'Neglecting our children': Philadelphia's challenges demonstrate how young students across the country are being denied legally required support services

When Kimberly Halevys son Joshua was three, his preschool began raising concerns about his behavior. He struggled to participate in group activities and had difficulty interacting with other children. Although the preschool was run by a friend, they ultimately stated that Joshua could only continue attending if he received a one-on-one aide to manage his disruptive behavior.

Initially, Halevy expected obtaining support to be simple. However, navigating Philadelphias federally funded early intervention system proved to be a lengthy and exhausting process. Despite state evaluators recommending several weekly therapies for Joshua, services were delayed for months. Once providers did reach out, Halevy described the process as a guessing game for securing the occupational therapy and specialized instruction her son was legally entitled to.

Across Philadelphia, many children experience prolonged waits for early intervention services guaranteed by law, according to families, providers, and advocates. Federal law mandates that services begin as soon as possible after a childs Individualized Education Program (IEP) is completed, which Pennsylvania interprets as within 14 days. Yet some service lists, particularly for speech therapy, include over 2,000 families waiting for support.

Nationwide, early intervention providers face challenges due to insufficient funding and staffing. In Philadelphia, a major role falls to Elwyn, a 170-year-old nonprofit managing the citys publicly funded program. Advocates argue that neither Elwyn nor state officials ensure children receive services promptly.

Elwyn CEO Charles McLister stated that the organization evaluates children quickly and provides services for the majority of cases within the defined timeline. Delays, he explained, can occur due to family communication, transportation, scheduling, and staffing shortages. Pennsylvania Department of Education spokesperson Erin James acknowledged funding shortfalls, noting that the growing population of eligible children exceeds current resources.

Delays in early intervention can have significant impacts. Reports show Philadelphia children in these programs lag behind peers in key developmental areas, such as social-emotional skills. Advocates emphasize that waiting beyond the mandated period places children at a disadvantage, particularly affecting vulnerable populations.

In Pennsylvania, early intervention falls under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, ensuring children with developmental delays or disabilities receive appropriate public education. Most counties connect families to services through regional agencies. In Philadelphia, however, the state contracts Elwyn to manage the preschool early intervention program, assess children, develop IEPs, and coordinate providers.

For Halevy, the process was frustrating. After contacting Elwyn in July 2024, she expected services to start before preschool resumed in September. Instead, she faced delays due to scheduling, observation requirements, and provider availability. Joshua finally began occupational therapy in November and special instruction in December, months after his IEP was written.

Elwyns Philadelphia program serves around 11,000 preschool-age children, yet statewide data show children in this program make slower progress in social-emotional and skill development compared with state averages. Legal advocates report assisting more than 80 families last year whose children were denied timely services, disproportionately affecting Black and Brown children in poverty.

Challenges include inconsistent providers and staffing shortages. Halevy recounted multiple therapists quitting or failing to appear, making consistent special instruction difficult. Occupational therapy has been somewhat more reliable but still required persistent scheduling.

Early childhood education experts highlight that Philadelphias struggles reflect broader inequities. Funding has not kept pace with a one-third increase in preschool-age children needing services over the past decade. Proposed budget increases remain stalled, further straining programs.

Equity concerns persist, as children in affluent neighborhoods often receive services faster than those in under-resourced areas. Elwyn has taken steps to address disparities, including targeted staff training, assigning speech-language pathologists to high-priority cases, and monitoring providers in underserved areas.

Halevys family, she says, has been relatively fortunate. Quick access to evaluations and replacement therapists was critical, along with her husbands new job providing better health insurance. Still, she laments the lost months her son waited for essential support. Basically, what happened is we fell through the cracks, she said.

Author: Natalie Monroe