OSEP Early Childhood IDEA Centers and the network of Parent Centers
Updated November 19, 2024, 10:26 AMOSEP Technical Assistance Network
The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) funds a technical assistance (TA) network to support the implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) by State Educational Agencies, Part C Lead Agencies, institutions of higher education, Local Educational Agencies, local agencies, programs, and schools. The centers provide TA to ensure the needs of ALL infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities and their families are met.
OSEP administers discretionary grants funded under IDEA to improve results for infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities ages birth through 21 across six areas:
- Technical Assistance and Dissemination;
- Parent Training and Information Centers;
- Educational Technology and Accessible Media and Materials Centers;
- Personnel Development to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities;
- Technical Assistance on State Data Collection; and
- State Personnel Development Grants.
These grants support States and local programs to lead systems change and provide comprehensive and high-quality IDEA services.
OSEP Early Childhood Technical Assistance Centers
These national TA Centers to support state Part C and Part B, Section 619 agencies to assist states, administrators, programs, and families in enhancing outcomes for young children with disabilities and their families.
| Center | Goal | Content Focus |
|---|---|---|
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The Center for IDEA Early Childhood Data Systems (DaSy) assists states to collect, report, and analyze high-quality Part C and Part B Section 619 data by helping states build a strong data infrastructure and develop leaders to build a data culture with active partner engagement. Also, support states to use data for program improvement and compliance accountability to improve results for children and families. dasycenter.org DaSy State Liaisons |
Data leadership, data culture, data quality, data system design, data governance, privacy and confidentiality, data linkages including data sharing agreements |
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The Early Childhood Personnel Center (ECPC) provides technical assistance and resources to assist state administrators, higher education faculty, practitioners, and families to develop and implement components of a comprehensive system of personnel development (CSPD) to improve the quantity, quality, and effectiveness of the early childhood intervention workforce for infants and young children with disabilities and their families. ecpcta.org |
Components of a CSPD: recruitment, personnel standards, preservice preparation, ongoing inservice training, evaluation and leadership, coordination and sustainability |
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The Early Childhood Intervention Personnel Center for Equity technical assistance to develop an equity framework to enhance early childhood intervention personnel preparation programs of study to improve outcomes for all infants and young children with disabilities and increase the number of early childhood intervention personnel and faculty from racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse backgrounds. ecipc-equity.org |
ECI Higher Education Faculty and Programs of Study, state and national personnel standards; State Part C and 619 coordinators partnerships with IHEs to address personnel shortages and recruitment of diverse staff and scholars. |
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The Early Childhood Technical Assistance (ECTA) Center supports state IDEA Part C and Part B, Section 619 programs in developing more equitable, effective, and sustainable state and local systems, that support access and full participation for each and every young child with a disability, and their family. ectacenter.org ECTA State Contacts |
State systems improvement, early childhood inclusion, system capacity to implement evidence-based practices, child and family outcomes measurement |
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The National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations (NCPMI) provides technical assistance, training materials, data tools, and resources for the implementation of the Pyramid Model for Supporting Social Emotional Competence in Infants and Young Children (Pyramid Model) within early intervention and early education programs to promote positive social, emotional, and behavioral outcomes. challengingbehavior.org |
Social emotional outcomes, equity, inclusion, trauma-informed and culturally and linguistically responsive practices, state implementation and scale-up, and eliminating exclusionary discipline practices |
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The Center for IDEA Fiscal Reporting (CIFR) assists state educational agency and lead agency staff in improving the collection, reporting, analysis and use of IDEA Part B and Part C fiscal data. CIFR expands state knowledge, capacity, and infrastructure through the development of policies and procedures, resources, training systems, and cross-agency relationships. cifr.wested.org CIFR State TA Liaisons |
Indirect cost/cost allocation plan information and use of funds requirements under Part C of IDEA, maintenance of state financial support (MFS), allocation of IDEA Part B subgrants to local educational agencies (LEAs), LEA maintenance of effort (MOE) and coordinated early intervening services (CEIS) under Part B of IDEA |
Parent Centers Serving Families of Children with Disabilities
There are nearly 100 Parent Training and Information Centers (PTIs) and Community Parent Resource Centers (CPRCs) in the United States and territories. These centers perform a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. Some of the parent centers' activities include:
- Working with families of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities ages birth–26
- Helping parents participate effectively in their children's education and development
- Partnering with professionals and policy makers to improve outcomes for all children with disabilities
Parent Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs)
The Center for Parent Information and Resources (CPIR) is the national central hub of information and products created for the network of parent centers serving families of children with disabilities.
