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Illinois’ Award of Excellence for Inclusion of Children with Special Needs

Illinois’ Award of Excellence for Inclusion of Children with Special Needs. National Early Childhood Inclusion Institute Chapel Hill, NC (May 12-14, 2015). State Context. Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development (OECD)

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Illinois’ Award of Excellence for Inclusion of Children with Special Needs

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  1. Illinois’ Award of Excellence for Inclusion of Children with Special Needs National Early Childhood Inclusion Institute Chapel Hill, NC (May 12-14, 2015)

  2. State Context • Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development (OECD) • ExceleRate Illinois (cross-agency initiative to focus on quality – Illinois’ QRIS) • Race to the Top (major focus on ExceleRate Illinois) • Expansion Grant (enhanced focus on Awards of Excellence as a part of ExceleRate Illinois)

  3. Who this AoE is for … • ALL early childhood programs that are “GOLD” & INCLUDE children with special needs • School and community-based preschool programs (ISBE, Preschool for All, Prevention Initiative) • Licensed child care centers • Head Start & Early Head Start

  4. Building on what is already in ExceleRate Illinois • ExceleRate ALREADY supports inclusion in several ways • At the GOLD level ... • Programs must screen all children and refer if needed • Programs must have MOUs (Memoranda of Understanding) with CFCs (Child & Family Connections) and at least one LEA (Local Education Agency) • Staff must complete training on children with disabilities

  5. Why we need it …

  6. Expectations for the Award of Excellence in Inclusion Self-assessment and Portfolio Development

  7. Foundation – DEC/NAEYC Guiding Principles for Inclusion

  8. What the AoE application process does … • Identifies Standards and Guidelines for high-quality programs and classrooms • Provides a process of Self-Study that goes hand-in-hand with developing a Portfolio • Offers Supports for programs as they engage in self-study and portfolio development

  9. Three levels of self-assessment

  10. 1st Level of Self-Assessment:The Five Standards • Standard 1 – Commitment to principles of full inclusion • Standard 2 – Achieve 85% of items on Illinois Inclusion Guidelines Checklist • Standard 3 – Administrator completes training related to self-assessment and portfolio development • Standard 4 – Administrator training on inclusive early childhood systems • Standard 5 – Staff training on self-assessment using the ICP and on inclusive practices

  11. 2nd Level of Self-Assessment: The Illinois Inclusion Guidelines Checklist (IIGC) • Illinois Inclusion Guidelines Checklist • 21 items • Matched to “Areas” in ExceleRate Illinois • Describes program-level practices that go beyond what is already in ExceleRate Illinois • Provides framework for self-assessment at program level • Provides framework for developing Program Portfolio, with evidence for each item

  12. Example: Types of Evidence in Portfolio Item 1 on IIGC (accessible learning environments) • Photographs of children in accessible environments • Descriptions of how environments have been modified • Lesson plans showing modifications for specific children with special needs • Scores on specific, relevant assessment items from external, state evaluators (such as ECERS)

  13. 3rd Level of Self-Assessment: The Inclusive Classroom Profile (ICP) • 12-item classroom observation instrument • Describes classroom practices that indicate high quality Access, Participation, and Supports, in relation to individual children with special needs • Provides framework for self-assessment and improvement in each individual classroom • Addresses Item 21 of the IIG

  14. Example from ICP: Adult Guidance of Children’s Play (Item 3)

  15. Supports for Accomplishing Award of Excellence • Ongoing support from Award of Excellence coordinator and coaches • Training for application process • Introductory webinar for administrators • Full-day face-to-face training for administrators • Webinar for classroom staff on using ICP for self-assessment • Linkages to other training and technical assistance

  16. STEPS in the Application Process A brief walk through the process

  17. Supports Route to Application for an Award of Excellence in Inclusion Connect with AoE & Inclusion Coach • Meet minimum criteria: Gold + serving children in inclusive environments • Complete self-assessment on Prerequisites Application • Join Supports Cohort • Initiate Self-Study Portfolio (Standards, IIGC, ICP) • Complete Supports Cohort Activities • Complete Program Self-Study Portfolio • Submit Prerequisite Application to OECD (evidence related to Standards) • Submit Self-Study Portfolio to State Advisory Panel

  18. Why would a program apply for this Award? • Validate the program’s beliefs about inclusion and validate and improve its inclusive practices • Demonstrate to families and to the community a high level of commitment to children with special needs and their families • Provide families with information that will improve their access to, and knowledge of, high quality programs • Be recognized by the state and community as a program that is providing high quality services for children with special needs

  19. Highlights Partnerships • Special Education Subcommittee of Early Learning Council • Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities • Illinois Network of CCR&Rs (Gateways to Opportunity) • Statewide training resources – StarNet, Project Choices • Other Awards of Excellence Putting systems in place for application process 1st Cohort Completed

  20. Challenges • As 1st Award of Excellence to become operational • Learning alongside the applicants • As Award of Excellence in Inclusion • Different definitions of inclusion in different types of programs • Avenues for recruiting across different types of programs

  21. Where to from here? • New cohorts • More types of programs – recruiting, vetting, supporting newly Gold (child care, Head Start) • Partnerships – sustainability of model – recruiting, vetting, training, supporting • Evaluating our process • Additional avenues for participating

  22. Supports Route to Improving Inclusive Practices Connect with AoE & Inclusion Coach • COMPLETE 1st ROUND OF SELF-ANALYSIS • Complete initial self-assessment using characteristics of high-quality inclusive environments (Standards, IIGC, ICP) DEVELOP ACTIVITY PLAN • Goals for program, classrooms, individuals • Activities including training, t.a., coaching IMPLEMENT ACTIVITY PLAN COMPLETE 2ND ROUND OF SELF-ANALYSIS

  23. For More Information … • Websites • www.excelerateillinoisproviders.com/overview2/awards-of-excellence/inclusion-of-children-with-special-needs • www.aoeinclusion.com (under construction but close) • Presenters: • Jeanette McCollum, jmccollu@illinois.edu (training, general questions) • Donna Nylander, donna.nylander@illinois.gov (general questions)

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