This study investigated the extent to which preschool teachers have been prepared to recognize students with potential learning needs. The ability of these teachers to recognize students with learning needs and provide appropriate support or referrals is critical for the success of the students. Through this research, several insights have emerged…

In this study, the researcher used the quantitative descriptive methodology to explore and more clearly describe teachers' knowledge of dyslexia to improve dyslexia referral and evaluation practices for students on at-risk campuses. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine what English-language arts teachers who teach kindergarten,…

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to review quality benchmarks from hearing screening programs conducted at local Head Start centers and preschool and elementary schools associated with our university training programs. Method: Hearing screening results from 6,043 children were reviewed. Hearing screening was accomplished using either…

The purpose of the present study is to examine the properties of a curriculum-based pre-referral screening tool. According to the current Greek preschool curriculum, preschoolers' participation is evaluated across five core axes, namely Play, Routines, Daily Activities, Explorations, and Organized Activities. Teacher evaluations sorted 201…

The Maryland's Premature Infant Developmental Enrichment (PRIDE) program is a unique collaborative endeavor between the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the Part C program for Baltimore City residents (Baltimore Infants and Toddlers Program; BITP). To evaluate the impact of PRIDE, the current study compared premature infants from…

Our team was awarded a grant by a private organization in partnership with a local research network to examine disparities in the special education referrals and services provided to young children in New York City (NYC). Our convergent mixed-methods study is exploring how the NYC preschool ecology--consisting of "process,"…

Just as paediatricians are the gatekeepers to children's physical health, preschool teachers are the gatekeepers to children's overall developmental progress. Their perceptions shape their interactions with their students and guide referral for special education. The implications for students' academic/developmental trajectories are manifold,…

The problem addressed in this study was that although administrators in a rural northeastern Maryland school district are complying with state Senate Bill 651 by not suspending students in prekindergarten through second grade, administrators continue to struggle with preventing severe offenses from happening and reducing office referrals. The…

The purpose of this study was to understand the perceptions and experiences of Navajo Head Start (NHS) teachers who are serving children with disabilities (CWD). This study used open-ended interviews to collect data from NHS teachers on their experiences, perceptions, and educational strategies. Twelve participants were interviewed via Zoom during…

The attitudes towards inclusion and the terms used related to special needs by pre-service teachers in three Finnish universities were studied. Inclusion is the main educational policy in Finland, and special solutions are avoided when possible. With a questionnaire and a brief survey, data from 488 pre-service teachers (PSTs) were collected and…

Psychological First Aid (PFA) is a concept that can be traced to an article published by the American Psychiatric Association in 1954 recognizing the benefits of early crisis interventions that relieve stress and human suffering. This fact sheet explores the goals of PFA models; outlines when and how schools can implement PFA, including…

The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction "Guidelines for Serving Students with Specific Learning Disabilities in the Education Setting" (ED591017) recognizes that dyslexia is associated with a specific learning disability in the area of basic reading skills. Students with dyslexia may have difficulty not only with reading, but…

This study examined whether Norwegian children who were referred to The School Psychology Services (SPS) for either language difficulties or social difficulties at kindergarten age demonstrated co-existing weak skills in the other area at 33 months and whether some of them could have been identified and referred earlier. Forty-three children…

Challenging behavior in preschool can lead to harmful outcomes for some children. While interventions have been shown to be effective in reducing or eliminating challenging behavior, evidence suggests that young children with challenging behavior are under-identified for services, increasing their risk for expulsion from early childhood programs.…

The vast majority of youth experiencing symptoms of a mental health (MH) disorder never access services. Barriers to access include unawareness of symptoms or where to get help, stigma, or lack of transportation or finances. Many school, family, and community collaboration models have begun to enhance access to MH supports. The present study…