CPIR also houses the Native American and Military Families Resource Collections.
Four Regional Parent Technical Assistance Centers (RPTACs) help the OSEP-funded network of Parent Centers address administrative/management challenges and increase their capacities to provide information and training to families of children with disabilities.
2024 State Learning Opportunities
The OSEP-funded Early Childhood Technical Assistance (TA) Centers are pleased to announce a variety of new and ongoing opportunities to build individual and state capacity around implementation of IDEA 0–5. We hope this information will assist you as you consider which TA opportunities best fit your needs and priorities.
Upcoming TA Opportunities!
If the information for how to apply to one of these opportunities is not yet available, look for information in the near future from that TA Center how to participate. If none of these planned opportunities fits your needs for TA, contact your state liaisons for CIFR, DaSy, or ECTA to explore other TA supports.
| Title | Description | Timeslines | Sponsors (lead first) | Intended Audience |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IDEA Data Systems Community of Practice (CoP) | Any state interested in, or working on, new or existing data systems will have discussions and share ideas with peers about strategies, resources, and other aspects of implementation of their data system and the use of resulting date. | February 29 – September 27, 2024 | DaSy | Part C program staff and related systems support personnel |
| Leading and Managing Data Linking & Integration (DLI) Initiatives | This working series builds the competence and capacity of program staff to lead, join, and manage DLI initiatives. The focus is on building programs' data leadership competencies specifically for this purpose. Topics include engaging program and agency leadership, developing value statements for initiatives, writing use cases, assessing partner readiness, formalizing data linking partnerships, working with IT and legal offices. | February 2024 – September2024 | DaSy | State Part C coordinators, data managers and staff |
| Examining Data to Improve Your Child Find System Online Workshop Series | This online workshop series highlights strategies for examining available data and engaging key partners to evaluate the child find system and identify areas for improvement, with an eye towards equity through 2–3 synchronous sessions with asynchronous work and opportunities for individualized TA between sessions. | Spring 2024 | DaSy | Part C and 619 state staff and key partners |
| ECPC Leadership Academy Cohort 4 | The ECPC Leadership Academy is an intensive technical assistance initiative for state IDEA Part C and Part B 619 coordinators and administrative staff. The purpose is to provide training, technical assistance, and follow-up support for participants in their acquisition of knowledge and practice skills to enable them to lead systems of EI/ECSE. | March 2024 – October 2024 | ECPC, ITCA | Part C and Part B/619 coordinators and state staff |
| CIFR 2024 Fiscal Webinar Series | This quarterly webinar series will be held at 3 pm ET during March, June, September, and December. Topics covered with include, but are not limited to maintenance of effort, engaging the ICC in fiscal discussions, and using fiscal data to plan the Part C budget. | March 13, June 12, September 11, and December 11, 2024 | CIFR | Part C coordinators, data managers and fiscal staff |
| 2024 National Training Institute on Addressing Challenging Behavior | The National Training Institute in Tampa, Florida will provide in-depth learning experiences related to implementing systems, programs, and practices for promoting young children's social and emotional competence and addressing challenging behavior. Registration often fills by November. | April 16–19, 2024 | NCPMI | Individuals involved in early childhood education and care for children ages 0–5 years |
| 2024 International Early Childhood Inclusion Institute | The 2024 International Early Childhood Inclusion Institute provides an opportunity for early childhood professionals and families to learn about the latest research findings, models, and resources to guide inclusive policy, professional development, and practice. | May 7–9, 2024 | Frank Porter Graham, ECTA | Individuals involved in the care and education of children ages 0–5 with special needs |
| State Leader Collaborative | Quarterly convening of state leaders engaged in the implementation and scale-up of the Pyramid Model to share state implementation and scale-up strategies and explore topics of interest. | May 2024 | NCPMI | State leaders interested in statewide implementation of the Pyramid Model |
| Training of Trainers: Pyramid Model Practices | Two virtual train the trainer series on Pyramid Model practices: Infant and Toddler Classroom Practices and Preschool Classroom Practices. In these sessions, trainers will be introduced to the new, multiple module training packages developed by NCPMI. | Spring / Summer 2024 | NCPMI | Providers of professional development |
| Equity Audit Cohort (RFAs) | State teams will be invited to submit applications to participate in an Intensive TA Cohort. Three to Five states will be selected to actively engage in individualized and cross-state TA aimed to assist state leaders in assessing the extent to which there is equity in their systems, practices, policies, and outcomes. | Spring / Summer 2024 | ECTA | State administrators and staff |
