About ECTA Center
The ECTA Center supports state IDEA Part C and Part B, Section 619 programs in developing high-quality, effective, and sustainable state and local systems, to implement equitable access, services, and supports for children with disabilities and their families that result in positive outcomes not related to race, language, income, or other demographics.
We are a consortium of national experts from across multiple organizations:
- FPG Child Development Institute of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Children's Equity Project Arizona State University
- Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children
- National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE)
- Parent to Parent of Georgia
- SRI International
- University of Denver
- University of South Florida
- Walsh Taylor
What We Do
ECTA Center provides a variety of technical assistance opportunities to support states including:
- Coaching systems change efforts
- Developing critical new resources for the field
- Facilitating peer learning communities
- Co-sponsoring conferences on important national issues
- Responding to individual state requests for assistance
Our efforts prioritize capacity strengthening.
Our Goals
- Increase awareness and recognition at the national level of how IDEA Part C and Part B, Section 619 can be intentionally included within broader early childhood initiatives
- Increase the knowledge and skills of state IDEA Part C and Part B, Section 619 coordinators to support them in effectively leading the implementation of their systems of service
- Increase capacity of state and local IDEA Part C and Part B, Section 619 programs to improve and sustain equitable and effective systems
- Improve implementation of effective services and evidence-based practices, including DEC Recommended Practices, in inclusive settings
- Improve access to, and participation in, effective, equitable, and inclusive programs for young children with disabilities
Racial Equity Statement
The Early Childhood TA Center (ECTA) is committed to creating an organizational culture where racial equity is embedded across our work and is characterized by respect for all people. A diverse workforce across our myriad of social identities brings multiple experiences, perspectives, and ideas that result in an effective organization. In order to create this racially equitable organizational culture in our workplace we will:
- hire and retain a racially diverse workforce and make equitable promotions to leadership positions.
- create workplace opportunities where staff can continually increase their knowledge and awareness of the structural and systemic effects of racism so as to challenge this pervasive, social force that negatively harms all of us.
- provide ongoing training and TA opportunities to build awareness of individual biases and prejudices, and the knowledge, skills, and competencies to lead actionable change for racial equity and inclusion.
- continually review and rework, if necessary, our policies, practices, and procedures, to provide proactive and responsive technical assistance (TA) to advance anti-racist practices, policies, and systems.
The ECTA Center invites and will nurture partnerships across the field of early childhood to engage in this transformational work of dismantling oppressive systems and creating anti-racist practices, policies, and systems. We value collaboration and communication that challenges racism and supports racial equity. Our unremitting commitment to promoting anti-racist practices, policies, and systems requires accountability, vulnerability, humility, and continuous learning. We promise to hold ourselves accountable to this commitment and repair harm when mistakes are made, and we welcome feedback from all (staff, partners, those we serve and those we have not yet served) to help us in this pursuit.