In 2014, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) granted funds to establish Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships (EHS-CCPs) to expand access to high-quality child care. Through these partnerships, EHS grantees partnered with center-based and family child care providers to implement EHS Program Performance Standards and provide…

Janet Begin's paper is based on the recognition and recent discussion of early childhood education in America. Her research touches on the challenges of implementing Montessori birth-to-six programs at Cornerstone Montessori School, Crossway Community Montessori School, East Dallas Community Schools, and Family Star Montessori School. She examines…

This document is a guide for implementing widespread use of evidence-based practices for improving the outcomes for young children with or at-risk for delays or disabilities and their families. The evidence-based practices are selected practices from the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) Recommended Practices (RPs). The guide is written for…

Developed a "Fostering a Love of Nature Index" to provide "best practice" guidelines for planning, implementing, and evaluating environmental education programs for young children. Research used in developing this index was drawn from both the early-childhood education literature and the environmental education literature.…

Wisconsin's Task Force on Early Education, Child Care, and Family Involvement identified the early education, child care, and family support services that will be needed in coming years and determined how these services should be implemented and coordinated. The task force began its work with an invitational conference involving about 100…

In a day care center which enrolled children between 14 months and 5 years of age, a child caregiver implemented a practicum study in order to allow children and older adults the opportunity to interact with one another for their mutual benefit. Goals were to: (1) increase children's positive attitudes toward older people; (2) seek positive…

Father involvement enhances children's well-being. A growing body of research supports this conclusion, showing that children with involved fathers exhibit greater school readiness, increased cognitive development, higher levels of empathy, and other positive characteristics (Administration for Children and Families 2004a). Research also indicates…

A child caregiver developed a substance abuse intervention and prevention program for preschool children between 2 and 5 years of age who were at risk for substance abuse. The practicum effort resulted in a preschool substance abuse curriculum that included information on drugs, offered techniques for enhancing self-esteem, and discussed skills…

This practicum paper documents the development and distribution of a handbook for child care administrators designed to increase parent involvement. It provides a review of the literature on parent involvement in day care centers and outlines the process used to develop the 12-page handbook. The handbook includes ways in which to measure the…

The report and an accompanying executive summary of a statewide needs assessment on young handicapped children in Iowa examine services available, effectiveness of services, and needed changes. The introduction provides an overview of State Planning Grants, Iowa's history of early childhood special education, and this project's approach to…

This manual presents recommended practices of the Council for Exceptional Children's Division for Early Childhood (DEC) for evaluating early intervention and early childhood special education programs. The DEC recommended practices are intended to complement previously established guidelines for developmentally appropriate practices. This guide…

A survey was conducted to determine demographic characteristics of existing early childhood education programs in Alaska. The survey was completed by 152 certified preschool programs and licensed out-of-home child care centers, representing 6,601 children and 1,093 staff members. Data were tabulated for questionnaire responses on children's…

This practicum addressed the problem of families having insufficient skills and resources necessary for locating information about the physical, socioemotional, and academic development of their young children in an early intervention program. The practicum's goal was to help parents acquire these necessary skills and resources. A family resource…

Alternatives for Paraprofessional Training (APT), a 3-year project, addressed the need for training paraprofessionals working with young handicapped children in rural and urban areas of Texas. Objectives of the project were: to identify competencies needed by paraprofessionals in working with young, handicapped children; to identify the needs of…

This volume presents a comprehensive plan for transition of children with special needs and their families between infant or early intervention services and preschool services, and between preschool services and kindergarten. It aims to help in bridging these services to minimize the stress and increase the promise of early childhood transitions.…