This study examined the impact on parents of the Parents as Teachers early intervention program. Participating were three groups of parents, matched on demographic variables. One group of 21 parents received in-home support and training from parent educators (PAT) during the first 36 months of their child's life. The purpose of the training was to…

This Spanish-language report offers a framework for the analysis and evaluation of intervention on children's behalf against which to analyze actions upon their environment. The first section looks at the complex issue of defining suitable child development outcomes for intervention programs, noting that because the concept of childhood varies…

A practicum project implemented a developmentally appropriate intervention to increase school success for at-risk children in kindergarten through grade 3. Two corollary aims of the project were to determine the causes of at-risk status before retention or school failure occurs, and to involve parents in their children's educational process. An…

Noting that some children struggle with learning to read, this 15-minute videotape describes the essential components of an Accelerated Reading program (which provides supplemental instruction for struggling readers in Texas) and reports results of a study examining the effectiveness of various Accelerated Reading instructional approaches. It…

In 1992, the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) funded four projects for a three-year period to increase the participation of higher education faculty in inservice training for personnel in early intervention. These projects included: the Southeastern Institute for Faculty Training (SIFT), the Northeastern Early Intervention Faculty…

The Education Improvement Act of 1984 established the half-day child development program in South Carolina for 4- year-olds to help children who were most at risk for school failure get ready to learn before they entered the first grade. Students in the program met from 2 to 2.5 hours per day and used the High/Scope Preschool Curriculum. Each…

This final report describes activities and accomplishments of the Carolina Model Inservice Training Project, a federally supported program in North Carolina to develop an effective and replicable inservice training model for assisting early intervention programs to apply a family-centered approach in their work with young children (birth to 8…

A language-focused curriculum emphasizes the development of language skills as a key to learning. The curriculum is designed to be appropriate for 3- to 5-year-olds, whether having difficulty acquiring language, developing language skills at a typical rate, or learning English as a second language. Intended to accompany the first volume's…

Two important topics in early literacy development in Slovakia are discussed in this paper: the conceptual framework for its stimulation by efficient preschool curriculum, and the continuity of formal elementary school education with respect to children's preceding developmental achievements. The paper discusses the ongoing research project…

This paper discusses three Federal programs related to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): (1) Part H, the Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities; (2) Section 619 of Part B, the Preschool Grants Program; and (3) under Part C, the Early Education Program for Children with Disabilities (EEPCD). An overview of each of…

Noting that one of the biggest challenges in the United States today is the increasing number of infants and toddlers younger than age 3 who are cared for by someone other than their parents during work hours, this issue of NCEDL Spotlights announces the publication of a book examining out-of-home care for infants and toddlers. The book is an…

This paper reviews the American Association on Mental Retardation's (AAMR's) presentation of issues surrounding the field of early intervention. AAMR's publications are the primary sources of information in the paper. Specific sections address: (1) the impact of public laws on the rights of children and families to a free and appropriate public…

The purpose of this report is to provide an initial set of indicators for the success of African American students in the Albuquerque, New Mexico, Public Schools (APS). The major data gathering activity was a survey of parents and students completed by 244 students and 251 parents. Parents and students presented a relatively positive picture of…

This paper, presented at a symposium on expanding the research base of systems of care for children's mental health, describes an ongoing study of school reform in urban settings and effects on youth with emotional and/or behavioral disabilities and their families. The paper presents information on the first 99 (out of an expected 200) youth and…

This publication introduces the concept of therapeutic recreation (TR), illustrating its natural fit into the educational process and its use with at-risk students, and providing resources for further use. Section 1 examines what places a child at risk, focusing on educational goals, student behaviors, and home life. Section 2 defines TR as a…