Highlights from the Plenary Sessions

Pat Trohanis, Director of the National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center, welcomed everyone to the 2002 OSEP National Early Childhood Conference. Trohanis reminded everyone that the focal point of the conference was IDEA - especially Parts B, C and D of the law. As Trohanis recognized the planning committee, he took a few moments to remember Mary McEvoy, one of the planning committee members who died in the tragic plane crash with Senator Paul Wellstone of Minnesota.

Gail Houle, Associate Division Director of the OSEP Research to Practice Division, introduced her staff members to attendees, as an opportunity for everyone to become familiar with one another. (ED Org Chart (PDF: 17kb) ) She also asked attendees to remember the work and contributions of McEvoy throughout the conference. Houle said, "Think of the conference as a celebration of her life and optimism, including the planning she did for this meeting."

Ruth Ryder, Director of Monitoring and State Improvement Planning Division, also introduced her staff members to attendees. (ED Org Chart (PDF: 17kb) ) She discussed the work involved with the next phases of focused monitoring. Ryder introduced Stephanie Lee, Director of OSEP.

Lee has thirty years of public policy experience related to IDEA. She is also the parent of a child with a disability. Lee spoke of her experiences that she had with her daughter, Laura, which developed her ideas about successful special education. Lee introduced early childhood initiatives promoted by President Bush, including the White House Summit on Early Childhood, "Good Start, Grow Smart," and No Child Left Behind. She also discussed IDEA Reauthorization and recommendations made by the President's Commission on Excellence in Special Education. Click here for Lee's powerpoint presentation.

Part I
Meeting participants divided into groups to discuss challenges and promising practices from various perspectives: Infant and Toddler (Part C) Programs; Preschool (619) Programs; Families; and Early Childhood Projects. This plenary provided an opportunity for reports from each of the groups. A synopsis of each report is provided below with full notes available from highlighted links.

Families
Jule Reynolds, Executive Director of Parent Training and Information Center of Iowa, began by providing a family perspective. Reynolds pointed out that the parents attending the conference represented approximately 34 states and territories. Reynolds said that she was not able to represent all families and all perspectives but highlighted some important issues, related to quality assurance, financing systems, personnel, early identification, family involvement and partnerships, inclusion and natural environments, and effective practices.

EC Projects
Robin McWilliam, Siskin Children's Institute, served as a representative for OSEP funded Early Childhood projects conducting model demonstration, outreach, training and research activities. He highlighted five issues, including funding limits, reimbursement and service delivery issues, service intensity and populations, the need for more consistent national and state agendas, and the shortage of specific young people entering into the field.

Infant and Toddler (Part C)
Donna Noyes, New York State Department of Health, presented results from the Part C discussion. The top four issues in order of priority included financing, coordinated services, early identification, and quality services, which tied with effective practices.

Preschool (Section 619)
Rick Price, from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, represented the Section 619 perspective. Price identified the current implementation problems and challenges, which he captured in a top ten list. Challenges included lack of a general curriculum and accurate measures for preschool, personnel shortage, fair perceptions, overlooking preschool issues in monitoring, misnomer of universal pre-k, mental health needs, misuse of data, overextension of 619 coordinators, increasing demands for collaborative efforts and static Federal funding.

Part II
Pat Trohanis and Joicey Hurth, Associate Director of NECTAC, introduced the new direction of the national TA Center in relation to supporting the implementation of the early childhood provisions of the IDEA. Trohanis said that NECTAC emphasizes systems development, systems change and strategic change. After reviewing the mission statement, Trohanis introduced the staff from the Chapel Hill offices, PACER and NASDSE. Hurth introduced a sample State Work Plan. Click here for a copy of the handout.

Stephanie Lee, Director of OSEP, served as the moderator for this panel of three presenters. Connie Garner, staff representative for Senator Kennedy, began by presenting a timeline and the bipartisan work behind the reauthorization of IDEA. Garner told attendees that the upcoming reauthorization would not be similar to the 1997 experience.

David Cleary, with the House Education Committee, also agreed with Garner about the need for a bipartisan effort for a smooth reauthorization. Cleary presented issues, including transition from Part C to Section 619, appropriate results for age range and focus on best practices.

Deb Ziegler, CEC, provided two handouts on appropriations recommendations and "CEC's Public Policy Resources." (Links are to actual handouts) She also addressed several specific issues that may be addressed in the upcoming reauthorization, including clarifying full funding, language, permanent authorization for Part C, and changes in other legislation, such as Medicaid.

The panelists recommended that attendees contact them with ideas concerning reauthorization. Cleary can be reached at David.Cleary@mail.house.gov or 202-226-2462; Garner can be reached at Connie_garner@labor.senate.gov or 202-224-6390; Ziegler can be reached at debz@cec.sped.org or 703-264-9406; and Stephanie Lee can be reached at Stephanie.Lee@ed.gov or 202-205-5507.

Part I
Gail Houle introduced Kyle Snow, Director of Early Learning and Child Resources at NICHD. Snow discussed the interagency early childhood collaboration with NIH, Mental Health, Administration, OSERS/OSEP, Planning and Evaluation, and Health and Human Services. The collaboration will strive to identify what works, doing what works and importing that into future policy development.

Robert Pasternack, Assistant Secretary of OSERS, provided comments about a number of key issues, including efficacy of 619 projects, future of Part C and lead agencies, Part C and state expenditures, reauthorization of IDEA, measuring impact and what constitutes success. Pasternack also spoke about two priority issues of the Federal Interagency Coordinated Council - accessing child care and infant mental health. Pasternack also addressed Snow's comments regarding collaboration. Pasternack said "This is a most exciting time because of the administration's commitment and Laura Bush's passion for early childhood." Pasternack can be reached at robert.pasternack@ed.gov.

Part II
Norman Kunc, President of Axis Consultation and Training Ltd, presented "The Right to Be Disabled." Kunc pointed out that how non-disabled people perceive disability is a big part of disabilities. He continued by explaining the categorical difference between that perception and they way disable people experience disabilities. What differentiates people from that view is the ability to value disability and see the self as part of the diversity of the human community. For more information on Norman Kunc, visit http://www.normemma.com.