Provided by Early CHOICES, 
 Preschool LRE Initiative of the Illinois State Board of Education.



May 2018 Spotlight

Outstanding Practices in Inclusion 

Congratulations on earning the recognition of
Outstanding Practices in Inclusion!

Stock Elementary School, Chicago
 
District 54 Early Learning Center, Schaumburg

Both programs presented about their program to a panel of the Accountability, Data and Incentives work group from the Early Childhood Least Restrictive Environment Stakeholders Consortium on how their programs met the Illinois Inclusion Guidelines.  Then the programs were visited by observers who scored the Inclusive Classroom Profile (ICP) in random classrooms.  In order to be recognized the programs met the Illinois Inclusion Guidelines and scored at least an average of 5 on the ICP. 


The Outstanding Practices in Inclusion recognition will be celebrated at the next Sharing A Vision Conference in 2019.  The Illinois State Board of Education Early Childhood division and  Early CHOICES, as the ISBE Preschool Least Restrictive Environment Initiative, along with the Early Childhood LRE Stakeholders Consortium administer the award.

New Illinois Preschool Environment Data for Indicator 6
Trending in the right direction
2016-17 Data

Indicator 6 measures the percent of children aged 3 through 5 with IEPs attending:
6A: Regular early childhood program and receiving the majority of special education and related services in the regular early childhood
program;  The desired direction of change for these data would be represented by a percentage
increase.
Indicator 6A
Illinois
Actual 16-17
Indicator 6A
Illinois
Target 16-17
Difference
40.00 % 
32.70 % 
+7.30
  
6B: Separate special education class, separate school or residential facility.
The desired direction of change for these data would be represented by a percentage
decrease.

Indicator 6B
Illinois
Actual 16-17
Indicator 6B
Illinois
Target 16-17
Difference
26.76 % 
30.70 % 
-3.94

The new data Illinois submitted as part of the State Performance Plan Annual Performance Report for 2016-17 shows our state is trending in the right direction and beating our targets.  

We have more work to do to get to the national average but our efforts are paying off!

New! Resources on Inclusive Practices Organized for Faculty

Early CHOICES has organized a page just for faculty to access resources to specifically teach about preschool inclusion.  Check out our new page and share with your higher education friends!


New Preschool Inclusion video series from Project Apples Magazine and STAR NET


A new resource on the benefits of inclusive education in preschool is now available. STAR NETs Regions I and III developed the 2 part series of videos in collaboration with Early CHOICES and the great teaching teams in Urbana SD #116 and  St. Charles SD 303 Early Childhood Program. Our thanks to these programs for allowing time to film, interview and share the great work they are doing in providing inclusive opportunities for ALL children in preschool.

You may want to use these videos as part of discussion regarding the benefits of inclusion, particularly if you are working on a plan to create additional opportunities for your students.
Upcoming Events

Integrating Therapy into the Early Childhood Classroom:
Strategies for Successful Implementation
June 4, 2018
Featuring Deb Wallenberg & Amanda Montes
Drury Inn & Suites, 1118 Central Park Drive, O'Fallon, IL 62269
Register with StarNet Region IV


Early CHOICES
May, 2018

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