We are pleased to see the significant investments Governor Hochul has proposed for early childhood care and education programs in the Executive Budget. When the State considers the needs of young children and their families, it must not forget children with developmental delays or disabilities — and New York’s Early Intervention (EI) program is currently in urgent need of comprehensive reform and a significant investment to ensure children receive their mandated services.

We urge the Legislature to:

1. Fulfill the promise made to providers and families by implementing the five percent rate increase promised in the FY 2025 State Budget.
2. Increase EI reimbursement rates by an additional eight percent for services delivered in person.
3. Fund a comprehensive assessment of the EI system to identify how to make services accessible, equitable and effective for every child who needs them, as proposed in the Early Intervention Reform Bill (A.283A/S.1222A).
4. Expand the pipeline of qualified early childhood professionals by providing loan forgiveness to individuals entering the EI workforce. Advance the Early Intervention Loan Forgiveness bill (A.1974/S.8290) to draw new providers into the EI field.