| Leadership Coaching Program for New Part C/619 Coordinators - Cohort 1 | Part C and Section 619 Coordinators will be invited to participate in an Intensive TA Cohort. Up to 10 state or entity coordinators will be selected to engage in this 2-year cohort and will be matched with a TA partner/coach. This cohort will include ongoing one-to-one coaching sessions, group/peer coaching sessions with the entire cohort of selected leaders, and action planning for developing and strengthening competencies for co-developing and leading equitable and inclusive early childhood programs. Each participant will complete a self-assessment and develop an individual leadership development plan. | Summer 2024 | ECTA, DaSy | State administrators and staff |
| The EPIC-P Cycle: Using a Data-Informed Cycle to Strengthen State- and Entity-Wide Professional Development Support | This 4-part Webinar Series will focus on each of the four components of the EPIC-P Cycle for planning, implementing, and evaluating state- and entity-wide professional development support. The EPIC-P Cycle is a data-informed ongoing cycle that helps state/entity leaders organize professional development support so that efforts are coordinated, relevant, impactful, and aligned with the overall objectives and priorities of the state or entity program. | Summer 2024 | ECTA | National, regional, and state TA providers, administrators and staff, program leaders, and training and TA providers |
| Improving Data, Improving Outcomes (IDIO) 2024 Conference | IDIO provides in-person opportunities to build knowledge and network with others working to improve state capacity for equitable, evidence-based data systems, programs, and practices; and ultimately improve outcomes for young children with disabilities and their families. The 2024 theme is Leading for Positive Impact. | August 25–30, 2024 | DaSy | State Part C and 619 coordinators and staff, data managers, parent leaders, and others working to improve systems |
| Workshop on Writing Part C Maintenance of Effort Procedures (MOE) | States are invited to an in-person workshop in Washington, D.C. to develop written state-level Part C MOE procedures. The workshop will include training in relevant resources, working sessions for team planning, sharing and feedback between states, and networking opportunities. Participants will leave with well-developed drafts of procedures that comply with IDEA and address their state's unique systems. Space is limited. | September 17–19, 2024 | CIFR | Part C coordinators, data managers and fiscal staff |
| CIFR Regional Fiscal Communities of Practice | CIFR invites state staff with shared interests in IDEA fiscal issues to join a Part C Community of Practice (CoP) facilitated by CIFR TA liaisons. The online meetings are specially designed to meet the learning and networking needs of state staff to help them improve the quality of their state IDEA fiscal data. Through discussion and sharing of expertise, participants will expand their knowledge and solve problems of practice. | Ongoing | CIFR | Part C coordinators, data managers and fiscal staff |
| Recruitment and Retention of a Diverse Workforce | TA to states to build infrastructure, including partnerships with IHEs to attract, prepare and support early childhood professionals from racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse backgrounds | Ongoing | ECIPC-E | Part C, Part B/619 coordinators, and higher education faculty |
| State Personnel Standards | Technical assistance to revise state personnel standards so they are aligned to the early childhood equity-based framework and national professional organization personnel standards. | Ongoing | ECIPC-E | Part C, Part B/619 coordinators, and higher education faculty |
| Within the Framework Webinar Series | On-demand and live webinar series related to the implementation of the Pyramid Model as an early childhood multi-tiered system of support to promote positive social, emotional, and behavioral outcomes of young children. | Ongoing | NCPMI | Individuals engaged in the implementation of the Pyramid Model |
| Unpacking Coaching Webinar Series | On-demand and live webinar series related to the use of Practice-Based Coaching to strengthen the implementation of Pyramid Model practices in early intervention and classroom programs. Learn more about fidelity of coaching, variations in coaching formats, coaching caseloads, and coaching related to equity concerns. | Ongoing | NCPMI | State and program leaders, training and technical assistance providers, and practitioner coaches |
| Implementation and Scale-Up Webinar Series | On-demand and live webinar series related to the implementation and scale up of the Pyramid Model as a Multi-Tiered System of Support within cross-sector early childhood and early intervention programs. Learn more about systems implementation, collaboration, implementation innovations, state and program data systems, evaluation, and sustainability. | Ongoing | NCPMI | State and program leaders, training, and technical assistance providers |
Ongoing Learning Opportunities!
Did you know there are ongoing learning opportunities that you might want to join? They cover a variety of topics including child and family outcomes measurement, early childhood inclusion, and more! To learn about the various groups and how to participate, visit:
- DaSy Center Learning Communities
- ECTA Learning Communities
- Webinars and other events of interest can be found on the Cross-Center calendar.