Early Childhood Transition Part C Indicator C-8 & Part B Indicator B-12 Analysis and Summary Report of All States’ Annual Performance Reports Kathy Whaley & Debbie Cate (NECTAC) December 14, 2010, 4:00 PM EST 1

Webinar Focus National Trend Data for APR Indicators C-8 & B-12 Continuing Challenges Improvement activities Contributing to Improved Performance Implications for Practice –Policy Makers –Administrators –Front Line Staff 2

Part C Transition Indicator The analysis of data across Indicators C-8 and B-12 provides a national perspective on early childhood transition from Part C to Part B for the following requirements:  C8a - IFSPs with transition steps and services  C8b - Notification to LEA, if child is potentially eligible for Part B  C8c - Transition conference for potentially eligible children 3

Part B Indicator B12 - Children referred by Part C prior to age three, who are found eligible for Part B and have an IEP developed and implemented by age 3 4

Performance does not necessarily provide measures of the quality of transitions, but the extent to which specific requirements of IDEA are being met. These analyses yield data on practices that are necessary but may not sufficient to ensure quality States have worked diligently to improve transition! 5

National Trend Data

7 Transition Indicator Trend Data (C8 & B12)

8 C8a - Change from Baseline to FFY Actual Performance

9 C8b - Change from Baseline to FFY Actual Performance

10 C8c - Change from Baseline to FFY Actual Performance

11 B12 – Change from Baseline to FFY Actual Performance

12 Indicator B12 - Early Childhood Transition by Child Count

Trends in Capacity to Collect and Use Data Increasing use of state data systems by Part C & Part B Part C continuing to use monitoring mechanisms for reporting C8a Variation in process, practices and category descriptions Few states using unique child identifiers Improved ability to match specific child data from C to B Improvements in migrating sets of data from C to B 13

Challenges to Meeting Timelines and Requirements of Early Childhood Transition

Challenges Influencing Practices Maintaining adequate numbers of qualified personnel Scheduling and completing evaluations Increasing numbers of children referred & transitioned Conducting transition conferences & IEP meetings for children with summer birthdays 15

Challenges Influencing Practices Late referrals to both 619 and Part C programs Addressing family circumstances & parent refusals Sharing child specific data across programs Maintaining local expertise due to turnover State funding issues 16

Collaboration & Coordination Challenges Delays may be caused by: Differences in procedures Developing relationships and maintaining effective communication Changes/shortages in personnel Almost all the steps along the transition timeline require effective communication and coordination. 17

Comprehensive and Targeted Improvement Activities

Improvement Activities In addition to improvements in data capacity, improvement activities were categorized as improvements to: Policies and Procedures Training and technical assistance Monitoring and data verification Interagency Collaboration and Coordination 19

Collaborative Improvement Activities Collaborative activities between Part C & 619: Child identifiers that follow the child Mechanisms to share data elements Coordinated policy clarification Joint program evaluation Collaborative training 20

Part C - Explanation of Progress Strategies specific to C-8 sub-indicators: C8a – Clarifying requirements for documentation Modifying the IFSP to include sections designed to address outcomes, steps and services More states seem to be moving to statewide forms (17) 21

Part C – Explanation of Progress C8b – Improvements in data systems, data management and interagency communication C8c – strategies for local collaboration, data system alerts and local MOUs 22

Part B – Explanation of Progress The most frequently cited Part B improvement activities reflected themes: Joint clarification of policies and procedures The ability to collect needed data elements. Collaborative Training, TA and other coordinated activities. 23

Themes - High Performing States Embrace the mission: Promote young children’s successful transitions through collaborative support of families by both Part C and Part B. Develop joint or coordinated policies and procedures to ensure the best possible transitions. Include quality measures about transition in on-going and joint monitoring activities. Continue to coordinate transition efforts between Part C & B in the ability to gather, report and analyze data. Together, use transition data to guide and improve transition processes and procedures. 24

Implications for Policy Makers Knowledge and awareness of issues and context for front line staff and families Deliberate, systematic anticipation of intended and unintended consequences Capacity of policies and procedures to create improvements Decisions influenced by program evaluation and family feedback Use of evidence-based practices when known 25

Implications for Administrators Knowledge of rules and policies Promoting relationships with key partners Designation of staff to be responsible for transition Administrative support for interagency coordination Ongoing training and orientation processes Local agreements Mechanism for input and feedback from families 26

Implications for Front Line Staff Key source of accurate and consistent information for families Willingness to learn about other program’s rules and policies Ability to access information and resources Ability to develop relationships and partnerships Support families while implementing requirements 27

Full Reports Available On-line Part C State Performance Plan Annual Performance Report 2009 Indicator Analysis FFY part-c_sppapr_10.pdf (this link is available from the webinar series page) 28

Full Reports Available On-line Part B State Performance Plan Annual Performance Report 2009 Indicator Analysis FFY part-b_sppapr_10.pdf (this link is available from the webinar series page) 29

ectransitionta.asp OSEP SPP/APR Calendar ( these links are available from the webinar series page) 30 Transition Resources National Early Childhood Transition Initiative

transition.asp National Early Childhood Transition Center (NECTC) (these links are available from the webinar series page) 31 Transition Resources NECTAC Transition Topic Page

Early Childhood Transition Part C Indicator C-8 & Part B Indicator B-12 Thank you for participating. Presentations from this series and their related resources are made available on the NECTAC website at: 32