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The purpose of this study was to understand the status and influential factors of preschool teachers' attitudes towards inclusive education, given the evidence that attitudes predict successful inclusion for young children with or at risk for developmental delays or disabilities. We translated the "Multidimensional Attitudes Toward Inclusive Education Scale" (MATIES, Mahat, 2008) to Simplified Chinese (MATIES-C). We then administered the MATIE-C to a representative sample of in-service preschool teachers (N = 481) in Beijing, China. The confirmative factor analysis and reliability tests suggested an acceptable construct validity and internal reliability of the MATIES-C. We also found preschool teachers in Beijing held positive attitudes towards inclusion across cognitive, affective, and behavioral dimensions of attitudes. The ANOVA results indicate teachers' experience and knowledge about children with disabilities had statistically positive associations with favorable attitudes. Preschool area, teacher age, and educational background were also found to have a statistically significant impact on teacher attitudes.

This systematic review explores the topic of Part C Early Intervention (EI) dosage reporting and decision-making factors. From an extensive search following PRISMA guidelines, we identified 14 interdisciplinary studies (combination of descriptive, correlational, mixed method, qualitative, and single case design) that met the criteria and synthesized them based on the reported definitions and data of EI dosage components, including frequency, duration, and intensity, as well as factors associated with this data at child, family, and community levels. Results indicate frequency was most reported, whereas duration and intensity were inconsistently reported, as were service delivery models. The inconsistency of reporting did not allow for interpretations of effective dosage; however, disparities based on different factors are shared. Results and discussion are provided for each level of factors, such as family demographics, insurance enrollment, and disability classification. Implications for further research and practice, especially for EI dosage decision-making and reporting, are included.

Inclusion is central to work in early intervention and early childhood special education (EI/ECSE) and reflected in the core beliefs and recommended practices of the field (Division for Early Childhood [DEC], 2014). Inclusion, according to the joint statement of the DEC and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (2009), means that each and every child, regardless of their abilities or disabilities, as well as their family have the right to be accepted and respected as valued full members of their communities and participate in a broad range of activities, including educational and recreational settings. The expected outcomes of ensuring equitable access to this broad range of activities and settings for children and their families are a sense of belonging and membership, positive social relationships, and development and learning to reach their full potential. To achieve the outcome of equitable access and active participation, engagement, learning, and development, a variety of intentional supports need to be considered that are designed around the individual needs and priorities of the child and their family. The purpose of this article is to describe a process grounded in a family-centered, strength-based, capacity-building approach to guide professionals in partnering with families for successful community inclusion. To implement the process, the first task is to develop a shared understanding of the family's concerns, resources, and priorities. The second task then for the professional and family is to jointly identify outcomes and develop a plan for achieving the outcomes. The authors propose the use of two tools (i.e., Ecomaps and Routines-based Interview [RBI]) and describe how they may be used together to implement the process. They begin by briefly describing each tool and how they work together. This is followed by a detailed description to guide implementation of the process through three phases--developing an Ecomap, conducting an RBI, and identifying outcomes and potential solutions.

This article proposes a reconceptualization of the relationship between two early childhood professional standards, the "Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators" (NAEYC, 2019) and the "Practice-Based Professional Preparation Standards for Early Interventionists/Early Childhood Special Educators" (CEC & DEC, 2020), from an aligned or a parallel approach to an integration approach that advances the shared equity agenda in early childhood education. In the integrative approach, the ECE Standards are viewed as the foundation for educating all children with diverse social identities (i.e., ability, race, language, socioeconomic) and the EI/ECSE Standards as the expansion on the foundation specifically for children with differing abilities. A rationale is provided for integrating the standards and the process of integration is exemplified around three broad themes central to both sets of standards: inclusion and diversity, responsive and relevant practices, and building partnerships. Integrating the two professional standards will guide educator preparation programs for inclusion, provide clarity and unity around the knowledge and competencies of early childhood professionals across settings, and unify the workforce in ECE and EI/ECSE for the shared goal of promoting inclusion and equity. Our aim is for the audience to consider the integrative approach as a conceptual framework for building shared values, visions, and knowledge in ECE and EI/ECSE to promote inclusive, equitable early childhood learning opportunities and to unify educators around the shared equity agenda.

The purpose of this special issue is to introduce ways in which the field of early childhood special education can use the Initial Practice-Based Professional Preparation Standards for Early Interventionists/Early Childhood Special Educators (EI/ECSE) (birth through age 8). In this article, the following applications are identified and guidance is provided in using the standards for: (1) educator preparation programs as they engage in curriculum development and accreditation; (2) states as they develop credentials for professionals engaged in early childhood education (ECE) and early childhood special education; (3) professional development and technical assistance providers as they identify and develop content to build the capacity of personnel; (4) practicing professionals as they engage in reflection on and engagement in continuous improvement of their practices; (5) families as they advocate for services and supports for their child and family; (6) other professionals/disciplines both at an individual and systems level as they consider how to improve practice with young children and their families; and (7) researchers as they development EI/ECSE research agendas to guide the field's understanding of effective practices. Before describing each of these applications, foundational information is provided on the term "standards" as used in early childhood education, to facilitate a shared understanding. A brief introduction to the EI/ECSE Standards is also presented.

