Title 20EducationRelease 119-73

§1438 Uses of funds

Title 20 › Chapter CHAPTER 33— - EDUCATION OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - INFANTS AND TODDLERS WITH DISABILITIES › § 1438

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

States that get money under section 1433 must use some of it to run the statewide system. They may also use the funds for other specific purposes. They can pay for direct early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families when no other public or private money covers them. They can expand or improve existing services for these children and families. They can provide the public-school education required under subchapter II for children with disabilities from their third birthday until the start of the next school year. With the parents’ written consent, they can keep providing early intervention services from a child’s third birthday until the child enters or is eligible for kindergarten instead of that school program. If a State does not serve at-risk infants and toddlers under section 1437(a)(4), the funds can be used to build or improve community partnerships to identify, refer, and follow up on at-risk infants and toddlers.

Full Legal Text

Title 20, §1438

Education — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

In addition to using funds provided under section 1433 of this title to maintain and implement the statewide system required by such section, a State may use such funds—
(1)for direct early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities, and their families, under this subchapter that are not otherwise funded through other public or private sources;
(2)to expand and improve on services for infants and toddlers and their families under this subchapter that are otherwise available;
(3)to provide a free appropriate public education, in accordance with subchapter II, to children with disabilities from their third birthday to the beginning of the following school year;
(4)with the written consent of the parents, to continue to provide early intervention services under this subchapter to children with disabilities from their 3rd birthday until such children enter, or are eligible under State law to enter, kindergarten, in lieu of a free appropriate public education provided in accordance with subchapter II; and
(5)in any State that does not provide services for at-risk infants and toddlers under section 1437(a)(4) of this title, to strengthen the statewide system by initiating, expanding, or improving collaborative efforts related to at-risk infants and toddlers, including establishing linkages with appropriate public or private community-based organizations, services, and personnel for the purposes of—
(A)identifying and evaluating at-risk infants and toddlers;
(B)making referrals of the infants and toddlers identified and evaluated under subparagraph (A); and
(C)conducting periodic follow-up on each such referral to determine if the status of the infant or toddler involved has changed with respect to the eligibility of the infant or toddler for services under this subchapter.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 1438, Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, § 638, as added Pub. L. 105–17, title I, § 101, June 4, 1997, 111 Stat. 114, related to uses of funds, prior to the general amendment of subchapters I to IV of this chapter by Pub. L. 108–446.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

20 U.S.C. § 1438

Title 20Education

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73