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Northeast Parent Centers'
Assistance & Collaboration Team
| | Newsletter Issue 2 | May, 2010 |
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Parent Training and Information Centers (PTIs) / Community Parent Resource Centers (CPRCs)Located in the states of CT-CPAC, ME-MPF, MA-FCSN, MA-Urban Pride, NH-PIC, NJ-SPAN, NJ-ASCF, NY-AFC, NY-UWS, NY-TAC, NY-RCSN, NY-Sinergia, NY-PNWNY, RI-RIPIN, and VT-VFN. |
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Greetings!
We are pleased to bring you the latest edition of the NEPACT E-Newsletter. We hope you will find the resources informative.
The NE Parent Assistance and Collaboration Team (NE-PACT), the Region 1 Technical Assistance Center, provides technical assistance to federally-funded parent centers -- Parent Training and Information Centers (PTIs) and Community Parent Resource Centers (CPRCs) - located in the states of  Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. These Parent Centers are independent non-profit organizations. We also provide support to emerging parent centers and parent organizations serving families of children with or at risk of being identified as having disabilities. In addition, we work with early intervention and education agencies (local, state and federal level) seeking information regarding best practices in involving parents of children with disabilities in systems improvement.
Our goals:
--Enhance the capacity of parent centers to provide effective services to families of children with special needs and to work effectively with their states to improve special education and early intervention systems; and,
--Facilitate their connections to the larger technical assistance network that supports research-based training, including educating parents about effective practices that improve results for children with disabilities. For more information click here. |  Self-Assessment for Continuous Improvement & Recognition
As your Regional TA provider, we have been collaborating with the parent center TA network in developing and implementing the Parent Center Standards of Excellence. This is an excellent opportunity to take a closer look at the effectiveness of your centers' programs, policies and practices. Take a look at the Toolkit located in the log-in section of the Technical Assistance Alliance for Parent Centers. The deadline for submission for recognition is June 1. If you plan to submit, please e-mail debra.jennings@spannj.org by May 1st. We are also looking for Parent Center directors to participate on review panels and would like for Region 1 to be represented. |
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 Integrating Cultural and Linguistic Diversity into Policy and Practice - Input Needed
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Autism Spectrum Disorders: Diagnosis, Prevalence, and Services for Children and Families
The most recent issue of the Society for Research in Child Development's Social Policy Report provides a summary of selected recent studies on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis, prevalence, and intervention. The authors include strategies for developing social policies to help improve the outcomes and independence of children and adults with ASDs. Autism Spectrum Disorders: Diagnosis, Prevalence, and Services for Children and Families. |
 Newly Redesigned Web Site for Parents from NAEYC
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has launched a newly redesigned Web site for parents and families that provides tips on finding quality child care, an easy to use search feature for finding NAEYC-Accredited programs across the country, parent-focused articles and videos, and other resources. The Right Choice for Kids. |
 Tips for Using Assistive Technology with Young Children
The appropriate use of simple adaptations and/or assistive technology (AT) can support inclusion and natural learning opportunities for young children with disabilities. The Tots 'n Tech Research Institute (TnT) publishes a newsletter that provides many useful tips on how to adapt everyday materials to enhance the participation of infants and toddlers in a variety of daily activities and routines. Current and past issues are available online. |
 Six States to Participate in New Initiative to Build High-Quality Early Childhood State Infrastructures
On April 12, 2010, the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) announced that it has selected six states - Kansas, Louisiana, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington - to develop high-quality, comprehensive state early childhood systems through a new initiative, Ready States: A Project to Develop Key Components of State Early Childhood Infrastructure. Currently, approximately 60 percent of children aged 0-5 spend time in early childhood programs and the initiative is meant to help ensure that these children receive the support and experiences they need to grow and learn. |
Study Finds 86 Percent of Disadvantaged Preschoolers Lack Basic Motor Skills
Findings from a new study showed that 86 percent of 469 disadvantaged preschoolers from two urban areas scored below the 30th percentile of children nationwide on a standardized test that assessed basic motor skills such as running, jumping, throwing, and catching. The researchers believe the problem stems from the fact that children from disadvantaged, urban neighborhoods often don't have sufficient opportunities to play outside. learn more |
 The State of Preschool 2009 - 7th Annual Yearbook Released
The National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) has released its 7th annual State Preschool Yearbook profiling state-funded prekindergarten programs in the U.S. At the press release on May 4, 2010, NIEER co-director Steve Barnett said this year's data show that the recession is affecting states' ability to continue the trend toward expanding pre-K. Some states have cut pre-K enrollment to levels not seen in years and at least 11 states are considering pre-K cuts for 2011. |
 What Works Clearinghouse Examines Early Childhood Education Interventions for Children with Disabilities
The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) has started to examine research on curricula and instructional strategies for 3 to 5 year old children with disabilities. The first intervention report in this new topic area looks at Dialogic Reading, an interactive shared picture-book reading practice designed to enhance young children's language and literacy skills. Click here for the report. |
 Putting Kids on the Pathway to College
Putting Kids on the Pathway to College is a set of tools based on a study of New York City high schools that are "beating the odds" in bringing low-performing ninth-graders to timely graduation and college entrance. The tools include a framework of effective strategies for improving college access, a rubric for evaluating current practices, and survey and focus group tools for gathering data from key stakeholders. Used together, these tools can help high schools and their partners develop more effective programs to make sure their students succeed. |
 Financing Special Education: State Funding Formulas
This in-depth policy analysis is an update to previous state funding formula documents from 2000-2009 by AIR and NASDSE. This document reports on the formulas used by states in 2008-2009. Within the document, the reader will find a table laying out the general types of funding formulas in 2009 for each state, followed by a few examples of unique complexities within formulas. Other sections of the document describe a number of changes in formulas over the years and on what states are allowed to spend their special education funds. Each state's special education funding formula, as reported, is provided in the appendix. Click here to link to document.
Please feel free to include the above short summary in any pertinent organization's newsletter. Additional copies are available from NASDSE; however, there are no restrictions on copying because this document was produced with federal funds. This document is available for downloading at www.projectforum.org. |
 Using the Right Data to Determine if High School Interventions Are Working to Prepare Students for College and Careers
This report is designed to guide educators in collecting and analyzing valuable student achievement data that can help them determine if and how high school interventions for underprepared students are working to effectively prepare them for college and careers. The report was authored by Chrys Dougherty, a senior research scientist at the National Center for Educational Achievement (NCEA), which is a partner of the National High School Center. |
 IDEA Partnership's Collaborative Work on "Creating Agreement" Develops Expanded Collection of Resources
The IDEA Partnership's Creating Agreement Workgroup has developed a gallery of new resources which included the "Building Partnerships, Creating Agreement" PowerPoint presentation and accompanying presenter guide, dialogue guides, and other resource materials. review resources |
| Parents' Experience with the IEP Process: Considerations for Improving Practice
This CADRE publication reviews literature and explores findings from 10 studies published after 2004 that focus on the experiences and perceptions of parents or other caregivers related to the IEP process. To read the publication, click here. |
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