Indicator C3: Early Childhood Outcomes

OSEP Resources

• Part C SPP/APR Packages
  • SPP/APR Instructions – This OSEP document, which is part of the SPP/APR package, provides information on the content that must be provided in Indicator C3: Early Childhood Outcomes. It specifically references information about slippage, targets, and resetting baseline.
  • SPP/APR Measurement Table – This OSEP document lists the monitoring priorities, required data sources for Indicator C3: Early Childhood Outcomes, its measurement, and instructions for providing the required information for this indicator.
  • SPP/APR Related Requirements – This OSEP document, which is part of the SPP/APR Package, includes a list of the Monitoring Priorities and Indicators, including Indicator C3: Early Childhood Outcomes, and the requirements from the statutes and regulations that are related to this indicator.
• OSEP’s Universal TA for FFY 2020-2025 – This OSEP document provides information about resetting baseline and target setting and applies to Indicator C3: Early Childhood Outcomes.
• IDEA Part C SPP/APR User Guide – This User Guide explains the basic mechanics` of system access and navigation and the specific steps required to submit the SPP/APR report. It provides some general information about target setting and resetting baseline, which is applicable to Indicator C3: Early Childhood Outcomes.

TA Resources

• Child Outcomes Calculators and Graphing Templates – These tools convert Indicator C3: Early Childhood Outcomes progress category data to summary statements, compare statements across years, calculate data completeness, and provide templates for generating graphs to represent the data. States can use the Summary Statement calculator when comparing the auto-calculations with their own calculations and for ‘Calculating the Number and Percentage of Infants and Toddlers Who Did Not Receive Early Intervention Services for at Least Six Months.’
• Converting Child Outcomes Data to OSEP Progress Categories/Summary Statements – This resource explains how the child outcomes data that local programs collect are converted to the national data reported annually to the federal government for Indicator C3: Early Childhood Outcomes.
• Converting COS Data to OSEP Progress Categories/Summary Statements – This resource shows how Child Outcomes Summary (COS) data are converted to the child outcomes progress categories and summary statements that states report annually to the federal government for Indicator C3: Early Childhood Outcomes.
• Slippage definition – see IDEA Part C SPP/APR User Guide [page 25] – This resource provides the definition of slippage, which is helpful to understand, especially if the state is required to explain reasons for slippage for Indicator C3: Early Childhood Outcomes.
• Slippage Examples – This resource provides examples of slippage for Indicator C3: Early Childhood Outcomes.
• SPP/APR Submission Guidance: Checklist and Tips – Indicator C3 Early Childhood Outcomes – This resource helps ensure states have included all required data and narrative in Indicator C3: Early Childhood Outcomes including:
  • Accuracy of historical data for Part C NOT serving “at-risk” infants and toddlers
  • Current FFY data, including description of slippage, if applicable, for Part C NOT serving “at-risk” infants and toddlers
  • Accuracy of historical data for Part C serving “at-risk” infants and toddlers
  • Current FFY data, including description of slippage, if applicable, for Part C serving “at-risk” infants and toddlers
  • Number of infants and toddlers who did not receive early intervention services for at least six months
  • Sampling and Data Collection

  It also reminds states to review and address any required actions within “OSEP Response” and “Required Actions” as outlined in the prior year’s SPP/APR

• SPP/APR Submission Guidance Data Calculations – Indicator C3: Early Childhood Outcomes – This resource provides detailed information about the data needed for the early childhood outcomes calculation based on the federal measurement table and related documentation. Specifically, it provides information about general considerations (e.g., calculations involve five progress categories and two summary statements for each of the three child outcomes), the data needed for the numerator and denominator, data points for the calculation, data sources, and an example calculation
• SPP/APR Submission Guidance: Sampling for Indicators C3: Early Childhood Outcomes, B7: Preschool Outcomes, and C4: Family Outcomes – This resource provides guidance for sampling from the FFY Part C and Part B SPP/APR Package General Instructions.
• Stakeholder Knowledge Toolkit – This toolkit orients Part C and Part B 619 stakeholders to IDEA data and other data-related topics to help them meaningfully participate in conversations about programmatic issues and decisions related to Indicator C3: Early Childhood Outcomes.
• Target Setting Guide – This guide provides general and indicator-specific information that can be used for target setting for SPP/APR results indicators including Indicator C3: Early Childhood Outcomes.

Published September 2026.