eNotes
August 19, 2016In this Issue:
- The Pyramid Equity Project - Addressing Preschool Suspension and Expulsion Source: U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services - August 15, 2016
- Suspension and Expulsion in Preschool Development States: Policies and Practices Source: Preschool Development Grant Technical Assistance Program - Retrieved August 17, 2016
- Case Studies of the Early Implementation of Kindergarten Entry Assessments Source: U.S. Department of Education - August 10, 2016
- Revised and Expanded Early Childhood Systems Building Guide Source: Office of Child Care - Retrieved August 17, 2016
- Nine Briefs about Health and Safety in Early Care and Education Settings Source: National Center on Early Childhood Quality Assurance - Retrieved August 17, 2016
- Access to Early Childhood Development Services for Homeless Families with Young Children Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families - August 11, 2016
- Ensuring Quality and Accessible Care for Children with Disabilities and Complex Health and Educational Needs Source: National Academies Press - August 10, 2016
1. The Pyramid Equity Project - Addressing Preschool Suspension and Expulsion
The U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services recently announced a $1 million investment in the Technical Assistance Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) to implement the Pyramid Equity Project, which will develop and disseminate an effective approach for the prevention of suspension, expulsion, and discipline disparities in early learning programs. Specifically, the Pyramid Equity Project will develop tools, materials, and procedures to explicitly address implicit bias, implement culturally responsive practices, and use data systems to understand potential discipline equity issues. For more information see:
Additional information is available at http://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/earlylearning/index.html
2. Suspension and Expulsion in Preschool Development States: Policies and Practices
The expulsion and suspension of preschool age children has been receiving considerable attention at many levels. A new report, Suspension and Expulsion in Preschool Development States: Policies and Practices, looks at how Preschool Development Grant states are responding to the expulsion and suspension of their youngest students, outlining policies and practices used. The report also discusses relevant federal and state policies aimed at mitigating the excessive use of expulsion and suspension for preschool students.
3. Case Studies of the Early Implementation of Kindergarten Entry Assessments
States are incorporating Kindergarten Entry Assessments (KEAs) into their comprehensive assessment systems to help educators identify gaps in children's competencies, target instruction to children's individual needs, engage parents to better support their child's learning, and identify needs for expanding and improving early learning opportunities. A new report describes the development and early implementation of KEAs in 12 districts across four Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge grantee states (Maryland, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington).
Additional information is available at http://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/earlylearning/index.html
4. Revised and Expanded Early Childhood Systems Building Guide
The Office of Child Care's State Capacity Building Center (SCBC) has published a new, expanded version of the Early Childhood Systems Building Guide, an online tool that is designed to support state leaders in their pursuit of systems building initiatives. The updated version includes new chapters on program implementation, program evaluation and financing, as well as state highlights and a searchable resource database.
5. Nine Briefs about Health and Safety in Early Care and Education Settings
The Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Act of 2014 made major changes designed to protect the health and safety of children in early care and education (ECE) settings. The National Center on Early Childhood Quality Assurance (ECQA Center) has developed nine new briefs that address health and safety requirements specified in the CCDBG Act for center-based and home-based child care settings. Access the briefs here.
6. Access to Early Childhood Development Services for Homeless Families with Young Children
A new brief, Access to Early Childhood Development Services for Homeless Families with Young Children: An Exploratory Project (2016), examines the challenges of families with young children who are experiencing episodes of homelessness, especially those who are temporarily staying with others or in motels/hotels, and how they manage daily life. This and related resources are available at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/ecd/interagency-projects/ece-services-for-homeless-children.
7. Ensuring Quality and Accessible Care for Children with Disabilities and Complex Health and Educational Needs
In December 2015 the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine hosted a workshop to highlight the main barriers and promising solutions for improving care and outcomes of children with disabilities and complex health and educational needs. A new report, Ensuring Quality and Accessible Care for Children with Disabilities and Complex Health and Educational Needs: Proceedings of a Workshop (2016), summarizes the presentations and discussions from the workshop.