KITS eUpdate

Kansas Inservice Training System (KITS)

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Data Sharing Partnerships Improve Systems

Partnerships between the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) program and Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) program can support and improve outcomes for children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) and their families. Collaboration between these programs is specified in the IDEA Part C Regulations 34 CFR §303.302(c)(ii)(J) and strengthened in P.L. 115-71, EHDI Act of 2017.

Data Sharing Partnerships Improve Systems summarizes federal requirements, features of high-quality data sharing agreements between EHDI and Part C, the bridge between EHDI and IDEA, and data sharing resources.

Source: ecta-enotes – March 10, 2022

COS-PS

The COS-PS is a collection of scenarios of children, ages 6 months to 5 years, that allow you to practice aligning information about each child with the three child outcomes and anchoring the information by age. Each of the case studies includes a short video introducing the child and written information about a child's functioning organized around the following information sources:

 Referral and intake

Assessment results for each of the five developmental domains

Daily routine skills and functioning

Source: ecta-enotes – March 10, 2022

New Videos

Part 1: Isai and Eliel's Story describes the use of strategies that are responsive to families’ language and culture, including the use of culturally appropriate communicators, working with all family members, being flexible, following the lead of families, and the use of coaching. Part 2: Max's Story describes socio-economic and cultural challenges frequently faced by migrant indigenous families, strategies for supporting families’ basic needs, recruiting practitioners who speak the language and are a part of families’ communities, and using technologies that meet families’ needs and resources. Accompanying the videos is a set of reflective questions for both program administrators and practitioners.

The videos can be found in the Infant/Toddler Themes section of the Desired Results Access Project Video Library

Source: Larry Edelman – February 25, 2022

SPP/APR Basics, What You Need to Know Training Series

What considerations need to be made when setting targets for child outcomes is one of the many topics covered in the new SPP/APR Basics, What You Need to Know Training Series. Developed primarily for Part C and Part B, Section 619 coordinators and their staff, SPP/APR Basics is a collection of self-directed modules that provide a basic understanding of the IDEA Part C and Part B, 619 State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report (SPP/APR) indicators and their requirements. Each module summarizes key points in the SPP/APR Measurement Tables, and includes an indicator description, its measurement, and reporting requirements.

Source: ecta-enotes – January 12, 2022

Recruitment for Cohort of 10 New aRPy Ambassadors

aRPy Ambassadors help build states' capacity to use the Early Childhood Technical Assistance (ECTA) Center's Practice Improvement Tools to support implementation of the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) Recommended Practices by local practitioners and families. Applications are due January 31, 2022.

The cohort will consist of professional-level ambassadors who represent state agencies, institutes of higher education (IHEs), and technical assistance and professional development organizations. Applicants will be notified of their status by February 28th, 2022.

The project is a partnership between ECTA, DEC of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), and Parent to Parent of Georgia/the Region B Parent Technical Assistance Center (PTAC).

Source: ecta-enotes – January 12, 2022

ITCA 2020 Tipping Points Survey: Demographics, Challenges and Opportunities

The Tipping Point Survey by the Infant & Toddler Coordinators Association (ITCA) is available that tracks emerging issues and state responses related to eligibility, finance, and decisions regarding continued participation in Part C. Information is aggregated and individual state responses are confidential.

Fifty-one of the fifty-six states and jurisdictions completed the survey in summer 2020. The response rate is significant given the many challenges that states were dealing with because of COVID-19.

Source: ecta-enotes – January 12, 2022

CIFR Resources

The Center for IDEA Fiscal Reporting (CIFR) has released two Quick Reference Guides (QRG). The Quick Reference Guide on Restricted Indirect Costs and Cost Allocation Plans for IDEA Part C Grants provides state Part C and finance staff information about restricted indirect costs that may be charged to the Part C grant, the regulatory requirements for calculating costs on a restricted basis, and the approval process. This is timely as states begin to prepare their state grant applications for Part C funds due this spring.

