Early CHOICES Inclusion Spotlight May 2019

INCLUSION SPOTLIGHT May 2019

Outstanding Practices in Inclusion Recognition

We are pleased to announce that Mannheim Early Childhood Cente r in Mannheim District 83 has received the Outstanding Practices in Inclusion recognition from the Illinois State Board of Education, Early Childhood Least Restrictive Environment Stakeholders Consortium, and Early CHOICES. The program has met both the Illinois Inclusion Guidelines and the Inclusive Classroom Profile (ICP) requirements to achieve the Outstanding Practices in Inclusion recognition. This recognition demonstrates the program’s successful implementation of high-quality programming of inclusive practices for preschool age children.

There will be a formal presentation of the recognition at the Sharing A Vision Conference in October 2019.

We commend Mannheim ECC on this accomplishment, and we thank them for their good work in support of high quality inclusion for all children and families in Illinois.

Programs interested in applying for the Outstanding Practices in Inclusion Recognition can learn more by joining us for an informational webinar on August 6, 2019. More information is available from Early CHOICES .

Technical Assistance & Professional Learning for Teaming & High Quality Inclusion

Early CHOICES is pleased to share that we have been included in the Council for Exceptional Children Division of Early Childhood Recommended Practice Monograph Teaming and Collaboration: Building and Sustaining Partnerships . Early CHOICES staff Emily Ropars and Ann Kremer wrote the article Technical Assistance and Professional Learning for Teaming and High Quality Inclusion .

The monograph is available from DEC.

The article highlights the professional development work Early CHOICES did with Ann Reid Early Childhood Center in Naperville District 203. We are excited to share our efforts of putting research into practice to support professional development and understanding of preschool inclusion. We are both honored to be part of the monograph but more importantly to be able to advance efforts to support preschool inclusion in Illinois.

The Illinois Risk and Reach Report is a set of data tools that includes a comprehensive early childhood focused report and interactive website compiling analysis of child well-being indicators in relation to state investments in three domains:

Family Stability
Health
Early Care and Education

The Report will inform governmental and nongovernmental early childhood stakeholders who make policy and funding decisions. Data are visualized through tables and maps in three categories:

RISK — An analysis of 15 indicators representing risk factors that affect child well-being and development;

REACH — An assessment of the availability and distribution of 17 publicly funded programs and services by geography;

FISCAL SCAN — An analysis of public investments for families with young children comparing the most recent fiscal years.

FY 2020 Early Childhood Block Grant

Funding for Our Youngest Learners

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has released the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the fiscal year 2020 Early Childhood Block Grant, which includes funding for Prevention Initiative (birth to age 3), Preschool for All (ages 3 to 5), and Preschool for All Expansion (ages 3 to 5).

Grants will increase access to early health and learning services for children from birth to age 5, pending appropriations by the General Assembly. The grant will fund only the expansion or creation of Prevention Initiative, Preschool for All, and Preschool for All Expansion programs and will prioritize programs that propose to serve children in areas with fewer resources.

Please note: Chicago Public Schools will receive a separate grant for early childhood services, so this RFP will fund only programs outside the City of Chicago.

Upcoming Events:

ISBE Special Education Directors Conference

July 24-26, 2019.

Registration opens May 6. You can learn more here .

Outstanding Practices in Inclusion recognition informational webinar

August 6, 2019 9am

Registration is open

Sharing A Vision 2019 October 2-4

Inclusion, Equity and Diversity: Celebrating the 10 Year Anniversary of the DEC/NAEYC Position Statement

This exceptional conference is planned to meet the needs of early childhood professionals and families in the state and is coordinated by the Illinois Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children, in collaboration with the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Department of Human Services.

Registration will open May 10, 2019. You can check in to see the status on the website.

You can block your calendar for the best early childhood conference reserve your hotel rooms in Peoria now.