’s response to federal legislation ensuring that early intervention services for infants and toddler with disabilities and their families are provided in a coordinated, family-centered system of services that are available statewide. For more information on Early Start, please visit the What is Early Start? webpage.

Parent's Rights (Procedural Safeguards, Early Start Complaint Process, and Other Parent Resources) Parents have rights and access to procedural safeguards to assure that early intervention services are provided in a manner appropriate to the child’s needs and concerns of the family.

Procedural safeguards include: confidentiality, access to records, evaluation and assessment, individual family service plans, and periodic and annual individual family service plan review. For more information, please see The Parent’s Rights Booklet and The Parent’s Rights-2 pager . Learn more about the Early Start Complaint Process here.

CADRE- Center for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education CADRE’s Technical Assistance (TA) is designed to increase the nation’s capacity (parents and professionals) to prevent and resolve special education and early intervention disputes to improve outcomes for children and youth with disabilities.

CADRE- Quick Guide to Early Intervention Dispute Resolution Guide developed by CADRE to support parents in understanding the Dispute Resolution Process for Families of Infants & Toddlers (Birth through Age 2) Local Resources (Information and Resources for Accessing Early Intervention Services) DDS coordinates services through 21 community-based regional centers.

They assess eligibility, provide case management, and arrange services in each person’s Individual Program Plan (IPP). FRCs partner with regional centers and education agencies to help families learn about early intervention and navigate the Early Start system. Family Resource Centers Network of California A statewide coalition supporting Early Start FRC staff with professional development and peer connections.

For more information, visit the Resources for Families, Parents & Caregivers page.

Developmental Milestones & Trackers (Resources and Information for Tracking Age-Appropriate Child Development) CDC Childhood Milestones Tracker Track your child’s milestones from age 2 months to 5 years with CDC’s easy-to-use illustrated checklists; get tips from CDC for encouraging your child’s development; and find out what to do if you are ever concerned about how your child is developing.

John Hopkins Developmental Milestones provides parents and caregivers examples of how to support their child’s learning, development and emotional security with lots of positive interaction and age-appropriate activities that practice specific skills. Stanford Medicine’s Milestones Related to Speech & Language The ability to hear is essential for proper speech and language development.

This website lists some age-related guidelines that may help to decide if your child is experiencing hearing problems.

Deaf & Hard of Hearing (DHH) (Resources for Families Navigating Services for Their Child Who is Hard of Hearing or Deaf) LEAD-K Family Services – Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Early Start Referrals LEAD-K Family Services functions as California’s current Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) program.

Their centralized services connect families with local school districts, Early Start home visit teachers, parent mentors, Deaf coaches, and other supports outlined in an Individualized Family Support Plan (IFSP).

Early Start Education – LEAD-K Family Services Information and Resources – LEAD-K Family Services Language First educates and raises awareness about ASL/English bilingualism and the importance of a strong first-language foundation for Deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) children.

Below are links and resources from the California Department of Education (CDE) to help families understand IFSP services and language milestones for their children.

Resource Guide for Parents of Infants and Toddlers Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing – CDE Position Statement on Language Access – Deaf Education (CDE) SB 210 Language Development Milestones (English) – CDE SB 210 Hitos del desarrollo del lenguaje (Spanish) – CDE Schools for the Deaf – State Special Schools (CDE) The California Schools for the Deaf in Riverside and Fremont provide comprehensive residential and non-residential educational programs that include academic, non-academic, and extracurricular activities.

Early Childhood Education – CSD Riverside Early Childhood Education – CSD Fremont Inclusion (Resources and Information on Inclusive Early Intervention Policies and Practices) Inclusive Early Education Resources Resources provided by the California State Preschool Program (CSPP) to support inclusive policies and practices for early care and education.

The purpose of the Inclusive Early Education Expansion Program (IEEEP) Grant is to increase access to inclusive early learning and care programs for children with disabilities, including children with severe disabilities.

