Collaborating for Success Creating Inclusive Learning Environments in
Collaborating for Success: Creating Inclusive Learning Environments in Preschools Presented by: Valerie Andrews, Paul Ohm & Eleanor Droegemeier 6 th Annual Early Childhood Inclusion Institute July 2006
Inclusion in Arizona
Data Approximately 21, 637 preschoolers are served in the state of Arizona 3
Data 11, 169 typically developing preschoolers are served in Arizona – Early Childhood Block Grant – Family Literacy – Migrant Education – Community Education Programs – Tuition students 4
Data Approximately 12, 956 special needs preschoolers are served in Arizona *FY 06 5
Data Other Preschool Programs considered for LRE options are: – Head Start – Community Education Programs – Tuition students 6
LRE Statistics Of Arizona’s 3 -5 year olds 47% of were served in settings with typically developing peers SPP Goal: 60% by 2010 *Data collection 7
Initiatives • Expanding Opportunities – Early Childhood Inclusion Coalition • National Individualizing Preschool Inclusion Project (NIPIP) 8
Initiatives • Count Me In Manual (specific to Arizona – companion to An Administrator’s Guide to Preschool Inclusion). • Partnership with Arizona Council of Exceptional Children – Division of Early Childhood (CEC-DEC) 9
Initiatives Providing technical assistance to districts to combine programs and funds between Early Childhood Special Education, Early Childhood Block Grants, State Family Literacy & Migrant Education Even Start 10
Initiatives • Embedded questions in Preschool Grant Applications to collect LRE information from districts & increase awareness • Focused Monitoring *Worksheet 11
Needs Reaching Superintendents and School Boards • To increase awareness of LRE and explain benefits • Obtain budget support for systems change 12
Barriers • No Universal PK • State funding for programs for typically developing preschoolers has not increased for the past 5 years. • Number of preschoolers eligible for special education services has increased 33% since 2000. 13
Barriers • Arizona school construction funding formula does not allocate dollars for preschool classrooms for preschoolers. • Department of Health Services Licensure 14
SUCCESS STORY ***Tucson Unified School District*** Paul Ohm Eleanor Droegemeier 15
- Slides: 15