eNotes
January 19, 2018In this Issue:
- Head Start Resources Supporting Individualization Source: U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services
- Evaluation of Preschool Special Education Practices (EPSEP) Source: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences (IES)
- Anti-Bias Curriculum Engages Preschoolers in Discussions Source: Education Week
- Stepping Up for Early Childhood Education Source: National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE)
- Journal of Early Intervention Abstracts Available Online Source: DEC's Journal of Early Intervention - Volume 39, Issue 4, December 2017
1. Head Start Resources Supporting Individualization
Head Start's Children with Disabilities webpage provides a compilation of resources for supporting individualization for children ages birth to 5. The evidence-based resources align with the 8 Division for Early Childhood (DEC) Recommended Practices' topic areas (Assessment, Environment, Family, Interaction, Instruction, Teaming and Collaboration, Transition, and Leadership) and are organized by knowledge level for educators and families.
2. Evaluation of Preschool Special Education Practices (EPSEP)
An extensive pilot study of an intervention program for children served in inclusive preschool classrooms is underway, and last week (January 11, 2018), Mathematica Policy Research released a request for proposals (RFP) to participate. The Evaluation of Preschool Special Education Practices (EPSEP) study, administered by Mathematica, the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, and the University of Florida on behalf of the US Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, seeks evidence of the impact of a preschool inclusive curriculum with targeted instructional supports for children with disabilities on language, literacy, and/or social-emotional behavioral skill development.
The pilot study will take place during the 2019-2020 school year, with possible consideration of a second year of implementation (2020-2021). RFP submissions are due February 26, 2018.
3. Anti-Bias Curriculum Engages Preschoolers in Discussions
Teaching tolerance at a very early age has a positive impact on a child's understanding of race and skin color. In this short video clip from the weekly PBS series Making the Grade, teachers explain how their anti-bias curriculum engages thoughtful discussion with preschoolers about race. Also, a brief interview with Louise Derman-Sparks, a renowned author of teaching anti-racism to children books, discusses how the skin color seen in books or other visual teaching materials, or of preschool staff working in different positions all send important messages to young children about who matters in the world, who's visible, who's not, and who has power.
4. Stepping Up for Early Childhood Education
The NASBE released a new issue of The State Education Standard (January 2018) focused primarily on early education and how state policymakers can safeguard a strong start for all children. Some of the topics covered are transforming the early child care and early education workforce, making smoother transitions into kindergarten, pre-K through K-12 funding formulas, and serving dual language learners.
5. Journal of Early Intervention Abstracts Available Online
Abstracts of the following articles are now available online at http://journals.sagepub.com/toc/JEI/current
Identifying Head Start Children for Higher Tiers of Language and Literacy Instruction
Kizzy Albritton, Adrienne Stuckey, Nicole Patton Terry
Evaluation of a LENA-Based Online Intervention for Parents of Young Children
Jill Gilkerson, Jeffrey A. Richards, Keith Topping
Parental Homework Completion and Treatment Knowledge during Group Parent–Child Interaction Therapy
Rosmary Ros, Paulo A. Graziano, Katie C. Hart
An Evaluation of the Research Evidence on the Early Start Denver Model
Erika M. Baril, Betsy P. Humphreys
Using Visual Activity Schedules for Young Children with Challenging Behavior
Kathleen N. Zimmerman, Jennifer R. Ledford, Erin E. Barton
Early Intervention Paraprofessional Standards: Development and Field Validation
Rashida Banerjee, Ritu V. Chopra, Geraldine DiPalma
The Journal of Early Intervention (JEI) is an official publication of the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) of the Council for Exceptional Children and SAGE Publications. It offers articles related to research and practice in early intervention for infants and young children with special needs and their families. Freely available Podcasts of interviews with JEI authors can be accessed online.