Embedded Instruction for Early Learning Embedded Instruction is an evidence-based multi-component approach for planning, implementing, and evaluating instruction for preschool children with disabilities in inclusive settings. Family Videos (Personal stories of Families Receiving Early Start Services) The Family Stories videos provide personal stories from families whose children have received Early Start services.

Season One offers stories from four families: Samantha, Quimby, Oliver, and Hadley; Kaitlynn Troung, Leo, and Family; Amanda Smith, Haven, and Family; and Diamond, Greg, Justus, Jordan, Journey, and Jadyn Alexander.

Transition (Resources and Information for Children Ages 3-5) The IEEEP Grant was established for the purpose of increasing access to inclusive early learning and care programs, particularly in low-income and high-need communities, for children with disabilities, including children with severe disabilities.

California Department of Education The California Department of Education’s, Early Education Division (EED) (in collaboration with the Special Education Division) supports three- and four-year-old children to access high-quality, inclusive education environments.

This guide identifies both required elements for transition and recommended practices to support families and their children as they successfully navigate transition from Early Start to other services at age three. Preschool IEP Tips and School Tour Checklist Undivided is an organization focused on providing support to families raising children with disabilities and developmental delays.

Undivided’s long-term goal isn’t just to help individual families but to change the way all families access services for their kids. The Preschool IEP Tips and School Tour Checklist is one of many resources Undivided offers to support families navigating services, specifically for searching for a school and preparing for an IEP.

Family Outcomes Survey (Share your experience with California's Early Start program) The Family Outcomes Survey focuses on the helpfulness of early intervention. Your feedback is crucial so the department can learn about your experience and improve the Early Start program. If you would like to share your experience with California’s Early Start program, please click on the link below to access a brief survey.

Please enter your child’s date of birth, zip code, ethnicity and unique client identifier (UCI) at the top of the form. If you are unsure of your child’s UCI, please reach out to your service coordinator. If you have any questions or if you need help completing the survey, please call 800-515-BABY (800-515-2229) or earlystart@dds.

ca. gov . For more information on the Family Outcomes Survey, please visit: https://www.

dds. ca. gov/services/early-start/familyoutcomessurvey/ Fiscal Year 2026-27 Part C Early Education Grant Guidelines for Applicants For Fiscal Year 2026-27, the Department assumes responsibility to allocate the federal Part C Early Education funds to Special Education Local Plan Areas (SELPAs) and Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) that support infants and toddlers with solely low-incidence disabilities.

View Part C Early Education Grant Guidelines for Applicants Training & Technical Assistance (Resources for Parents and Professionals Seeking Early Intervention Training and Assistance) The Early Start Neighborhood provides a virtual community for Early Start professionals, partners, parents, and caregivers seeking information, resources, training, and technical assistance on early intervention, Part C requirements, implementation, and evidence-based practices.

The Early Start service system was implemented in 1993 under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to enhance and coordinate quality early intervention services for eligible infants and toddlers (birth – three years of age) and their families in California.

The delivery of quality early intervention services envisioned by Part C of IDEA requires that personnel are qualified and appropriately trained to provide those services to eligible infants and toddlers and their families.

The Department of Developmental Services (DDS) Early Start Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD) provides the framework for coordinating the delivery of personnel development activities throughout California. DDS contracts with the WestEd Center for Prevention and Early Intervention to facilitate the implementation of CSPD projects.

The California Early Intervention Technical Assistance Network (CEITAN) provides online training for early intervention service coordinators, service providers, specialists, administrators, and other early intervention personnel.

Early Start Online Training includes: Early Start Foundations and Skill Builders have been designed to provide service providers and service coordinators with an early intervention curriculum that addresses the many requirements and needs considered critical for delivering appropriate early intervention services. For registration information, visit WestEd Online Registration .

The following CSPD projects are collaborative efforts of DDS and interagency community partners: Supporting Early Education Delivery Systems (SEEDS) — contracted by CDE through the Sacramento County Office of Education, SEEDS provides technical assistance to early childhood agencies through a network of consultants and visitation sites that demonstrate exemplary practices in early childhood special education.

