Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids (SPARK) is a school readiness program for children ages three to five that assists families with preparing their children for kindergarten in the areas of reading, language, and social skills. Program completion is determined by the presentation and facilitation of a minimum of eight lessons taught…

Developed in 2003 by the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton with a grant from the Kellogg Foundation, "Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids" ("SPARK Ohio") is a family-centered kindergarten readiness program that works with families, schools, and the community. From its initial sites in Stark County, "SPARK…

Preschool parent interventions may produce downstream benefits if initial intervention gains are sustained and improve later socialization experiences. This study explored associations between initial effects of the REDI (Research-based Developmentally Informed) Parent program and later benefits. A randomized trial involving 200 Head Start…

The director of the EPSDT (Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment) Program discusses the role of developmental assessment within the EPSDT program, and describes efforts to develop implementation guides for this component. (Author/CL)

The value of screening evaluations is assessed. Descriptions of screening programs for acquired immune deficiency syndrome and massive drug testing are presented. An example is provided of how productive evaluation work can guide a program even before the decision is made to implement it. (TJH)

Intended as a guide for educators and researchers, the volume provides ideas and program descriptions in the field of education for young exceptional children. An introductory chapter (J. De Weerd) presents an overview of education for handicapped children and describes the establishment under the Bureau of Education for the Handicapped (BEH) of…