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The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE), Special Education
IDEA General Supervision Grant (GSEG) award in 2004, with collaboration
with the Arkansas Department of Human Services (ADHS), had the following
goals:
- Develop an outcome measurement system for infants and toddlers
(Part C) and for preschoolers with disabilities (Part B) to
improve effectiveness of early intervention and preschool services.
- Ensure smooth transition of children and families from Part
C to Part B preschool services.
The benefits and progress toward meeting the objectives outlined
in the grant have been many. The ADE and the ADHS are working
collaboratively on the development and enhancement of a system
to support state and local levels. Each Lead Agency currently operates
a data system, which contains mechanisms to maintain a portion of
the information needed to evaluate each system of services.
As an effort to improve the effectiveness of early intervention
and early childhood programs’ to enable families to be a partner
in advocating and assisting in the smooth transition of their children
as they transition through multiple educational settings and making
adequate progress, joint ADE and ADHS trainings were provided to
the coordinators of these programs. The trainings focused on a cohesive
and coordinated planning process with consecration on the following:
- Collaborative Relationships
- Family-focused Practices
- Child Preparation for the next environment
- Staff Preparation
- Evaluation of the Transition Process
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