SB2823 • 2026

First Steps Early Intervention Program under Part C of Federal IDEA; State Department of Education meet state compliance under.

AN ACT TO DESIGNATE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AS THE LEAD AGENCY TO IMPLEMENT THE STATE'S EARLY INTERVENTION (EI) PROGRAM UNDER SECTION 618 OF THE FEDERAL IDEA PART C REQUIRING DATA ABOUT INFANTS AND TODDLERS, AGES BIRTH THROUGH TWO, WHO RECEIVE EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES; TO AUTHORIZE AND DIRECT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO MEET STATE COMPLIANCE STANDARDS WITH PART C REQUIREMENTS AND IMPROVE ACCESS TO EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES; TO AUTHORIZE AND DIRECT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO DEVELOP LEGISLATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE FIRST STEPS EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM AS REPORTED BY THE 2024 MISSISSIPPI IDEA C EARLY INTERVENTION TASK FORCE CREATED BY SENATE BILL NO. 2727, 2024 REGULAR SESSION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Children Education

Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor: Blackmon
Last action: 2026-02-03
Official status: Dead
Effective date: July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

The bill's status is 'Did Not Pass', meaning it has no legal effect and its provisions have not been implemented.

Designating State Board of Education as Lead Agency for Early Intervention

This bill designates the State Board of Education as the lead agency to implement early intervention services for infants and toddlers under federal IDEA Part C requirements, improving data collection and access.

What This Bill Does

Designates the State Board of Education as the main agency responsible for implementing the state's Early Intervention Program under federal IDEA Part C.
Requires the State Board of Education to collect and report data on infants and toddlers receiving early intervention services.
Directs the State Board of Education to improve access to these services and meet compliance standards with Part C requirements.

Who It Names or Affects

Infants and toddlers up to age two who need early intervention services
The State Board of Education

Terms To Know

Early Intervention (EI) Program: A program that provides support and services for infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities.
Part C of IDEA: The part of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act that focuses on early intervention services for children from birth to age two.

Limits and Unknowns

This bill did not pass during its session and therefore has no legal effect.
It is unclear how many infants and toddlers will benefit directly from these changes if the bill were to be enacted.

Bill History

2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/03 (S) Died In Committee
2026-01-19 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/19 (S) Referred To Education;Appropriations

Official Summary Text

First Steps Early Intervention Program under Part C of Federal IDEA; State Department of Education meet state compliance under.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

S. B. No. 2823 *SS08/R351* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/SS08/R351
PAGE 1 (rdd\kr)

To: Education;
Appropriations
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) Blackmon

SENATE BILL NO. 2823

AN ACT TO DESIGNATE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AS THE LEAD 1
AGENCY TO IMPLEMENT THE STATE'S EARLY INTERVENTION (EI) PROGRAM 2
UNDER SECTION 618 OF THE FEDERAL IDEA PART C REQUIRING DATA ABOUT 3
INFANTS AND TODDLERS, AGES BIRTH THROUGH TWO, WHO RECEIVE EARLY 4
INTERVENTION SERVICES; TO AUTHORIZE AND DIRECT THE STATE BOARD OF 5
EDUCATION TO MEET STATE COMPLIANCE STANDARDS WITH PART C 6
REQUIREMENTS AND IMPROVE ACCESS TO EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES; TO 7
AUTHORIZE AND DIRECT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO DEVELOP 8
LEGISLATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT 9
OF THE FIRST STEPS EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM AS REPORTED BY THE 10
2024 MISSISSIPPI IDEA C EARLY INTERVENTION TASK FORCE CREATED BY 11
SENATE BILL NO. 2727, 2024 REGULAR SESSION; AND FOR RELATED 12
PURPOSES. 13
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 14
SECTION 1. (1) The Legislature finds that Section 618 of the 15
federal IDEA requires that each state submit data about the 16
infants and toddlers, ages birth through age two (2), who receive 17
early intervention (EI) services under Part C to the U.S. 18
Department of Education (DOE) Office of Special Education 19
Programs, in order to improve and provide services for infants and 20
toddlers by providing leadership and financial support to assist 21
this program. This data requirement includes the number of 22
children served and the percentage of children in the state's 23
S. B. No. 2823 *SS08/R351* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS08/R351
PAGE 2 (rdd\kr)
ST: First Steps Early Intervention Program
under Part C of Federal IDEA; State Department
of Education meet state compliance under.
birth through two (2) years served in an EI program. The Federal 24
Department of Education has determined that the State of 25
Mississippi is not in compliance with Part C requirements and has 26
received a determination status of "needs intervention." 27
(2) The State Board of Education is hereby designated as the 28
lead agency to implement the state's Early Intervention (EI) 29
Program under Section 618 of the federal IDEA Part C requiring 30
data about infants and toddlers, ages birth through two (2), who 31
receive early intervention (EI) services. The State Board of 32
Education is authorized and directed to meet state compliance 33
standards with Part C requirements and to improve access to Early 34
Intervention services under Part C. 35
(3) The State Board of Education is further authorized and 36
directed to develop legislative recommendations regarding the 37
operation and management of the First Steps Early Intervention 38
Program as reported by the 2024 Mississippi IDEA Part C Early 39
Intervention Task Force created by Senate Bill No. 2727, 2024 40
Regular Session, and submit a report to the 2027 Regular Session. 41
(4) The goal of these recommendations shall be to 42
collaborate with the state agency coordinating Part C of IDEA to 43
design a new service delivery model and make changes to the Early 44
Intervention Program. 45
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 46
and after July 1, 2026. 47