eNotes
February 23, 2026Updates from the ECTA Center
More Help Available to Prepare for DMS 2.0
New content specific to fiscal management has been added to the Preparing for DMS 2.0 ECTA web page. Under Step 4: Review Foundational Information, this section helps state Part C staff understand the basic requirements, considerations, and resources needed to make sure its policies and procedures meet federal requirements for a reasonably designed fiscal management system.
Early Childhood IDEA Centers 2026 State Learning Opportunities
The five OSEP-funded early childhood technical assistance (TA) centers have announced their 2026 TA opportunities. They offer a mix of new and ongoing opportunities that build individual and state capacity around implementation of IDEA for children birth to 5. This information will help states and entities choose the TA opportunities that best fit their needs and priorities.
News from the Field
March of Dimes Report Card
For the fourth consecutive year, the United States earned a D+ grade for preterm birth, making it the longest stretch of the lowest grade in March of Dimes Report Card history. The 2025 March of Dimes Report Card highlights factors that contribute to maternal and infant mortality and morbidity. March of Dimes has released this report since 2008 to educate and advocate for better mom and baby outcomes across the U.S., Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. One in 10 births in 2024 were preterm. This places the U.S. among the highest rates in developed nations. A map shows users how their state ranks on this year’s Report Card.
Four Barriers to Giving Students with Disabilities the Tools They Need to Thrive
Assistive technology can address the learning needs of students with disabilities and break barriers to inclusion in general education classrooms. However, according to a recent report by the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO), schools often face challenges in providing, maintaining, and using such tools to their full potential. The GAO visited school districts in Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wyoming and identified these 4 Barriers to Giving Students With Disabilities the Tools They Need to Thrive:
- Teachers, students, and families have limited awareness about the range of assistive technology options.
- Teachers and staff have limited expertise on using assistive technology.
- Stigma stops teachers and students from using assistive technology.
- Financial constraints pose challenges.
Children’s Books Honored for Focus on Disability Experience
Three books that feature stories about various types of disabilities for young children ages 4 to 8 are among nine books that will receive a special set of awards given alongside the Newbery and Caldecott Medals. The Schneider Family Book Awards, sponsored by the American Library Association, annually recognize an author or illustrator for the artistic expression of the disability experience. This year’s winner in the young children category is Wanda Hears the Stars: A Blind Astronomer Listens to the Universe. It is the biography of astrophysicist Wanda Díaz Merced who stays focused on her dream even when it is interrupted by vision loss from diabetes. Honoree books for young children are Bat and the Business of Ferrets, about a boy with autism who is navigating the fourth grade, and I Hear the Snow, I Smell the Sea, which focuses on how a child who is blind experiences the changing seasons. Winning books are selected in each of three age categories:
- Young children (ages 4 to 8)
- Middle grade (ages 9 to 13)
- Young adults (ages 14 to 18)
A winner and two honorees are chosen in each group.
Prevent Blindness Resources: Retinopathy of Prematurity
Prevent Blindness is highlighting its resources on retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) as part of ROP Awareness Week, Feb. 23 to March 1, 2026. ROP is a condition caused by the abnormal development of blood vessels in the retina. It happens more often in babies who are born early or have low birth weight. It may lead to partial or complete vision loss if the condition is severe and the retina detaches. Effective screening, timely treatment, and ongoing eye care are essential for preventing ROP-associated vision loss. ROP is a leading cause of lifelong visual impairment. These resources educate and support families of children with ROP and increase awareness about ROP.
Research
Study Finds Autism Just as Common in Girls and Boys
Findings from a new study suggest the long-held belief that autism is more prevalent in boys than girls may not be the case. The new study looked at data across more than three decades and found that autism diagnosis rates increased with each five-year interval as children grew. What differed between the genders is the age of diagnosis. Boys were more likely to be identified in childhood while the prevalence rate in girls caught up during adolescence. Researchers analyzed autism diagnosis rates for more than 2.7 million people born in Sweden between 1985 and 2022 using data from a national health register. They found that by age 20, the odds of autism were almost the same in males and females.