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Eligibility & Referrals

Age & Disability

Infants and toddlers from birth to age 36 months may be eligible for early intervention services through Early Start if, through documented evaluation and assessment, they meet one of the criteria listed below:

  • have a developmental delay of at least 25% in one or more areas of cognitive, communication, social or emotional, adaptive, or physical and motor development including vision and hearing; or

  • have an established risk condition of known etiology, with a high probability of resulting in delayed development; or

  • be considered at high risk of having a substantial developmental disability due to a combination of biomedical risk factors of which are diagnosed by qualified personnel

Residency Requirements

Early Start provides services for the following school districts:

  • El Segundo USD
  • Hawthorne SD
  • Hermosa Beach City SD
  • Inglewood USD
  • Lawndale ESD
  • Lennox SD
  • Manhattan Beach USD
  • Palos Verdes Peninsula USD
  • Redondo Beach USD
  • Torrance USD
  • Wiseburn SD

If you would like to reach out to us to verify eligibility and enroll, please give us a call us at 310-973-1300 ext. 50115. Our office is located at the Kit-Carson Campus (3150 W 147th St, Hawthorne, 90250) and is open Monday through Friday, 8:00am-4:00pm. 

Referral

To apply for the program, the FIRST STEP is to contact the Southwest Special Education Local Plan Area (SW SELPA) and ask for an Early Start Specialist. 

The SW SELPA Early Start Bright Beginnings Program provides services for the following school districts:

  • El Segundo USD
  • Hawthorne SD
  • Hermosa Beach City SD
  • Inglewood USD
  • Lawndale ESD
  • Lennox SD
  • Manhattan Beach USD
  • Palos Verdes Peninsula USD
  • Redondo Beach USD
  • Torrance USD
  • Wiseburn SD

What happens after a referral?

Once the residency verification has been approved, within 45-days, our program shall:

  • Assign a service coordinator to assist the family through evaluation and assessment procedures

  • Obtain parental consent for evaluation

  • Schedule and complete evaluations and assessments of the child's development.

  • If an infant or toddler is eligible for early intervention services, an Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) will be developed that addresses the strengths, and needs of the infant or toddler, parental concerns, and early intervention services.

  • Identify early intervention services that are provided in the family home or other community settings.