Building a national system to measure child and family outcomes from early intervention

Early Childhood Outcomes Center International Society on Early Intervention New York City, May 2011

ECO Presenters and Affiliations

SRI International

Lauren Barton Kathleen Hebbeler Sangeeta Mallik Donna Spiker

Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute

Lynne Kahn

RTI International

Donald Bailey Melissa Raspa Early Childhood Outcomes Center 2

Identifying a National Set of Child and Family Outcomes

Kathleen Hebbeler Lynne Kahn Donna Spiker Sangeeta Mallik Lauren Barton International Society on Early Intervention New York City, May 2011

Why does the U.S. government want data on child outcomes?

• Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) • Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART) • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Early Childhood Outcomes Center

Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) passed in 1993

   Requires goals and indicators be established for IDEA Indicators and data collection for school age population included data on outcomes Previously, for early childhood data had been collected on: • • Number of children served (Early intervention, 0-3) Settings (both EI and Early Childhood Special Education, 3-5)

OSEP: PART evaluation results (2002)

 130 programs examined in 2002; 50% programs had no performance data  Programs looking at inputs, not results  Included Part C (0 to 3) and Part B Preschool (3 to 5) Early Childhood Outcomes Center Both Part C and Part B Preschool categorized as “Results Not Demonstrated” due to lack of outcome data. OMB* recommended OSEP** develop a strategy for collecting outcome data *Office of Management and Budget **Office of Special Education Programs

Also Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) emphasizes results

SEC. 616. <> MONITORING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND ENFORCEMENT. (a) Federal and State Monitoring. …..

(2) Focused monitoring.--The primary focus of Federal and State monitoring activities described in paragraph (1) shall be on-- ``(A) improving educational results and functional outcomes for all children with disabilities; Early Childhood Outcomes Center 7

The Development of the Outcome Statements

2004-early 2005 ECO gathered input on child and family outcomes Summer 2005 OSEP announced the child and family outcomes States must report on through their State Performance Plans/Annual Performance Reports (SPP/APR) 8 Early Childhood Outcomes Center

Process of Gathering Input

• Series of stakeholder meetings over 15 months – What criteria should the outcomes embody?

– What are the outcomes for which these programs should be held accountable?

• State administrators, researchers, families of children with disabilities, professional organizations, advocates weighed in Early Childhood Outcomes Center 9

Some of the considerations and criteria that emerged

• Apply to the entire birth through 5 age span • Apply to all children with disabilities • Be compatible with best practice (esp. transdisciplinary service models, functional behaviors) • Have potential to influence practice in a positive way • Be readily understood Early Childhood Outcomes Center 10

Final Steps

• ECO posted the draft child and family outcomes on our web site for public comment • Based on input received, in February 2005 ECO made recommendations to OSEP on what the outcomes should be. Early Childhood Outcomes Center 11

Overarching goal of EI/ECSE for children

“…

is to enable young children to be active and successful participants during the early childhood years and in the future in a variety of settings – in their homes with their families, in child care, preschool or school programs, and in the community.”

ECO Center, Family and Child Outcomes for Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education 12

Three Child Outcomes

 Positive social emotional skills (including positive social relationships)  Acquisition and use of knowledge and skills (including early language/ communication [and early literacy])  Use of appropriate behaviors to meet their needs Early Childhood Outcomes Center 13

Reporting on Child Progress

December 2005 September 2006 February 2007 February 2008 Early Childhood Outcomes Center States submit plans via SPP on how they will collect outcome data OSEP finalizes the child outcome reporting categories “Status at entry” data 1.

Child progress data for children who exited 7/1/06 through 6/30/07 14

What States Report: OSEP Reporting Categories

Percentage of children who: a. Did not improve functioning b. Improved functioning, but not sufficient to move nearer to functioning comparable to same-aged peers c. Improved functioning to a level nearer to same aged peers but did not reach it d. Improved functioning to reach a level comparable to same-aged peers e. Maintained functioning at a level comparable to same-aged peers

3 outcomes x 5 “measures” = 15 numbers

Developmental Trajectories

70 40 30 60 50 20 10 0 0 6 12 18 24 30 36 42

Age in Months

48 54 60 66 Early Childhood Outcomes Center Functioning like same aged peers Improved functioning to that of same aged peers Moved closer to functioning like same aged peers Improved functioning, no change in trajectory Did not improve functioning 16

Reporting on Child Progress

2008 and 2009 February 2009 February 2010 State input into Summary Statements that will become the basis for target setting 2.

Child progress data for children who exited 7/1/07 through 6/30/08 3.

Child progress data for children who exited 7/1/08 through 6/30/09.

States set targets for Summary Statements.

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The Summary Statements

1. Of those children who entered the program below age expectations in each outcome, the percent who substantially increased their rate of growth by the time they turned 3 [6] years of age or exited the program.

2. The percent of children who were functioning within age expectations in each outcome by the time they turned 3 [6] years of age or exited the program.

Early Childhood Outcomes Center 18

Reporting on Child Progress

February 2011 2011

4.

Child progress data for children who exited 7/1/09 through 6/30/10. States report on targets.

Summary statement data released for local programs.

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Summary: National Picture

• Part C (0-3) and Part B Preschool (3-5) have gone from having no data in 2003 to 4 years worth of data by 2011.

• There are still issues with the data but it continues to improve because of state diligence.

• No other national early childhood program has this kind of information.

• No other program in the U.S. Department of Education has this kind of information.

Early Childhood Outcomes Center 20