Background: This study was the first attempt to investigate the status of implementation and sustainability of early childhood positive behavior support (PBS) via the lens of implementation science for community-based child care centers in a Midwest state of the United States. Objective: Obtain state-level data and gain insights on PBS implementation and sustainability in target child care centers. Method: Through a total population sampling method, we recruited administrators (N = 94, 12% of the full population) of target child care centers to participate in a survey. Results: The results suggested that the majority of the responding centers (59.57%) had not received PBS professional development (PD) indicating PBS PD opportunities had not been disseminated in the majority of community-based child care centers in the target state. Nearly half of the programs were not implementing PBS practices after they received PBS PD, which raised questions about continuous use of PBS and the return on investment of PBS PD efforts. The results of ANOVA found that the scope of PBS training significantly affected the level of PBS implementation; the type of training significantly affected the level of PBS sustainability. Simple linear regression revealed programs that had a higher level of PBS implementation also had a higher level of PBS sustainability. Conclusions: Using implementation science theories and tools, we developed two preliminary measures to obtain meaningful information about early childhood PBS implementation and sustainability in community-based child care centers. Understanding the factors associated with implementation can provide insights for the improvement of PD programs when disseminating the use of evidence-based PBS practices.

The most recent efforts to promote inclusive education have acknowledged the various contexts in which it takes place, moving away from a placement-focused conceptualization of inclusion. Acknowledging that inclusive education may take place within multiple types of early childhood education programs necessitates the consideration of context as a potential factor influencing its high-quality implementation. Moreover, assessing and supporting quality within inclusive classrooms requires a consideration of both global quality and inclusion quality; yet, these two facets of inclusive education quality have rarely been considered together. In accordance with recent advancements in the conceptualization and promotion of inclusive education, we discuss three ongoing challenges in inclusive education research: operationalizing inclusive education independent of physical placement, ensuring the adequate consideration of context, and appropriately measuring quality. We also provide recommendations for future research aiming to continue advancing the field's knowledge of high-quality inclusive education.

Federal legislation and regulations addressing educational practices have provided clear mandates that educators when designing educational intervention use systematic decision-making processes to identify instructional strategies and methods that are evidence based. This study employed a survey to examine how familiar early interventionist/early childhood educators, who serve young children aged birth to eight, seek information on evidenced -based practices (EBP) prior to implementing a practice. This study also explored methods that educators use and prefer to access information about EBPs. A total of 223 educators completed the survey that included four identified subgroups (teachers, related service providers, administrators, and faculty/researchers/trainers). We found that most respondents, across the groups, reported being familiar or somewhat familiar with research evidence for their practices and chose discussion with colleagues as the most frequently used strategy to learn and make decisions about a new practice. Implications for future research and professional development are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this article is to describe an approach that early educators can use to develop meaningful partnerships with families. Specifically, the authors describe their efforts to support teachers in developing home-school connections through a series of Family Projects that strengthened family-child relationships and created opportunities for families to gain knowledge to support their children's learning. They detail the context of the Family Projects, including the larger project in which this work was situated and the theoretical perspective that guided it. Furthermore, they describe the design and implementation of the Family Projects approach, including the process through which they gathered feedback from families to revise activities.

Decades of research have illustrated the linguistic, social, and cognitive growth that occurs in the context of play (e.g., Baron-Cohen, 1987; Lifter, Foster-Sanda, Arzamarski, Briesch, & McClure, 2011; Lillard et al., 2013; Ungerer & Sigman, 1984). Play also provides opportunities to practice and gain important social skills. During play with peers, children learn to establish shared knowledge to act out jointly controlled play scripts. This process provides opportunities for taking others' perspectives and modifying one's point of view based on others' experiences (Nelson & Seidman, 1984). Children also learn how to join a peer group, enter an ongoing play activity, manage disagreements, and support one another during social conflicts (Ladd, 2005). As play progresses, these skills become more complex and refined to accommodate ever-evolving age-appropriate social demands. Play also lends itself to the development of important cognitive skills such as the ability to understand and extract meaning from the environment and develop abstract and symbolic thought (Lillard et al., 2013). Many of the skills learned and practiced through play are those with which children with a diagnosis of autism need additional support. Indeed, difficulties with language, social skills, and even an understanding of the appropriate uses of toys and objects are defining characteristics of children with autism (American Psychiatric Association, 2013; Jarrold, 2003). Furthermore, research has demonstrated that children with autism often have delays and differences in their play such that pretend play is either entirely absent, or delayed and lacking in complexity and variation (Stanley & Konstantareas, 2007). Thus, children with autism not only experience delays in crucial developmental skills, but also miss opportunities to learn and practice these skills in the context of play. As such, cognitive and behavioral delays of children in this population may become confounded by difficulties with play. This article provides a summary of play development and how it may differ for children with autism. Based on this foundational knowledge, specific guidance is provided on how practitioners can use peers to support the play of their classmates with autism.

