Recent research and legislative initiatives have put pressure on preschool teachers and administrators to increase children's literacy development. This concise, practical resource helps readers respond to this challenge with the content and best practices needed to provide preschoolers with balanced, effective literacy instruction. The book…

This handbook for parents and professionals describes Alabama's early intervention and preschool educational system for young children with disabilities. A list of common special education acronyms precedes the guide's four main sections. Section 1, on the state's early intervention system for infants and toddlers, includes the program's purposes…

A two-issue volume presents articles describing innovative schools, classrooms, and alternative learning arrangements found in some of today's schools. Issue one contains three articles offering glimpses of an elementary school committed to the Core Knowledge curriculum of E. D. Hirsch, a renovated school devoted to early childhood learning…

The transition of children between the two programs of Public Law 99-457, serving children aged birth through two and age three through five, can impact on state administration and local agency administration of the programs. Recommendations are provided for facilitating the family's and child's transition and ensuring continuity in services.…

When this research report was first conceived, the current economic crisis was only just on the verge of revealing its full extent. Economic crisis or no economic crisis, over the years funding for PK-12 education has been a constant struggle. While all schools continue to face difficulties, for various reasons rural schools have different and…

The study reported in this paper intended to trace what Chinese children think about life and identify their naive theories. Fifty-eight 5-year-old children in Taiwan from 39 kindergartens were interviewed using a semi-structured instrument. Results indicate that preschool children have preconceptions about the concept of life even before entering…

Designed to assist administrators and teachers conducting prekindergarten early intervention programs for at-risk children, this curriculum guide outlines age-appropriate arts experiences that are process-oriented rather than product-oriented. After introductory statements, content focuses on learning activities in the visual arts, dance/creative…

This document is intended for state level administrators responsible for planning, developing, and implementing policies and services related to the Infant-Toddler Program (Part H) and the Preschool Program (Part B) of the Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments of 1986. The document is designed to provide a framework for planning and…

Funding difficulties encountered by states in complying with early intervention service requirements of Part H of the Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments (1986) suggest the need for a variety of options to ensure successful long-term implementation. The advantages and disadvantages of three options are detailed: (1) fund all Part H…

This paper presents a methodology for assessing the teacher shortage in special education. The approach analyzes data on newly hired teachers from four categories: teachers trained out of state, experienced teachers returning or transferring, teachers newly trained in-state, and teachers on newly issued emergency licenses. These data can be…

The Early Childhood Development Program in Louisiana was established to improve the readiness of preschool-aged children, statewide. The target population included children who were eligible to enter kindergarten the following year, who were at high risk of not being sufficiently ready for the regular school program, and who had not been…

Aspects of communication between home and school are discussed in four chapters. Introductory remarks point out two very important messages in the research on the effects of parental involvement. The first is that the gap between working class and middle-class children in school achievement is explained, in substantial part, by certain differing…

Two groups of early childhood special educators (N=325) were surveyed with regard to perceived levels of stress in relation to 25 selected environmental characteristics and events. Highest stress levels were associated with salary and benefits, time management, family support, multiple responsibilities, interagency support, and attitudes toward…

Discusses a study of three high-quality curriculum models designed for disadvantaged preschoolers: programed learning, open-framework (teacher and child-initiated activities), and child-centered. While the study showed that diverse curriculum models can be equally effective, the age 15 data point to child-initiated learning activities as most…

Intended for use by childcare center directors, this guide presents the Quick Quality Check, a practical method for measuring and improving the quality of care in infant/toddler classrooms. The four chapters of the guide discuss the specifics of the Quick Quality Check method for both infants and toddlers, including the instrument development, as…