Many children enter the special education system as preschoolers, making it an ideal time to analyze and strengthen early childhood program and services.
ECA uses a mixed method data collection process to evaluate current early childhood special education systems and service delivery by…
- Examining assessment tools and eligibility processes
- Analyzing IEP development and implementation of functional goals
- Assessing placement in the least restrictive environments
Using the latest research and guidance from the Departments of ED and HHS, and OSEP Child Outcomes; ECA has helped school districts with…
- Continued quality improvement efforts for preschool classrooms with emphasis on supporting children with disabilities through enhanced access, participation, and supports
- Reducing the amount of time children spend in substantially separate programs and pull out services
The expertise ECA brings to this process…
Linda Warren has a doctorate in Early Childhood and Special Education with a secondary focus on Educational Research. She has experience as a pupil personnel services director and a special education teacher. She taught in the Special Education Department at the University of Hawaii and Wheelock College. Other districts have benefited from her evaluations and recommendations.
Ann Ramminger was part of the UW Madison Waisman Center, a Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. She has coordinated statewide special education efforts and grants. Ann also has experience in developing collaborative relationships with community partners.
Study of Universal Preschool Program Models and Projection of School-Age Population
Cambridge, MA awarded a contract to Early Childhood Associates and its partner, the University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute (UMDI) to conduct a study of the existing mixed service delivery system of preschool programs serving children in Cambridge. This study...
Leadership Matters
What are the characteristics of great leadership in early education and care? At the Early Childhood Strategic Leadership Institute on June 14th sponsored by ECA and Wellesley College, we explored that question. Amy O’Leary, NAEYC President led the closing panel where...
Guiding Early Education and Care Providers in Vermont
What a difference it can make when something is explained in a clear, concise way! Early Childhood Associates recently collaborated with the Child Development Division in the Vermont Department of Children and Families to develop Guidance Manuals for Group, Family,...
Coaching Query #4: Be the change?
Query: How can I help the administrator to be open to change and learn about how he/she can help the teacher? Advice: Change is not easy for most people. It means our current behaviors, founded on deep beliefs from our own experiences, are not quite right or even...
Coaching Query #3: My point of view?
Query: How can I hope the educator see what I see- perspective taking? Advice: While it is not always comfortable for us as coaches, I believe the first step should be self-reflection on current practice. You can accomplish this by referring to the Guiding Change,...
Promising Practice- Components of Coaching at Community Teamwork, Inc.
Community Teamwork, Inc. in Greater Lowell helps nearly 50,000 individuals from 63 cities and towns in northeastern Massachusetts gain greater economic independence. One arm of the organization focuses on children and families through its early learning programs. As...
Voice of Experience- Pam Kuechler
The Path to Head Start Executive Director This issue of Coaching Conversations e-news features Pam Kuechler as the Voice of Experience. Currently, Pam serves as the Executive Director of Massachusetts the Head Start Association, a role she has held for 4 years. Pam...
In the Spotlight: Worcester Child Development Head Start
Worcester Child Development Head Start: The Journey to Coaching This month, Coaching Conversations features Worcester Child Development Head Start. ECA spoke with two coaches, Denise Nelson and Carmen Fernandez, and the Education Manager, Carlene Sherbourne, who...
In the Spotlight: Springfield PEG and Coaching
In March, ECA sat down with the Springfield Public Schools Preschool Expansion Grant (PEG) coaching team in the newly renovated Early Childhood Education Center on Catharine Street. I learned about coaching “through being coached”...
Coaching Query #2: Willing but not able?
Query: I am working with a program where the Director is actively seeking assistance for her program. However, she has not kept most of our appointments. Once, I arrived to find that she wasn’t there and the next time, I called the day before to confirm and she...