Young children are often enrolled in either AM (morning) or PM (afternoon) sessions in early childhood programs. However, little research is available on this routine practice. We used multilevel analysis to investigate if there are differences in the literacy, math, and social outcomes for children who participate in AM or PM sessions beyond those that can be explained by differences in child, family, teacher, and session characteristics. Five hundred and eighty-eight preschool children in 63 half-day sessions participated in this study in five U.S. states. Results indicate there were no patterns of significant effects between time of day and preschool children's academic and social outcomes. However, a number of child, family, teacher, and session-level variables (e.g., child's age, gender, disability and language status, parents' education level, and teachers' years of experience) moderated the effect of time of day on children's cognitive and social outcomes. The findings highlight the need to further investigate how we constitute half-day programs and how enrollment patterns are established and implemented in preschool classrooms. Thus, the study has methodical implications for future research, policy, and practice.

The purpose of this article is to discuss how a parent coaching framework with the support of several critical components can be applied to build parent competency as a way to address children's challenging behaviors. Collaborative parent-professional partnerships are the underlying theme embedded in the three-cyclical coaching components. Shared goals and action plans inform focused observations, coaching practices with the parents, and functional-assessment-based interventions (FABIs) with the child. Focused observation emphasizes the physical location and learning process of parent coaching. Reviewing and updating goals and action plans allows for (a) evaluating coaching practices based on partnerships with parents, (b) celebrating successes, (c) providing opportunities for refinements, and (d) building family competence to address emerging needs and challenges. With coaching, parents and service providers can partner to effectively support young children's appropriate behaviors, decrease or eliminate challenging behaviors, and improve family quality of life.

Making data-based decisions is a pervasive expectation for educators and is linked to improved outcomes for students. Observational data collection for progress monitoring, in particular, can help educators track and support students' progress toward individualized educational goals in inclusive settings. Yet, many educators struggle with data collection. In this study, the authors use a multiple baseline across participants' single-case design to investigate the effectiveness of a data collection intervention on early childhood preservice educators' data collection quality. Preservice educators received data collection templates, instruction, and individualized feedback to improve their ability to collect observational data and use it to inform practice. Preservice educators' participation in the instructional program improved the quality of their data collection; however, continued feedback was necessary for some skills to improve. Implications for preparing early educators to collect and use observational progress monitoring data are discussed.

Limited research has focused on the unique needs of military families and their preschool-age children and even less work focused on military families whose preschool children have special needs or disabilities. Researchers implemented a multicase qualitative research design conducted at two sites to gain the perspectives across all service ranks. The study included two groups of participants from each site including (a) early educators working for the school district associated with each military base, and (b) families who had been deployed within the past 5 years and had a child with a disability, or who was at risk for developing a disability, younger than the age of 8 years. Researchers used a semi-structured question protocol to align with the study's overarching purpose, theory, extant research on military families, and the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) recommended practices for serving children with special needs and their families. Based on the data gathered, researchers describe professional development needs related to developing transportable detailed Individualized Family Service Plans and Individualized Education Programs, using family-centered approaches, and creating a collaborative partnership between school leadership and military command.

The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of the Children's School Success (CSS) curriculum for 4-year-old children enrolled in preschool programs designed to prepare them for success in their early public school grades. The study took place in preschool classes located in five regionally distributed states, all of which were inclusive of children with disabilities as well as other learning needs. Participants were 1,117 children from three subgroups (i.e., children living in poverty, children who were English Learners, and children with identified disabilities). Effects were also examined for children from these groups who had challenging behavior. Positive effects on different measures of vocabulary, letter knowledge, math, and social problem solving were found for children who were at risk due to poverty only and children who were English Learners. There was a consistent finding of "non-effects" for the children with disabilities.

Since the Declaration of Salamanca in 1994, many countries, including China, have been moving toward a more inclusive approach to schooling. This column discusses the history, status quo, and future directions of Chinese inclusive education. It also examines facilitators, barriers, and challenges in the development and implementation of Chinese inclusive education and provides corresponding recommendations.

A study investigated the experiences of 22 families of children (age 3) with disabilities as they entered, participated in, and exited the transition process. The shift in service delivery models was often problematic, families were given a limited choice of preschool programs, and few programs offered inclusive service models. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)

Transition to kindergarten can be a pivotal experience for children because of its potential long-term impact on school performance. As the importance of relationships among contextual factors surrounding a child has been recognized, many schools have made efforts to establish strong ties with families in order to make kindergarten transition experiences as seamless as possible. Our current understanding of the role of family involvement in kindergarten transitions and the specific outcomes, however, is still somewhat limited. Using a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods, this study investigated the impact of family involvement in kindergarten transition activities on children's transition to kindergarten and their early school adjustment. Although quantitative results revealed that family involvement is not a significant predictor of children's early school adjustment, qualitative evidence suggests that families believe their involvement in kindergarten transition has a positive influence. In addition, qualitative results provide information concerning barriers, which interfered with family involvement in the transition process. Based on these findings suggestions for schools and families of young children are provided.