Training and Technical Assistance Collaborator (TTAC) — a collaboration of interagency partnerships in California dedicated to delivering quality personnel development activities for children birth–5 with disabilities and other special needs and their families. They have developed and promoted core messages for effective training and technical assistance.

For more information about these projects, please contact: WestEd Center for Prevention and Early Intervention Additional training opportunities that support personnel development in California: Infant Development Association (IDA) Additional technical assistance: CADRE – Center for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education ECTA – Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center Laws & Regulations (References to State and Federal Laws that Impact California's Early Start Program) Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, Part C; California Early Intervention Services Act; and Title 17 California Early Start was developed in response to federal legislation authorizing states to maintain and implement statewide interagency systems that provide early intervention services.

The Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities was enacted in 1986 under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA; 20; U.S.C. , Section 1431 et seq.) IDEA, Part C , was reauthorized by Congress in 1997 with the law becoming effective July 1, 1998.

Final federal regulations became effective in March of 1999 and are found in Title 34, Code of Federal Regulations , Part 303. More information on these laws and regulations can be found at The Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center California Early Intervention Services Act (CEISA) established state authority to develop an early intervention service system that was congruent with federal requirements.

The California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) plans, develops, implements, and monitors the statewide early intervention services system in collaboration with the California Department of Education (CDE), and with advice and assistance from the State Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC).

The Departments of Public Health, Health Care Services, and Social Services cooperate and coordinate with DDS and CDE in the delivery of early intervention services. This document was updated in 2025. It is a compilation of the federal and state statutes and regulations, below, that authorize, fund, and regulate Early Start.

State regulations governing Early Start were approved in August of 1998 and are found in Title 17, California Code of Regulations, Section 52000 through 52175 . Other Legislative Information The California Legislative Counsel maintains the official site for California legislative information.

This site has the full text of California statutes, the State Constitution, and new legislation including bills, resolutions, and constitutional amendments.

Lanterman Act and Related Laws Early Start Program Guidance (Outreach Materials to Increase the Community's Knowledge and Understanding of Early Intervention Services) Early Start Program Guidance Materials Early Start has a variety of outreach materials available that increase appropriate referrals, increase the community’s knowledge and understanding of early intervention services, and support families’ role in early intervention.

Regional Center Projects Focusing on Early Childhood (Projects Focused on Mental Health for Young Children and Their Families) The Department of Developmental Services receives Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) funds for regional centers to develop and oversee innovative projects. These projects focus on treatment for children and families with mental health diagnoses.

The following projects focused on mental health for young children and their families: Redwood Coast Regional Center: Families and Supports Together (F. A. S.

T.) Redwood Coast Regional Center, in collaboration with several local agencies, will target improved social and emotional development in children birth to age five. Participating agencies include Easter Seals to implement early intervention programs, North Coast Nature Center to provide Incredible Years training, Autism Intervention Professionals for behavior consultation, and RL Therapies for speech and ancillary therapy.

This project will: Host events and trainings to build workforce capacity in social and emotional development; Provide monthly virtual Parent Academies to families in rural areas in both Spanish and English to educate parents on social emotional development skill building; and Develop and implement programs for children up to five years of age who demonstrate a significant delay in social and emotional functioning.

Mendocino County, Lake County, Humboldt County, and Del Norte County This guide identifies both required elements for transition and recommended practices to support families and their children as they successfully navigate transition from Early Start to other services at age three.

[/ca_accordion_panel]--> Deaf & Hard of Hearing (DHH) Resources (Information and Resources for Professionals Serving the DHH Community) Language First (Professionals) Language First is available to help any and all professionals in deaf education— speech-language pathologists, teachers of the deaf, educational interpreters, audiologists, ASL specialists, and psychologists.

Professionals can access the following resource materials to reference language access and language milestones: CDE: Resource Guide for Parents of Infants and Toddlers Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Position Statement on Language Access – Deaf Education (CA Dept of Education) Milestones in English SB 210 Language Development Milestones – Deaf Education (CA Dept of Education) Milestones in Spanish SB 210 Hitos del desarrollo del lenguaje – Deaf Education (CA Dept of Education) State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP) (State Plan Focused on Social and Emotional Development of Infants and Toddlers) State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP) The SSIP is a multi-year plan that comprises three phases intended to improve the social and emotional development of infants and toddlers in the Early Start program.

