34 CFR § 303.303 - Referral procedures.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t34/s303.303"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "34 CFR § 303.303 - Referral procedures."
title_number: 34
title_name: "Education"
section_number: "303.303"
section_name: "Referral procedures."
chapter_name: "OFFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION"
part_number: "303"
part_name: "EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS WITH DISABILITIES"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "20 U.S.C. 1431 through 1444, unless otherwise noted."
regulatory_source: "76 FR 60244, Sept. 28, 2011, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "303"
---


# 303.303 Referral procedures.

(a) *General.* (1) The lead agency's child find system described in § 303.302 must include the State's procedures for use by primary referral sources for referring a child under the age of three to the part C program.

(2) The procedures required in paragraph (a)(1) of this section must—

(i) Provide for referring a child as soon as possible, but in no case more than seven days, after the child has been identified; and

(ii) Meet the requirements in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section.

(b) *Referral of specific at-risk infants and toddlers.* The procedures required in paragraph (a) of this section must provide for requiring the referral of a child under the age of three who—

(1) Is the subject of a substantiated case of child abuse or neglect; or

(2) Is identified as directly affected by illegal substance abuse or withdrawal symptoms resulting from prenatal drug exposure.

(c) *Primary referral sources.* As used in this subpart, primary referral sources include—

(1) Hospitals, including prenatal and postnatal care facilities;

(2) Physicians;

(3) Parents, including parents of infants and toddlers;

(4) Child care programs and early learning programs;

(5) LEAs and schools;

(6) Public health facilities;

(7) Other public health or social service agencies;

(8) Other clinics and health care providers;

(9) Public agencies and staff in the child welfare system, including child protective service and foster care;

(10) Homeless family shelters; and

(11) Domestic violence shelters and agencies.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1412(a)(3)(A), 1431, 1434(1), 1435(a)(2), 1435(a)(5), 1435(a)(6), 1435(c)(2)(G), 1437(a)(6), 1437(a)(10), 1441)