INCLUSION BY: SOPHIA CLARKE

Components of Quality

Program Assessment Tools

WHAT IS INCLUSION?

“Inclusion has legal status in legislation mandating educational services for all

children with disabilities from birth on.” (Cate et al.,2010 p.1)

Inclusion involves the “effort to maximize the participation of children and families

in typical home and community activities.” (Cate et al.,2010 p.1)

REPORTS ON INCLUSION:

Report One:

Evaluation Summary of the Expanding Opportunities Interagency Inclusion Initiative: Increasing and

Enhancing Access, Participation and Supports for All Children in High Quality Inclusive Programs and Services

Report Two:

Quality Indicators of Inclusive Early Childhood Programs/Practices: A Compilation of Selected Resources

REPORT ONE: COMPONENTS OF QUALITY

Summary: The stakeholders in the American Department

of Health and Human Services sought to improve the quality in child care in the area of inclusion.

The “next steps” are that of which the American Federal and State agencies should take to achieve High Quality Inclusive Programs for children.

These steps are Leadership, Profession Development and Accountability. Cate et al.,2010

IMPACTS IN STATES IMPLEMENTING EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES

Impact % of EO states

1) Strengthen partnerships acrossstate agencies or initiatives

80%

2) Increase public awarenessregarding inclusion

65%

3) Improve personnel developmentsystems

60%

4) Effectively address funding andfinance barriers to inclusion

45%

5) Launch other inclusion initiatives

40%

6) Build community partnerships andlocal coordination to supportinclusion

40%

Cate et al.,2010

HELPFUL LINKS

Some states have developed interagency training and TA resources and have conducted new and revised training and TA specific to inclusion.

• FL — PreKindergarten Children with Disabilities:Expanding Opportunities for Providing Serviceshttp://www.fldoe.org/ese/pdf/PreK-disabALL.pdf

• ID — Quality Rating and Improvement Systemhttp://www.idahoaeyc.org/idahostars_qris_centers.php

APPLICATION TO MY LIFE

Professional Development

Workshops

Identify the inclusion policies and standards outlined by the Canadian government

DISCUSSION TIME

1) Are any of us aware of Ontario's current stance on inclusion? If yes explain. If no, explain how the government can bring more public awareness to

inclusion.2) What laws would

set into motion to create quality inclusive childcare?

REPORT TWO: PROGRAM ASSESSMENT TOOLS Summary:

The National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center Preschool TA team has put together a report that contains a compilation of selected resources that will aid the reader in preparing a Quality Inclusive programs.

The report: is divided into five section: Quality Inclusion Practices Consideration, Classroom Observation Right Tools, Individual Child Focused Considerations, Collaborative Inclusion Practices and Quality and Improvement.

(National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (NECTAC), 2011)

CLASSROOM ASSESSMENT SCORING SYSTEM

ASSESSMENT TOOLS FOR TEACHERSStrategy Never Rarely Occasiona

lly Frequentl

y Comments

I provide enough free time choice forthese friends to play together

I let these two friends form their ownfriendship

I provide suggestions to solveproblems or resolve conflict betweenthese two friends

I encourage play between these twofriends by commenting on theiractivities in an encouraging way

I invite these two friends to playtogether

I share information with parents sothey can arrange play dates outside ofschool for these two friends

I allow these friends to play off ontheir own

I make special materials or activitiesavailable during free choice time thatencourage these friends to playtogether

I arrange for a child to be close to thefriend

I speak for a child or interpret a child’sbehavior so the friend can understand

Other strategies I use

(National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (NECTAC), 2011)

THE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS1. Furniture: What does it look like?

2. Are health and safety procedures implemented throughout the classroom?

3. Are classroom displays examples of children’s work?

4. Is the room free of unnecessary clutter and extraneous stimulation?

5. Are the classroom spaces well organized, and are learning materials accessible to all children?

6. Are Language and literacy experiences prominent throughout the classroom ?

7.Are the staff interactions with children positive and promote the development of critical thinking skills?

8. Is diversity reflected through the classroom environment?

9.What does the outdoor space look like? Is it safe, accessible for all children, and includes equipment and materials for a variety of activities?

National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (NECTAC), 2011)

A STAR RATING VIDEO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dL17ERpra9A&feature=player_embedded

APPLICATION TO MY LIFE

Encourage the companies that I work with to use a rating scale

Professional Development

Always seek ways to improve quality

DISCUSSION TIME

1. Once all the tools are put into place should there be follow up procedures? If yes, give suggestions for procedures. If no, explain why.

2. Should there be a universal rating scale? If yes, what would it look like? If no, explain why.

CONCLUSION

“We have dramatically expanded early childhood education and will continue to improve its quality, because we know thatthe most formative learning comes in those first years of life.”

-President Barack Obama,in an address to joint session of Congress, February 24, 2009

REFERENCES

 Cate, D., Diefendorf, M., McCullough, K., Peters, M., Whaley, K., &

National Early Childhood Technical Assistance, C. (2010). Quality Indicators of Inclusive Early Childhood Programs/Practices: A Compilation of Selected Resources. National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (NECTAC). Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

  National Early Childhood Technical Assistance, C. (2011). Evaluation

Summary of the Expanding Opportunities Interagency Inclusion Initiative: Increasing and Enhancing Access, Participation and Supports for All Children in High Quality Inclusive Programs and Services. National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (NECTAC), Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Knabe, D.(2010, December 14).The Steps to Excellence Program [video file] Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dL17ERpra9A&feature=player_embedded