Narrative Description of Indicator

Based on data provided by OSEP on www.ideadata.org, Maryland provided early intervention services to 4.10% of the Maryland 2021 resident birth to the three-year-old population of children. The percentage of children birth to three years of age receiving early intervention services in Maryland increased from 3.40% in FFY 2020 to 4.10% in FFY 2021.
 
Fifteen of Maryland’s 24 LITPs met the State target of 3.50% of the percentage of birth to three-year-old children receiving early intervention services. Meeting the State target is attributed to State/local targeted public awareness activities, including collaboration with local childcare providers, physicians, hospitals, audiologists, and local departments of social services.  Another contributing factor is the increased knowledge of many parents, as a result of popular media activities on the importance of the early childhood years in preparing a child for school. If the State target was not met, LITPs were required to develop and implement improvement plan strategies and, as necessary, received technical assistance from MSDE (note: 2020 resident population data were used for LEA determinations because 2021 data had not yet been released at the time of analysis).