The Quick Reference Guide on the Use of IDEA Part C Funds on the Use of IDEA Part C Funds provides state Part C and finance staff information about the permissive use of funds, costs that require prior approval, questions for states to consider, and additional resources on the topic. This is timely as states are actively engaged in determining uses of IDEA American Rescue Plan funds.

Source: ecta-enotes – January 12, 2022

Part C Infant and Toddler Program Federal Appropriations and National Child Count 1987-2020

This chart from the Early Childhood Technical Assistance (ECTA) Center shows the federal appropriations allocated for the Part C program, the number of children served per IDEA 618 annual Child Count data, and the federal dollars allocated per child each year from federal fiscal year (FFY) 1987 through FFY 2020. Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) helps ensure that all eligible infants and toddlers with disabilities, aged birth to 2, and their families receive early intervention services.

Source: ecta-enotes – May 6, 2021

Section 619 Preschool Program Federal Appropriations and National Child Count 1977-2020

Developed by the ECTA Center, this chart displays the federal appropriations allocated for Part B Section 619, the number of children served, and the federal dollars allocated per child each year. It covers FFY 1977 through FFY 2020. Part B, Section 619 of the IDEA helps ensure that all eligible preschool children with disabilities, aged 3 to 5 years, receive special education and related services.

Source: ecta-enotes – May 6, 2021

Determining A Child's Eligibility for Preschool Special Education Services Remotely

This page on the ECTA website includes guidance, considerations, and resources for state staff and local practitioners who are determining Preschool Special Education eligibility remotely, due in part to COVID-19. Many states are using approaches such as teleconference, video conference, and sharing information and video asynchronously. Therefore, effective state policies, procedures, and practices are important to appropriately identify children eligible for Part B, Section 619 Special Education services remotely. Included in this resource are three tables of assessment tools with potential for remote administration.

Source: ecta-enotes – April 8, 2021

Part C Indicator 4: Family Outcomes Data (FFY 2018)

In this recorded presentation, DaSy and ECTA staff discuss FFY 2018 results from the Indicator C4 Family Outcomes data, including state approaches to surveys, data quality, performance trends, and resources.

Source: ecta-enotes – March 5, 2020

National-State Family Data State Approaches Graph Creator 2018-19 (FFY 2018)

The National-State Family Data State Approaches Graph Creator helps states to compare state C4 family outcomes data to the national data in the three sub-indicator areas. Comparisons can be made to subgroups of states that use the same survey and scoring approach for the following:

  • the ECO Family Outcomes Survey (FOS) with recommended scoring,
  • the FOS-Revised with recommended scoring, and;
  • the NCSEAM with Rasch scoring.

States that use other scoring or surveys can graph their data using the comparison to national data. National data in the calculator are for FFY 2018, submitted by states in February 2020. Graphs can be copied and pasted into other files, such as presentations and reports.

Source: ecta-enotes – March 5, 2020

Building Resilience: Resources to Help Families Grow From Challenging Times

Using the Strengthening Families approach to building resilience can benefit all families, including those of children with disabilities and special health care needs, by offering small, but meaningful changes that families can incorporate into their lives to enhance strengths. This article from Exceptional Parent magazine (e-reader) describes each protective factor in this approach, which includes parental resilience; social connections; knowledge of parenting and child development; concrete support in times of need; and social and emotional competence of children, along with related resources for building resilience through crisis and change.

Source: ecta-enotes – March 5, 2020

State and Jurisdictional Eligibility Definitions for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities Under IDEA Part C

Whether for comparison or consideration of an eligibility change, states and territories under IDEA Part C often find need to know the eligibility definitions used by other states and territories. This database on the ECTA website provides the following information about a state or jurisdiction's Part C eligibility policy:

  • Definition of developmental delay
  • At risk for developments delay policy (if applicable)
  • Link to state eligibility policy and additional links to other policies, if available
  • Selected Categories of Diagnosed Conditions (e.g. prematurity, low birth weight, very low birth weight, small for gestational age, prenatal exposure to substances, hearing impairment, vision impairment and prenatal exposure to Zika) are included if information is available beyond Part C regulatory language.

Source: ecta-enotes – January 20, 2020