1. Yes We Can: New Opportunities for Young Children with Disabilities & their Families Keynote Panel
Joan Lombardi, Deputy Assistant Secretary and Inter-Departmental liaison for Early Childhood Development, US Department of Health & Human Services
Lisa Backer, Early Childhood Special Education Specialist, Minnesota Department of Education
Justine Strickland, Assistant Commissioner, Child Care Policy, GA

2. Early Childhood 2009: New Opportunities for ALL Children
July 14, 2009
Joan Lombardi, Ph.D.

3. Reflections… From knowledge to goals Opportunities and challenges
Looking back and moving forward
Next steps

4. What we know…
Early experiences matter, particularly good health and positive early relationships
Poverty, family stress and other risk factors can have a serious impact on child development, particularly when children are young and risk factors are persistent
Support needs to start early (prenatal) and continue throughout the early years

5. Healthy, happy and successful children
Parents and other family members who are engaged and supportive
Excellent and effective early childhood development programs
Caring communities mobilized on behalf of young children and families

6. Opportunities
New energy and attention to young children and their families
New Federal initiatives which can advance the reform efforts that have emerged in many of the states
Strong focus on cross-sector collaboration
This leads to new opportunities for INCLUSION

7. History of early childhood: From multiple roots ……….
Health
Family support
Education
Disability services
Head Start
Child Care
Pre-k
Title I
IDEA

8. …..to a common tree Governance Professional development
Standards and monitoring
Health promotion
Parent engagement and support
Data systems
……inclusion should be a key element in all components of the infrastructure and at the program level

9. To do list…..

10. Have high expectations for all children………..

11. Reinforce the importance of parents and other family members in the lives of their children…. And support them in this role.

12. Develop and nurture the new early childhood workforce

13. Step up efforts to mobilize communities on behalf of young children and families…and share and celebrate success!

14. Balance work, family and friends…..and take care of yourself………….

15. Be the change you want to see….

16. Perspectives from States:
Lisa Backer
Minnesota

17. Exciting Time in Early Childhood

18. Joint Position Statement
DEC/naeyc
On Inclusion

22. Minnesota: Land of 10,000 Lakes
350,000 children birth to K
214,000 in child care
50,000 living below poverty level (14.5%)
20,000 children in early intervention or early childhood special education
10,300 in Head Start
2,600 in state-funded pre-kindergarten

23. Early Intervention & Early Childhood Special Education
MN Dept. of Education is the lead agency for Part C
Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) begins at birth
95% of infants and toddlers receive services in natural environments
69% of preschool children with disabilities participate in regular early childhood programs

24. “Of all the states where you might expect to find a robust early education system, Minnesota might be near the top of the list.”

25. Minnesota was actually
“Several decades ago
Minnesota was actually
a leader in early ed…”

27. Seeds of Excitement Business has become involved.
MnBEL: MN Business for Early Learning
A Boost from Philanthropy
Recently determined by OSEP to be “Meeting Requirements” of IDEA for Part C and Part B
Mary McEvoy Lecture Series
MN EC Caucus

28. 139 Members-69%
Voluntary
Bi-Partisan
Committed to:
System-building
Accountability
Tracking progress

29. Opportunity: Stimulus Package
Regional Professional Development Facilitators
Reduced/eliminated cuts
Additional capacity for inclusion
Part C: Action planning tied to improving local performance on federal indicators (SPP/APR)

30. Opportunity: Knowledge
Second Generation Research
NPDCI Research Synthesis Points
Focus on Evidence-based Practice
What Works Clearinghouse
Effective Professional Development

31. Opportunity: Outcomes
Child Outcomes
Social Skills
Acquire & Use Knowledge and Skills
Take Action to Meet Needs
Family Outcomes
Know Rights
Communicate Child’s Needs
Help Child Develop and Learn

32. Cross-Sector Work NPDCI Cohort 1 Landscape Infrastructure Documents
Excitement
Opportunity
Challenge
Cross-Sector Work
NPDCI Cohort 1
Landscape
Infrastructure Documents
Indicators of Progress
Early Learning Guidelines 0-2
Core Competencies for Early Childhood Professionals

33. Two Teams: One Dream Minneapolis Early Childhood Special Education
Partners in Community Action (PICA) Head Start

34. Perspectives from States:
Justine Strickland
Georgia

35. Yes We Are: Improving Opportunities for Children 0-5
Statewide Inclusion Coordinator
Highly qualified inclusion specialist in each CCR&R region
Pre-K increased inclusion classes statewide
More than 10,845 children are served in inclusive environments
Out of 880,879 children 0-5 in the state –

36. Other State Initiatives
“Blended” Head Start and Pre-K classrooms with 10% of children with disabilities enrolled
Revision of rules and regulations to enhance quality services
SpecialQuest/NPCDI
CSEFEL training this fall
One third of Head Start programs serving 4 year olds are blended

37. Maximizing Federal Opportunities
State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care
Collaboration with DOE on GET READY TO READY
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act – awaiting approval

38. Reflection on Comments