A 50 state look at the nation's governors and their leadership on education over the past year shows that Governors are focusing much of their attention on two critical areas of education policy--high school and preschool. At least 22 governors proposed significant policies last year aimed at improving high schools, or have made such proposals so…

Head Start is a national program that provides comprehensive developmental services for preschool children (ages 3 to 5) from low-income families and social services for their families. Approximately 1,400 community-based nonprofit organizations and school systems develop programs to meet specific needs. Head Start began in 1965 in the Office of…

The article reviews the ways in which norm-referenced developmental age (DA) and developmental quotient (DQ) evaluation data are currently reported in preschool early intervention program evaluation studies. The concept of intervention DQ in contrast with pretest DQ is proposed as a more meaningful way to report evaluation data. (Author/DB)

The review of toys and play behaviors notes the existence of two different but somewhat related forms: social play and cognitive play. Nonstructural factors (other than the presence of particular toys) affecting children's play behaviors are examined, as are peer influences on toy use and play. (CL)

Investigates reports of empirical research designed to increase the social interaction skills of preschool children with autism. This research generally involved the training of typically developed children to interact with children with autism; only one study focused training on the child with autism. (MKA)

Play therapy and filial therapy show promise as effective ways to provide direct services to Head Start, addressing the needs of the children, the families, and the Head Start teachers and staff. Examines the utility of play and filial therapies for the Head Start population, presents a systemic explanation for the benefit of filial therapy, and…

Using the "Education Watch" household survey database, this paper explores children's access to pre-school education in Bangladesh. Participation in pre-school education has been increasing in Bangladesh at the rate of 0.6% per year and the net enrolment rate was found to be 13.4% in 2005. Enrolment of over-aged children in pre-school…

Preschool education is extremely limited in Turkey, suggesting an absence of public recognition of its importance and a lack of state support. In the "VI. Five Years Development Plan," it was exposed that the target in preschool education could not be reached. Especially, regional differences played an important role. According to…

The paper reviews studies (1966-1985) of the intellectual abilities of culturally diverse 4-5 year olds in a discussion of the identification of giftedness in culturally diverse populations. Studies are cited which involved Mexican American, Black, Native American, French Canadian, and Belgian students. The following six topics are addressed: (1)…

The study involving 170 children (3-6 years old) investigated attention as a construct of three components and as an integrated cognitive process. Literature was reviewed which related to the components of attention, the development of a theoretical model which synthesizes attentional components with an ongoing process, the development of…

Using 52 previous reviews of the early intervention efficacy literature, the article demonstrates the value of systematically considering previous reviews before initiating a new review. The authors suggest that tabulations of conclusions of reviews serve as hypotheses to be confirmed or rejected by objective synthesis methods. (Author/DB)

A review cites 16 studies (1976-82) on placement of trainable (moderately) mentally retarded children in preschool, elementary, and secondary levels. Among conclusions drawn are that TMR integration is more frequent at preschool elementary than at secondary levels, and that it is largely restricted to less structured settings. (CL)

Federal legislation related to young handicapped children enacted during the past 20 years is reviewed in terms of the history and current status of several of the most effective and enduring of the early childhood programs. (Author/CL)

Background on the development of early education for the handicapped in the Federal Republic of Germany and on legislative and financial factors is discussed as well as current practice in early intervention and preschool education. The state of professional training and research is indicated, as are the major issues reflected in recent…

The authors respond to Brandt's critique (TM 508 782) of their work. They object to the unsupported criticism and indications that they "overgeneralize." They assert that cultural differences need not imply deficit. The needs of American Indian children demand the application of a variety of perspectives and interdisciplinary skills.…