Once you refer your child to Early Steps, Florida's early intervention program for children under 3, a federal and state clock starts. Within 45 calendar days, the local Early Steps office must evaluate your child and, if your child is eligible, hold the first IFSP meeting. Knowing what should happen along the way helps you spot delays early and keep things moving. This guide walks through the 45 days step by step, using section 391.308, Florida Statutes, and the Early Steps Policy Handbook updated 14 October 2026.
When does the 45-day clock start?
On the day the local Early Steps (LES) office receives the referral. The handbook says, "The referral date is the date the referral is received at the LES" (Policy 2.3.4 A). A referral is complete "as long as there is adequate information to contact the parents/guardian," even if other details are missing (Policy 2.3.4 D).
Anyone involved in a child's care can refer, including parents. Doctors, hospitals, child care programs and other primary referral sources are told to refer "as soon as possible but in no case more than seven calendar days after identifying a child who may have a developmental delay or an established condition" (Policy 2.3.1 B). If you refer your child yourself, the clock starts sooner. See how to refer to Early Steps.
What happens on each step?
| Step | Deadline | What should happen | Policy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Referral received | Day 0 | The clock starts. A service coordinator is assigned at the point of referral | 2.3.4, 4.1.3 |
| First contact | Within 5 calendar days | The office contacts you to confirm the referral and explain next steps | 2.3.6, 3.2.2 |
| First contacts | During the first 44 days | Your service coordinator talks with you before the evaluation, gathers information, and tells you about the local Family Resource Specialist | 3.2.1, 3.2.3, 3.2.6 |
| Screening (optional) | Within 45 days, if used | Only with notice and your consent; you can ask for a full evaluation at any time | 3.3.1 |
| Consent and notice | Before testing | You sign consent on the state form, and you get prior written notice of the evaluation date | 3.4.1, 3.4.2 |
| Evaluation and assessment | Within 45 days | At least two people from two or more disciplines; all five developmental areas; family assessment (voluntary) | 3.4.3, 3.4.8, 3.5.2, 3.2.5 |
| Initial IFSP meeting | By day 45 | A face-to-face meeting to write the IFSP for an eligible child | 5.5.1 |
| IFSP copy | Within 15 calendar days of the meeting | You receive a copy of the IFSP | 5.1.5 |
| Services begin | Within 30 days of your consent to each service | Each service starts as soon as possible | 5.3.11 B, 6.10.1 |
The statute says the same thing in shorter form: the local office must "Evaluate a child to determine eligibility within 45 calendar days after the child is referred," and the IFSP must "Be completed within 45 calendar days after the child is referred to the program" (s. 391.308(4)(a), (4)(f)1.).
A worked example
This is an illustration only, with made-up dates. Suppose the local office receives your child's referral on Monday, 2 November 2026.
- By 7 November 2026: the office should contact you (5 calendar days).
- November into December: your service coordinator talks with you, you sign consent, and the evaluation and assessment are scheduled, with written notice of the date.
- By 17 December 2026: the evaluation is finished and, if your child is eligible, the initial IFSP meeting is held (45 calendar days).
- Within 30 days of signing consent for each service: services start. If you consent to services at the IFSP meeting on 17 December, the outer limit for each would be mid-January 2027.
Holidays do not stop the Early Steps clock: the rule is 45 calendar days. That is different from school district evaluations, which exclude school breaks.
Can the 45 days be extended?
Only in narrow cases. Policy 5.5.2 says the 45-day timeline does not apply for any period when the child or parent is unavailable "due to exceptional circumstances that are documented in the child's Early Steps record," or when the parent has not given consent "despite documented, repeated attempts." If the meeting happens late, the office must document the reason and finish "as soon as possible" after the circumstances end.
If your child needs help right away and the evaluation is not finished, the team can write an interim IFSP with your consent so services can start. The full evaluation and initial IFSP must still be done within the 45 days (Policies 5.4.1 to 5.4.3). For illness or similar exceptional circumstances, the handbook also allows an interim IFSP while the evaluation is delayed (Policy 3.4.9).
Practical tip: answer calls from Early Steps quickly, return consent forms promptly, and tell your service coordinator about any dates you are unavailable. Delays caused by the family can pause the clock.
Can the evaluation be skipped?
Sometimes, which can make the process faster. Policy 3.5.1 says a new evaluation is not needed if your child has an established condition (autism spectrum disorder is on the list), an at-risk condition, an evaluation "within the past 90 days" using an accepted tool, or screening results showing age-appropriate development. Your child still receives an assessment to plan services. If your child has an autism diagnosis, give Early Steps the written report, since the handbook requires written confirmation of the diagnosis for eligibility (Policy 3.1.2 B). See Early Steps eligibility criteria.
What if my child is almost 3?
The 45 days interact with the third birthday:
- Referral fewer than 45 days before the third birthday: with your consent, Early Steps refers your child to the school district and the Department of Education, but "is not required to conduct an evaluation/assessment, determine eligibility or develop an initial IFSP" (Policy 2.3.7).
- Eligible more than 45 but fewer than 90 days before the birthday: the office must notify the district and the Department of Education "as soon as possible" (Policy 7.2.4).
If your child is close to 3, contact the district at the same time; see how to request a preschool evaluation.
How does this compare with a school evaluation?
| Early Steps (under 3) | School district (3 to kindergarten) | |
|---|---|---|
| Clock starts | When the local office receives the referral | When the district receives your signed consent to evaluate |
| Deadline | 45 calendar days to evaluation and IFSP meeting | 60 calendar days to finish the evaluation; IEP within 30 days of eligibility |
| Excluded days | Only documented family circumstances or missing consent | School holidays, breaks, summer and some other days |
| Rule | s. 391.308(4); Handbook 5.5.1 | Rule 6A-6.0331(3)(g); Rule 6A-6.03028 |
What if Early Steps misses the deadline?
- Ask your service coordinator, in writing, for the date of the evaluation and IFSP meeting and the reason for any delay.
- Ask to speak with the coordinator's supervisor or the local Family Resource Specialist.
- Early Steps has procedural safeguards, including mediation, due process hearings and state complaints, described in the handbook and in the Summary of Procedural Safeguards you receive.
Getting ready for the first IFSP meeting? Use our IFSP meeting preparation guide.
Can private ABA start while we wait?
Yes. Private ABA does not depend on Early Steps, and many families of autistic toddlers use both. Insurance-funded ABA usually needs an autism diagnosis. Hope Center has no waitlist; from first call to first session can be as little as three weeks, depending on paperwork and insurance approval. We offer a free benefits check for Florida Blue, Aetna, Cigna (Evernorth), UMR, Personify Health and TRICARE East plans, and self-pay with a sliding scale. Contact us or call 561-337-8865.