In this Issue: Early Childhood Special Education

Introduction
CEC's Performance Based Standards for Early Childhood Educators
National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center
NCPSE Resources on Early Childhood Special Education

Introduction

Each month Connections brings you practical information, research, and established programs and strategies for recruiting, preparing, and retaining well-qualified diverse educators and related services personnel for children and youth with disabilities. Through Connections, the Clearinghouse continues its long history as a resource to aspiring teachers and professionals in the field of special education

Part C and Section 619 of Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act provide children born with developmental challenges the right to early intervention and early childhood services. These services are important for an infant or toddler's developing skills and offer parents support in negotiating a system of care and services and in learning how to best care for and support their child's developing needs.

CEC's Performance Based Standards for Early Childhood Educators

The Council for Exceptional Children addresses the professional knowledge and skills necessary for teachers of young children with disabilities with its CEC Standards for All Beginning Special Education Teachers of Early Childhood Students.

National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center

The National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (NECTAC) supports the implementation of the early childhood provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). NECTAC's mission is to strengthen service systems to ensure that children with disabilities (birth through five) and their families receive and benefit from high quality, culturally appropriate, and family-centered supports and services. NECTAC's website contains many resources on early childhood special education covering such topics as quality assurance, early identification, coordinated services, family involvement/partnerships, personnel, inclusion & natural environments, financing systems, and effective practces.

NCPSE Resources on Early Childhood Special Education

The National Clearinghouse for Professions in Special Education's University Program Database can be searched for early childhood special education training programs. Keyword searches for "early childhood" will return a list of relevant programs.

To find OSEP personnel prep grant programs focusing on early childhood, follow these steps:

1. Go to the OSEP Grants Database Advanced Search Page.
2. Scroll down to Children to Benefit from Project and in the Age menu select "Infants (Birth-2 years)". Then click Search.
3. Repeat these steps selecting "Preschool (3-5 years)" in the Age menu. (There will be some overlap with these two searches, i.e. some grant programs will appear in both searches.)

NCPSE's Research Library can provide a reference list of articles and reports on early childhood special education. Select "Early Education" in the Subject menu. Keyword searches are also possible.

The Clearinghouse also has a career profile for Early Childhood Special Educators describing typical responsibilities, training required, job outlook and advancement, and sources for additional information. The profile is available online and in PDF format.

The National Clearinghouse for Professions in Special Education is the descriptive title for the National Clearinghouse on Careers and Professions Related to Early Intervention and Education for Children with Disabilities Cooperative Agreement H326P980002 between the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Exceptional Children. The contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of either the U. S. Department of Education or the Council for Exceptional Children. This information is in the public domain, unless otherwise indicated. Readers are encouraged to copy and share it, but please credit the National Clearinghouse for professions in Special Education. U. S. Department of Education Project Officer Martha B. Bokee