eNotes
March 20, 2015In this Issue:
- New DEC Position Statement on Leadership Source: Division for Early Childhood (DEC) of the Council for Exceptional Children - March 17, 2015
- Highlights from the 2014 Preschool Inclusion Survey Source: Early Learning Challenge Technical Assistance (ELC TA) Program - March 20, 2015
- Access to Services for Young Children Experiencing Homelessness Source: National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth - Retrieved March 13, 2015
- Free Television Programs for Children who are Blind, Visually Impaired, Deaf or Hard of Hearing Source: U.S. Department of Education - March 16, 2015
- Early Learning Priority Included in New Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems Grant Competition Source: Institute of Education Sciences - March 12, 2015
1. New DEC Position Statement on Leadership
DEC's new Position Statement on Leadership in Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education (March 2015) focuses on promoting high-quality leadership at all levels of the early intervention / early childhood special education service systems. It is endorsed by the IDEA Infant and Toddler Coordinators Association (ITCA).
2. Highlights from the 2014 Preschool Inclusion Survey
A new summary document, Early Childhood Inclusion: Challenges and Strategies from the 2014 Preschool Inclusion Survey (March 2015), highlights findings from a survey of hundreds of early childhood and special education administrators and practitioners about the challenges of including young children with disabilities in regular early childhood programs and prospective solutions.
3. Access to Services for Young Children Experiencing Homelessness
A new report, Access to Early Childhood Programs for Young Children Experiencing Homelessness: A Survey Report (March 2015), discusses findings from a national survey on the barriers to accessing early childhood services among young children and families experiencing homelessness and strategies for addressing those barriers.
4. Free Television Programs for Children who are Blind, Visually Impaired, Deaf or Hard of Hearing
A number of children's TV programs featuring closed captioning and descriptions may now be viewed online for free through the Department of Education's Accessible Television Portal project. Some of the featured and most popular shows include: "Ocean Mysteries," "Magic School Bus," and "Bill Nye the Science Guy." See the press release here.
5. Early Learning Priority Included in New Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems Grant Competition
On March 12, 2015, a notice inviting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2015 Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDS) Grant Awards was published in the Federal Register. The purpose of the competition is to help states design, develop, and implement SLDSs that enhance their capacity to generate and use accurate and timely data to identify problems and drive improvement efforts at all levels of the education system. States may apply for funds to address up to two of six data use priorities, including an Early Learning priority. Applications are due June 10, 2015.