In his testimony before the Joint Economic Committee of the United States Congress, the author discusses what he considers to be the underlying question concerning issues of early childhood education: How to invest in preschool programs so that they have a reasonable chance of being a success. The testimony takes the form of a series of questions…

The public policy debate now raging over the education of pre-schoolers is a vivid illustration of good intentions poised to go awry. This year legislators in more than a dozen state capitals will decide how to spend hundreds of millions of new education dollars slated for preschool. The funding mechanisms they create will either support existing…

The article examines service provisions for preschool-aged handicapped students in terms of two legal issues: what constitutes an appropriate program in terms of the intensity/frequency of program length; and how the least restrictive environment provision should be applied to this population. (Author/DB)

The Committee for Economic Development (CED), an independent research and policy organization of approximately 250 business leaders and educators, issued this report as a statement calling on federal and state governments to make early education available to all children age three and over. The statement maintains that in order to ensure that all…

There has recently been an explosion of interest and writing about autism, autism spectrum disorders, pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDDNOS). This issue of the "Early Childhood Bulletin" suggests readings for parents, therapists, and professionals serving on Interagency…

This transcript of a hearing on the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act includes statements by representatives of Hofstra University (New York), Advocates for Children (New York), Self-Initiated Living Options (New York), the National Center on Educational Restructuring and Inclusion (New York), National Center on…

This booklet focuses on the role of interagency agreements in facilitating the transition of young children and their families from early intervention services to preschool services as children turn 3 years of age. Interagency agreements can be viewed as an "invisible brace" supporting families and staff as they consider many issues in moving from…

The paper recommends that young children with disabilities be placed in preschool classes with normally developing children whenever possible. Significant benefits are cited in the areas of social, emotional, and communication development when children with handicapping conditions are educated in settings with their nonhandicapped peers. Four…

This report provides a description of federal education programs for children with disabilities and the important needs that are met by funding each one. It considers the budgetary impact on each program if Congress appropriates the funding level recommended for Fiscal Year (FY) 1995 and funding recommendations of the Council for Exceptional…

The two parts of this report to the Kansas State Board of Education discuss the need for early childhood education, and the feasibility of early childhood education in the public schools. Data suggest a need for preschool education, especially for vulnerable children who cannot otherwise receive the benefits of education when they reach the age of…

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.…

The essays contained in this document, which launches the University of Georgia Education Initiative, attempt to address Georgia's need for increased literacy in realistic and constructive terms. Taken together, these essays constitute an agenda for action--a challenge to all those who wish to provide Georgians with the quality education they…

Faults Lawrence J. Schweinhart and David P. Weikert's article in this "Educational Leadership" issue for concluding that disadvantaged preschoolers taught by direct instruction have twice the teenage delinquency rate of children experiencing the High/Scope program. Accuses the authors of exaggerating statistical differences, research…

This pamphlet presents a strategic plan to guide and direct the Special Education Services Unit of the Colorado State Board of Education as it seeks to meet the needs of Colorado students with disabilities and their families. The plan was developed by parents, educators, administrators, policymakers, advocates, and representatives of other groups…

This article identifies current problems that act as barriers to improved and expanded services and opportunities for blind and visually impaired people and their families, such as detachment of medical profession from service delivery, automatic student promotions, expectation of specialized programs in every district, parental choice of schools,…