We utilized a survey to explore how early childhood personnel delivered high-quality and inclusive preschool special education and related services to young children with disabilities in one U.S. Western state. We conducted quantitative analyses on 418 participants' survey responses, including t tests and Mann Whitney tests to examine differences…

The purpose of this systematic literature review was to understand trends in field experiences that were part of early childhood special education (ECSE) teacher preparation activities in the United States. Thirteen studies that included an analysis of ECSE teacher candidates (TCs) completing at least one field experience, including…

The Latino community has been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in unique challenges. This paper explores the lived experiences of five Spanish-speaking Latina mothers of young children receiving early childhood special education (ECSE) services during the pandemic. Through in-depth qualitative interviews, this paper…

Teacher self-efficacy (TSE) is a frequently studied construct due to its positive relations with student outcomes. However, TSE of teachers in inclusive early childhood special education (ECSE) classrooms has seldom been studied. To fill this gap, we examined the extent to which (a) teachers exhibited differing levels of TSE for students; (b)…

The goal of the journal review process is to ensure that published manuscripts are of high quality and address important topics. Technical criteria about methodology, rigor, and clarity can impact how a manuscript is reviewed. However, journal reviewers rely on accumulated wisdom about credibility, accuracy, reasonableness, timeliness, and…

Mixed methods research (MMR) has the potential to be a powerful tool to expand the ways early intervention/early childhood special education (EI/ECSE) scholarship understands and informs practice. Integration, or the purposeful combination of quantitative and qualitative research approaches, is central for rigorous MMR. However, it can be…

Play represents an important component of early childhood education and is linked to the development of communication and social skills, particularly for children with developmental disabilities who often lack play skills. Structured teaching is a systematic method that entails visually arranging and organizing the learning environment. Although…

We utilized a mixed methods design to analyze responses to a U.S.-distributed survey regarding early childhood professionals' (N = 1,047) use of culturally and linguistically responsive practices during the initial evaluation for early intervention or early childhood special education. Findings from the fully mixed concurrent equal status mixed…

Professional standards identify what future educators should know and be able to do when they complete a program of study from an Institution of Higher Education (IHE). With support from the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), the first ever stand-alone Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education (EI/ECSE) Standards were approved in…

Disproportionality and inequity exist in the special education services that U.S. children receive based on factors such as race, geographic location, and resources of the school system. Overrepresentation and underrepresentation are both prevalent issues and can vary by region or school district and are likely due to multiple factors. Although…

We surveyed early childhood personnel in the U.S. state of Colorado to explore reported practices during the initial evaluation of young children for early intervention or preschool special education. One hundred early childhood personnel participated. Overall, reported evaluation practices and processes matched recommended practices and met legal…

Collaboration with caregivers and between disciplines and agencies is a recommended practice in the field of early intervention and early childhood special education (EI/ECSE) as well as required by federal legislation for young children with disabilities. Review of relevant literature suggests that collaboration entails a complex set of…

Rasch and classification analyses on a field-test version of the third edition of the Assessment, Evaluation, and Programming System (AEPS-3), a curriculum-based assessment used to assess young children birth to age 6 years, were conducted. First, an evaluation of the psychometric properties of data from each developmental area of an AEPS-3…

Advancing equity in early childhood education is crucial as our broader society faces issues of inequities across systems, including education. Professionals must honor children's home language and cultural contexts, coming from a perspective of value and respect rather than from a traditionally dominant Eurocentric perspective. Through this…

This study was conducted to examine the effectiveness of Prevent-Teach-Reinforce for Young Children (PTR-YC) using a single-case experimental design. PTR-YC is a manualized intervention designed to address challenging behaviors for children in preschool and childcare settings using the framework of positive behavior support. Participants included…