This study brings forth a theory for reducing Colorado's prison population utilizing education and early intervention as described through qualitative methods. This paper contributes to the body of literature surrounding the prison reform debate. In order to capture the opinions and beliefs of relevant stakeholders regarding the barriers to…

Capacity-building family-centered practices are a fundamental component of Early Intervention (EI) service delivery, yet their adoption by EI practitioners remains inconsistent. Lack of sufficient practitioner training and overly broad recommended practices for practitioners are cited as potential barriers to their implementation. The triadic…

Evidence-based early interventions for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been shown to improve child outcomes and quality of life (Lord et al., 2018; Reichow et al., 2018; Smith & Iadarola, 2015). However, response to intervention is variable across both children and implementation contexts. Understanding factors that influence this…

For early intervention services, DEC (2014) recommends the Primary Service Provider (PSP) model, in which one provider serves as primary liaison between the family and other team members. The model focuses on the role of families and caregivers in child development, interventions aligned with natural learning environment practices, and…

Disproportionality in education is defined as the overrepresentation of specific racial or ethnic groups requiring special education (NJDOE New Jersey Department of Education [OSEP], 2018). Minority students who may be inappropriately identified as having disabilities may be harmed by being stigmatized with labels, experiencing lower expectations,…

Early intervention services are intended to be family-centered, meaning families are honored, respected, and involved in service delivery (Dunst, 2002). However, little research has been conducted to explore family perceptions of their participation in early intervention services. This study explored 12 families' perceptions about their…

Pediatricians serve a vital role in identifying young children with developmental delays and disabilities and referring families for services to support their children's development and learning. However, past researchers indicated there is minimal research on training pediatricians on the Part C early intervention (EI) process that supports young…

Reviews of published research indicate only a 33% median success rate of complex systems change initiatives. This lack of uptake is becoming known as implementation failure. Social emotional interventions with infants and young children and their caregivers also have a history of high attrition rates, putting efforts focused on this area at high…

Early identification and intervention for struggling readers increased the likelihood of students identified as proficient; ultimately leading to future success. The researcher sought to evaluate the Leveled Literacy Intervention (LLI) program in a Midwest urban school district, to help close the achievement gap between students' reading levels…

Purpose: The purpose of the qualitative study was to explore early childhood classroom teachers' experiences with administrative support in the implementation of the Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP) as an authentic assessment tool. Methodology: The participants included 10 Head Start and 10 State Preschool teachers implementing the…

As the prevalence of children diagnosed with autism continues to rise, the need for high quality parent coaching practices to ensure generalization of skills targeting in early intervention services is pronounced. This mixed methods study investigated the results of implementation of a parent coaching treatment package developed in alignment with…

The disproportionate representation of African American students in special education classes has been a challenge and dilemma for educators for over four decades. The disproportionate identification of African American students in special education began in kindergarten general education classrooms when teachers did not use interventions…

Engagement is hypothesized to be an important mediating factor in young children's development and learning. A major purpose of early intervention for young children with disabilities is to promote child engagement. While child engagement and related factors have been descriptively investigated since the 1970s, few studies have systematically…

Changes in legislation and the policies of education (e.g., NCLB 2002, IDEA 2004), the potential benefits of response-to-intervention (RTI), and government funds to support early intervention have made RTI a prominent issue in current education. To prepare teachers for implementing RTI, there are several government-sponsored online professional…

This mixed methods study employed quantitative and qualitative methods as means of evaluating the Kansas Autism Waiver's first three years of implementation. The study was guided by the components of a quality assurance analysis and, to the extent possible, considered the fidelity of implementation of the waiver procedures. Data sources included…