Annual Part C Grant Application (Grant Submitted to Federal Government for Funding California's Early Start Program) Annual Part C Grant Application Annually, DDS submits the Part C grant application to the federal government, which addresses the State budget for California’s statewide system of early intervention services for infants and toddlers (birth to three years of age).

Early Start State Performance Reports (Data and Graphics on Early Start Service) Early Start Local Performance Materials In accordance with Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Part C, the Department of Developmental Services is required to report on the performance of each local program compared to the state targets in the State Performance Plan Early Start State Performance Reports Information pertaining to the Annual Performance Report (APR), Monitoring Reports, and Early Start Local Performance materials.

Regional Center Directives (Policy Guidance & Instructions) Regional Center Directives DDS frequently distributes directives to regional centers that provide guidance and instruction on a variety of policy issues, which are posted to the DDS website.

Employment (Resources for Seeking Employment in Early Intervention) DDS is always looking for creative and talented individuals who enjoy working with and helping people to apply for career opportunities.

Be Part of Early Intervention – Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children The Division for Early Childhood (DEC) is an organization dedicated to supporting families and young children with developmental delays and disabilities. DEC developed a video defining early intervention services and outlining its evidence based practices.

Interagency Coordinating Council (Quarterly Early Start Public Meeting) The ICC convenes every four months utilizing an interagency collaboration to promote and enhance a coordinated family service system for infants and toddlers, ages birth to three years, who have, or are at risk for having, a disability, and their families.

SSIP Task Force (Stakeholders Assigned to Identify Areas to Improve Child and Family Outcomes) The SSIP Task Force was established in 2014, consisting of a diverse group of stakeholders assigning the the Department of Developmental Services in analyzing available data and information and determined the areas for focused improvement and resulting strategies that would result in improved child and family outcomes.

Annual Part C Grant Application Public Input (60-day Public Input Period on Utilization of Funds for the Early Start Program) Prior to DDS submitting the Part C grant application to the federal government, the application is posted for 60 days to ensure public input is received.

Calendar of all DDS Public Meetings Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Annual Family Program Fee Annual Part C Grant Application Be Part of Early Intervention- Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children CADRE- Center for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education CADRE- Quick Guide to Early Intervention Dispute Resolution Processes for Families of Infants & Toddlers (Birth through Age 2) ( cadreworks.

org ) CDC Childhood Milestones Tracker California Department of Education- Inclusive Early Education California Early Start Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Central Directory of Early Intervention Services Developmental Services Stakeholder Events Developmental Services Task Force Early Childhood Education: Early Childhood Education – CSD Fremont Early Childhood Education: Early Childhood Education – CSD Riverside Early Start Community Infographic Early Start Frequently Asked Questions Early Start Information Packet Early Start Local Performance Materials Early Start Online Resources Early Start Report Software Guide Early Start State Performance Reports Embedded Instruction for Early Learning Family Cost Participation Program Family Resource Centers Network of California Inclusive Early Education Resources Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC) on Early Intervention Overview John Hopkins Developmental Milestones Language First (Professionals) Milestones in English SB 210 Language Development Milestones – Deaf Education (CA Dept of Education) Milestones in Spanish SB 210 Hitos del desarrollo del lenguaje – Deaf Education (CA Dept of Education) Position Statement on Language Access – Deaf Education (CA Dept of Education) Preschool IEP and School Tour Checklist Regional Center Directives Regional Center Early Start Intake and Family Resource Centers Resources for Families, Parents & Caregivers Stanford’s Reference of Developmental Milestones State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP) Take a Minute – Relationships Matter Training & Technical Assistance Last modified: July 24, 2026 Sacramento, CA 94244-2020 Early Start BabyLine Referrals Info: 800-515-BABY (800-515-2229) Email: earlystart@dds.

ca. gov