Seven evaluation questions and strategies are presented about the quality of services provided by early intervention programs. Questions address such aspects as exemplary practices model implementation, performance and progress monitoring, and sensitivity to client/community needs. (Author/CL)

Increasing demands for evidence-based early childhood services and the need by policymakers to know whether a program is effective or whether it warrants a significant investment of public and/or private funds--coupled with the often-politicized debate around these topics--make it imperative for policymakers and civic leaders to have independent…

This report combines neuroscience, child development research, and program evaluation data to better inform policymakers' decisions about investing in and supporting existing early childhood programs. Core child development concepts highlight the importance of early experiences on the development of brain architecture and, in turn, future…

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) administers the nation's largest and most widely recognized accreditation system for child care centers, preschools, kindergartens, and other early childhood education programs. The standards and accreditation criteria included in this book were approved by the NAEYC Governing…

Suggests eight questions that can serve as a framework for determining the extent to which early intervention has accomplished the goals inherent in a family-centered approach. Conceptual issues and methodological considerations associated with documenting these outcomes are presented and recommendations regarding implementation and future…

This article presents a focused and detailed method for providing meaningful supervision to program administrators of early intervention programs. The Monthly Report and Quality Program Indicators provide anecdotal and statistical information about employee concerns, facility management, curriculum implementation, inservice development, community…

This pamphlet from the Colorado State Board of Education lists activities that parents and caregivers should see in schools that are providing high-quality care and education for young children. The quality indicators are listed by age group (infant/toddler, 3- to 5-year-olds, 6- to 8-year-olds) and are presented as responses to the question,…

The manual is intended to provide persons working with the families of young handicapped children a basic structure to 1) guide an intake interview, 2) assess the extent to which community support services are being used, 3) formulate action plans, and 4) monitor the accomplishment of treatment objectives. Introductory information includes self…

A survey of 3,600 teachers by the National Center for Early Development and Learning (Pianta et al., 1999; NCEDL, 1999) found that teachers were concerned about children's transitions to school. Teachers reported that almost half (48 percent) of children entering kindergarten had moderate or serious problems adjusting to the new experience. These…

Based on the belief that all children have a right to quality care and education, early childhood best practices, and trained staff/providers, this guide details quality standards for early care and education programs in West Virginia, developed through the Early Education Quality Improvement Project (EQUIP). The standards are voluntary and not…

This manual describes the procedures for planning and implementing a co-located or shared-site intergenerational day care program, based on the experiences of the Generations program in Columbus, Ohio. Part 1 of the manual defines co-located or shared site programs, provides a rationale for providing co-located child day care and adult day…

This training is designed to help learners improve their transition processes through more effective planning, implementation, and evaluation. By the end of training, participants should be able to: (1) form a comprehensive transition team; (2) initiate a needs assessment process; and (3) explain how to conduct a focus group; (4) initiate a…

This article offers guidelines for designing inservice education for personnel working with young children with disabilities and their families. Discussion covers definitions, assumptions, support and start up, initial planning, program design, evaluation, implementation, and follow-up. It identifies special considerations and circumstances…

Discusses the characteristics of child-centered home visits in early childhood and preschool programs. Offers strategies for making the visits and for evaluating them. Benefits of visits for children are considered. (BG)

The purpose of this monograph is to present broad considerations related to the collection and analysis of cost information on programs for young handicapped children and to illustrate those considerations with examples of systems used in four rural Handicapped Children's Early Education Program (HCEEP) projects. The two papers in Section I…