eNotes
June 23, 2025Updates from the ECTA Center
ECTA on Think Inclusive Podcast
Alissa Rausch and Ben Riepe from the University of Denver are featured in the fourth installment of the Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA) early childhood series on the Think Inclusive podcast. During their discussion on Transforming Inclusive Education Through Inclusion they explored the significance of ECTA's inclusion indicators. The inclusion indicators guide state and community level systems in enhancing inclusive practices that greatly impact society. The Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education (MCIE) produces the podcast and builds bridges between families, educators, and people with disabilities to advocate for inclusive education.
State Approaches to Child Outcomes Measurement
States use various approaches and assessment tools to measure child outcomes. This resource features maps that summarize each approach and the states that use them. The information is based on their FFY 2022 State Performance Plans (SPP)/Annual Performance Reports (APR).
The maps include:
- State Approaches to Child Outcomes Measurement: Part C APR Indicator 3 FFY 2022 (2022-2023)
- State Approaches to Child Outcomes Measurement: Part B APR Indicator 7 (Section 619/Preschool) FFY 2022 (2022-2023)
In a companion video presentation on FFY 2022 Child Outcomes Data Highlights, staff from ECTA and the Center for IDEA Early Childhood Data Systems (DaSy) discuss the national performance data for indicators C3 and B7, including national data, state variations in performance, and TA resources.
Informed Clinical Opinion
Informed clinical opinion safeguards against eligibility determination based solely on isolated information or test scores. It must be included in evaluation and assessment procedures. This new webpage covers four issues concerning informed clinical opinion:
- Part C Regulations on informed clinical opinion
- What does informed clinical opinion mean for Part C?
- How does informed clinical opinion affect eligibility determination?
- Why document informed clinical opinion?
News from the Field
New Policy Snapshots Provide Guidance for Integrating Family Child Care Homes into Public Preschool Initiatives
Three new Policy Data Snapshots from the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) look at how operating statutes, program evaluation, and funding streams help or hinder integrating home-based “family child care programs” (FCCs) in publicly-funded pre-K programs. They also explore how to improve these mechanisms to facilitate better FCC participation.
- The first brief highlights Colorado’s Department of Early Childhood and Universal Preschool Program legislation. It defines Colorado’s mixed delivery model, and explicitly mentions "family child care homes" as eligible providers.
- The second brief examines the program evaluation process that allows funders, families, and the community to understand and improve the effectiveness of publicly-funded preschool programs.
- The third brief identifies pre-K funding sources, including state, local, federal, and those from the private sector.
Research
Secondary Benefits of a Brief Couples Intervention on Coparenting through Relationship Quality and Partner Conflict
In Secondary Benefits of a Brief Couples Intervention on Coparenting through Relationship Quality and Partner Conflict, research finds that in two-parent households, the relationship between parents and coparenting alliance are central to the well-being of family relationships and young children. This study examines whether participation in a brief, online, couple-focused relationship intervention has collateral benefits to coparenting. The study was conducted in households with children under the age of 6. Findings have implications for clinicians working with children, families, and couples, and further support taking a systemic lens to working with these populations.