PowerPoint Presentation
5/11/2021
Optimizing Child Find Efforts with ASQ Online
Dawn E. Alexander, M.Ed. Preschool Coordinator, Colonial School District, New Castle, DE [email protected]
Webinar Objectives
Participants will learn about:
1. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Child Find requirements.
2. DE’s efforts to consolidate, align, streamline, and increase access to developmental screening for all.
3. The positive impact of DE’s ASQ adoption-a district perspective.
4. DE’s proposed developmental screening legislation.
IDEA-Federal Law Regarding Child Find
IDEA Part C-Infants & Toddlers
- States must implement a comprehensive “Child Find” system with the purpose of identifying, locating, and evaluating all children ages birth to three who may be eligible for early intervention and do this as early in life as possible.
- Governors name Part C Lead Agencies.
- States “house” Part C in various Departments.
IDEA Part B-Ages 3-21
- States must have policies and procedures to ensure that all children ages 3-21 with disabilities are identified, located and evaluated.
- Each state’s Department of Education is the “Lead Agency.”
- Local Education Agencies (LEAs) are responsible for implementing Part B “Child Find” activities for the children who reside within their LEA/school district.
Developmental Screening-DE History
20 years ago:
- A variety of screeners were used.
- Most were paper.
- Data was not systematically captured by programs or agencies.
- DE lacked a statewide system for recording, tracking, or sharing screening information.
DE’s History + Goals for Consolidation, Alignment, & Access
10 years ago:
- DE had the lowest screening rates in the nation.
- The Delaware Early Childhood Council (DECC)’s Strategic Plan & former Governor Jack Markell committed to improving screening rates.
- Legislation passed for private insurance to reimburse for screening, but rates remained low.
- The Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems (ECCS) grant and DE’s 211/HMG continued to focus on increasing screening rates and referrals, as warranted.
Five years ago: Developmental Screening Efforts
Significantly Increased
- 2016-ECCS grants were competitive. DE was selected.
- 2017-2018-Child cares and all Star Level 4 & 5 programs began transitioning from paper to online ASQs.
- 2017 & 2018-Colleagues and I presented online ASQ benefits to Part B 619 coordinators, districts prek teams, and special education directors, and EC advocates statewide.
- 2018 & 2019 DE Readiness Teams (DRTs)-Extensive screening for ALL efforts.
- 211/HMG continues to support & advocate for screening.
Past two years: Bold, Positive, Statewide Changes!
- 2019-Preschool Development Grant-Needs Assessment.
- 2019-All districts agreed to be reviewers, Part C voluntarily joined the initiative, and all participating child cares were integrated into the DOE Enterprise Account. Manuals and materials were created to support the uniformity of the project.
- 2019 & 2020-DOE leads-All DE districts to use ASQ.
- 2021-Redding Consortium-Screening recommendations.
- 2020-2025 DECC Strategic Plan-Screening remains a focus.
DE DOE Adopts the Online ASQ
Today:
- Delaware is on the cutting edge! We have come so far thanks to so many advocates and public, non-profit and private stakeholders.
- Education and modeling are the keys to our success.
- DOE provides a FREE, easy to use, “one stop shop” system for ALL families, reviewers, and providers.
- DOE has implemented a Community of Practice for ASQ Reviewers to ensure uniformity of project materials.
- DOE and stakeholders are committed to standardization.
- DOE and stakeholders are committed to continuous quality improvement.
DE DOE Adopts the Online ASQ
Today:
- The Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) is housed at DOE.
- DOE is the Enterprise Account holder for the online ASQ portal.
- Districts, Birth to Three, and providers all supported by DOE.
- Birth to Three and districts have unique Family Access links.
- Districts and Birth to Three staff email results to families and add screening results to the Provider “classrooms” within the portal for each registered child care.
- QRIS Star Level 4 & 5 child cares are required to implement screening. Other child cares are encouraged to participate voluntarily.
DE DOE Adopts the Online ASQ-The Current System
- Resources for Families, Child Cares & Districts Linked to DOE Webpage.
- Support Request is Link Provided.
DE’s Dev. Screening Workflow: DRAFT
- This is a general overview of the screening system.
- Stakeholders have worked collaboratively to design, refine, assess, and make needed changes as needed.
- Dark green indicates when to add a “Child Profile note” in the ASQ portal.
- Our website www.colonialpreschool.com.
The DOE/online ASQ system benefits our district in many ways:
- It is effective and efficient.
- It saves money.
- The online ASQ system supported by DOE has significantly, positively impacted how we serve children, communicate with families, collaborate with child cares, and retain and review data.
- It allows us to review screening and referral data easily.
Moving Forward - What’s Next?
- DE’s Redding Consortium for Educational Equity:
- Research demonstrates that Black and Brown children are five times less likely to have access to early intervention; access to developmental screening and referrals for all is critical.
- Recommendation-All licensed child cares to implement yearly developmental screening starting 7/1/23.
- IDEA Part C to move to the Department of Education on 7/1/23.
- Books, Balls, and Blocks events to continue and grow.
- DE’s ECCS grant expires in August. New Grant application submitted.
Many thanks to the following people for working tirelessly to educate families and the community about the importance of developmental screening access for all:
5/11/2021
Q&A