Professional Development on Inclusion eNews, March 2009
A regular email newsletter and update from the National Professional Development Center on Inclusion
MARCH 2009
In this issue
RESOURCES
- NPDCI Releases New Paper on Program Quality
- Recent Webinar and State Planning Materials Now Available Online
DISCUSSIONS
- Maximizing Resources from the Stimulus Package (with special online guest, Friday, March 6, 2009)
- Inclusive Program Quality and Professional Development
- Poll: New Quick Poll on Quality Rating System
Resources
NPDCI Releases New Paper on Program Quality
Only a handful of states address children with disabilities in their early child care quality rating systems. As a result, few states are evaluating the quality of inclusive programs and services. This problem is compounded by a lack of consensus on dimensions that define high quality inclusion and a need for additional measures of quality inclusive practices. A new NPDCI paper advocates for the need to link early childhood program quality and professional development, with a particular focus on how this topic relates to early childhood inclusion.
Recent Webinar and State Planning Materials Now Available Online
On March 3rd, NPDCI and NECTAC co-sponsored a Webinar: Developing Intersecting Interests: Building the Capacity for Cross-Sector Professional Development. You can access handouts and resources via the link below. In addition, the 8 states working with NPDCI have begun sharing their state visions and goals. We have posted these to the NPDCI State Planning Efforts area.
NPDCI State Planning Efforts Area
Discussions
Special Online Event: Maximizing Resources from the Stimulus Package, Friday March 6, 2009
Join NPDCI and former president of NAEYC Anne Mitchell online Friday, March 6, 2009 for an all-day community discussion on ways states can use new monies in the Stimulus Bill to advance a state Quality Rating Improvement System. No registration is required and you can join the blog discussion anytime. Anne and NPDCI will be listening for comments throughout the day from you and your organization.
read more and join the discussion!
Inclusive Program Quality and Professional Development
By Heidi Hollingsworth
How do early childhood programs get their ratings as part of a quality rating system? Is inclusion of children with disabilities and their families taken into consideration in a program’s rating?
As discussed in a previous blog, 15 states now have a fully implemented statewide Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) aimed at improving the quality of early childhood programs. However, only 6 of these states have quality performance standards specifically addressing children with disabilities and their families.
Another interesting point is that the performance standards relating to children with disabilities and their families are different in each of these 6 states. Taken together, these states emphasize some, but not all, of the important dimensions of quality inclusive practices. More work is needed to help the field reach consensus on dimensions that define high quality inclusive programs and practices and to reflect these practices in both QRIS standards and professional development related to improving program quality.
NPDCI has described these QRIS standards in a table that is part of the new paper, Why Program Quality Matters for Early Childhood Inclusion: Recommendations for Professional Development.
Does your state have a QRIS in place? If so, does it specifically address children with disabilities and their families? How are components of high quality inclusion supported by professional development efforts in your state? For more information about recommendations for embedding program quality and quality inclusive practices in professional development, see Why Program Quality Matters for Early Childhood Inclusion: Recommendations for Professional Development in the link below.
More Blog Postings:
- Coaching: How is it used in Early Childhood - Dathan Rush from FIPP summarizes last month's Coaching discussion (34 comments).
- Early Education Coordination Challenges Facing Secretary of Education-Designate Arne Duncan - Pam Winton from NPDCI asks for examples of effective collaboration (5 comments)
For more, visit NPDCI’s blog “Speaking of Inclusion..." Each week we invite your comments on inclusion insights, stories and resources.
Quick Poll
Last month we asked, "Are you a Member of a Community of Practice and if so, what type of CoP is it?" 71% responded "Yes", 13% responded "No" and 17% were uncertain.
This month we want to know about your Program Quality efforts.
"Does your state have, or is your state developing a Quality Rating System"? "Yes", "No" or "Uncertain" ... respond here
"Word of Mouse"
Your word is better than ours. Forward this issue to a colleague and let them know about the work our community is doing.
This newsletter is a monthly mailing from the National Professional Development Center on Inclusion (NPDCI).
