IFSP is the birth to age 3 version of IDEA. Which statement is true?

IFSP is the birth to age 3 version of IDEA. Which statement is true?

• A. Same as IDEA but birth to age 3
• B. The same as an IEP
• C. A medical eligibility document
• D. An early intervention plan for older youth

Answer: (A)

Understanding what an IFSP is helps explain why it’s described as the birth-to-age-3 version of IDEA. The IFSP, or Individualized Family Service Plan, is the plan used for infants and toddlers up to age 3 who need early intervention services. It centers on both the child and the family, is developed by a multidisciplinary team, and lays out the child’s present levels of development, family concerns and resources, the major outcomes to work toward, and the specific services the child will receive, including who will provide them and where. This plan falls under IDEA Part C, which covers birth through age 3. The school-age counterpart under IDEA is the IEP, which is for children 3 through 21 and typically delivered in educational settings. An IFSP is not a medical eligibility document, and it isn’t intended for older youth. So the statement that the IFSP is the birth-to-age-3 version of IDEA is the correct one.

Understanding what an IFSP is helps explain why it’s described as the birth-to-age-3 version of IDEA. The IFSP, or Individualized Family Service Plan, is the plan used for infants and toddlers up to age 3 who need early intervention services. It centers on both the child and the family, is developed by a multidisciplinary team, and lays out the child’s present levels of development, family concerns and resources, the major outcomes to work toward, and the specific services the child will receive, including who will provide them and where. This plan falls under IDEA Part C, which covers birth through age 3.

The school-age counterpart under IDEA is the IEP, which is for children 3 through 21 and typically delivered in educational settings. An IFSP is not a medical eligibility document, and it isn’t intended for older youth. So the statement that the IFSP is the birth-to-age-3 version of IDEA is the correct one.