Early intervention in Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, the early intervention program for babies and toddlers under 3 is listed by the ECTA Center's directory of Part C programs as Bureau of Early Intervention Services and Family Supports (Office of Child Development and Early Learning; Departments of Education and Human Services) (data current as of October 5, 2026). The program office is in Harrisburg. Like every state and territory program under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, it evaluates children whose families or doctors have concerns about development, and the evaluation is free.
ECTA lists two numbers for Pennsylvania: the referral line, (800) 692-7288, which is the one to call to request an evaluation, and the state office, (717) 265-8900.
How to request a free evaluation
- 1Call the referral line at (800) 692-7288. You do not need a doctor's referral.
- 2Say that you have concerns about your child's development and would like an evaluation to find out whether your child is eligible for early intervention services in Pennsylvania.
- 3Give your child's name, date of birth, your county and one or two examples of what you have noticed. Write down the date of the call and who you spoke with.
- 4Federal Part C rules give the program 45 days from the referral to complete the evaluation, the assessments and the first planning meeting, except in documented exceptional circumstances.
- 5If your child is 3 or older, call your local public elementary school instead and ask for a preschool special education evaluation.
Other programs: Oregon · Puerto Rico · all states