Validation of the Implementation Climate Scale for Early Intervention (ICS-EI)

Early intervention (EI) is federally mandated under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. It is a critical system supporting young children with developmental delays and their families; however, the use of evidence-based practices (EBPs) remains under-implemented across EI systems. Implementation climate is a key driver of successful EBP implementation, yet no validated tools exist to assess this within EI settings. This study adapted and validated the Implementation Climate Scale for Early Intervention (ICS-EI) using data from 183 EI providers across 33 states and Washington, D.C. The data indicated excellent internal consistency, and exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported a seven-factor structure with excellent model fit. The ICS-EI offers a psychometrically strong, contextually appropriate tool for assessing implementation climate in EI. Findings provide preliminary support for the ICS-EI as a tool to assess implementation climate in EI settings, which may inform future efforts to enhance EBP use.