Tools on Inclusion
Guidance
These resources from the ECTA Center are meant to assist programs and teams in understanding the IDEA Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) requirements and determining appropriate placements.
- Team Decisions for Preschool Special Education Services: Guiding Questions (2014)
- Determining Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) Placements for Preschool Children with Disabilities: Reference Points and Discussion Prompts (2014)
Key Preschool Principles and Practices
A-convened workgroup of diverse stakeholders (researchers, higher education faculty, state policy makers, regional and local program administrators, family representatives, service providers, and technical assistance providers) engaged in a consensus process to articulate principles for the IEP Process that support family participation, inclusive practices and positive outcomes for preschool children with disabilities. They also developed a companion document on practices. A list of the workgroup participants is included in each of the documents. The Developing High-Quality, Functional IFSP Outcomes and IEP Goals Training Package (2012) incorporates these two resources:
- Key Principles Underlying the IEP Process: Supporting Family Participation, Inclusive Practices and Positive Outcomes for Preschool Children with Disabilities (2012)
- Key Practices Underlying the IEP Process: Supporting Family Participation, Inclusive Practices, and Positive Outcomes for Preschool Children with Disabilities (2012)
Self-Assessment
- State Early Childhood Inclusion Self-Assessment is adapted from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education's Policy Statement on Inclusion of Children with Disabilities in Early Childhood Programs. (2017)
- Local District Preschool Inclusion Self-Assessment is adapted from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education's Policy Statement on Inclusion of Children with Disabilities in Early Childhood Programs. (2018)
Reporting Tools
This IDC educational environments resource is comprised of a suite of tools, with a technical guide updated with 2017-18 reporting clarifications for use in reporting Part B Educational Environments data for children ages 3-5 with disabilities as required for the OSEP Child Count and SPP/APR Indicator 6. States can use the tools as "stand-alone" materials or as a set.
- Educational Environments Ages 3-5 B6 Data Reporting Tools 2017-18 Clarifications contains a decision tree, the SPP/APR Part B Indicator 6 Measurement Table and 2017-18 reporting clarifications.
- The IDC B6 Project contains an interactive decision tree, glossary, and information on reporting categories with scenarios for educational environments for children ages 3-5.
- Educational Environments 3-5 Data Template: Calculating Local Data Worksheet is a template for calculating local data so that SEAs and LEAs can see in real-time the percentages of their children ages 3-5 attending and receiving services in specific educational environments.