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Spring 2001 Volume 8, Issue 1

Official Newsletter of the Illinois Subdivision of the Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children.

President's Message

by Lynette Chandler

There are many changes happening in Illinois that we, as early childhood special educators and family members, need to be aware of. These changes affect both early intervention (EI) services and early childhood special education (ECSE) services for preschool aged children. It is important for early childhood special educators and families to know about the proposed changes within our state and about the changes that have been made and currently are in place. It also is important for early childhood special educators and families to advocate for young children with special needs or who are at risk for disabilities and to inform their legislators and agency administrators about their concerns and/or support regarding ECSE in Illinois. So, I have summarized several changes (proposed and current) to the ECSE system in Illinois and provided resources to allow IDEC members to access additional information regarding each of these changes.

First, there is a proposed change to the EI system. The proposed change creates a two-tiered system of services for infants and toddler with special needs and their families. Within this new system, the federal Early Intervention Program (Part C of IDEA) eligibility will increase from 30% to 50% delay. A new state funded program, Early Start, will serve children with delays between 30% and 49% using a consultative model of services which will expand the role of parents as primary teachers for their child. The planned implementation date for the new system is April 1, 2001. Hearings have been planned to allow families and educators to voice their concerns and to ask questions about the proposed changes to the EI system. Please take a look at the Department of Human Services (DHS) website for additional proposed changes within the EI and Early Start Programs and for updates on this proposed system and communicate your support or concerns with this system to DHS:

www.dhs.state.il.us

Second, the new certification structure in Special Education provides for certification from Preschool to 21 years of age (the previous certificate covered the ages of 5-21). This essentially eliminates the Preschool Approval that previously was required to provide special education services to preschool aged children with disabilities. As a result, students who hold a Special Education Certificate (preschool - 21) may be hired to provide services to young children with disabilities. This is a change that concerns many individuals and organizations,including IDEC. Our organization has collaborated with Illinois Association for the Education of Young Children (IAEYC) and the Illinois Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators (ILAECTE) in recommending that (a) the age range of Special Education Certification be defined as 5-21, (b) the ECSE Approval be maintained as an attachment to the Special Education certificate, and (c) the ECSE Approval be required of Special Educators who wish to work with preschool aged children with disabilities. More information about the new Special Education certificate program can be obtained from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) website:

www.isbe.net

Third, as mentioned in the previous newsletter, beginning in 2002 there will be an ECSE designation under the Type 04 Early Childhood Certificate. Under this new structure, students who receive the Type 04 certificate will have a designation of Early Childhood Education or ECSE. Standards for obtaining the ECSE designation are included with the standards for the new Special Education certificates. These also are located on the ISBE website. Both the ISBE and IDHS websites also can be accessed through the IDEC website:

http://idec.crc.uiuc.edu/

Finally, the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) has announced a 6-year effort to assure full funding for all IDEA programs by 2007. This effort is called "Guaranteed Full Funding for IDEA". The Division for Early Childhood asks for our support in this effort. Funding levels for all federal programs will be finalized by October 1, 2001. Therefore it is important to contact Senators and House representatives to ask for their support for federal programs that benefit young children and their families and for the DEC funding recommendations for fiscal year 2002. You can call the Capitol Switchboard at 202 224-3121 and ask to be connected to your representatives or send letters to their local or Washington DC offices.

For more information check out the:

DEC website at www.dec-sped.org

or

CEC website at www.cec.sped.org

Lynette may be reached at the Department of Teacher Education, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb 60115
Email: lchandler@niu.edu

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Illinois early childhood organizations join to make recommendations for ECSE Approval

The Illinois Division for Early Childhood in consulation with the Illinois Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators and the Illinois Association for the Education of Young Children in a joint statement propose that:

  1. The age level of the Learning Behavior Specialist I Endorsement on the Standard Special Education Certificate (P-21) be defined as age 5-21 or K-21.
  2. The Early Childhood Special Education Approval be maintained as an attachment to the new Special Education Learning Behavior Specialist I Endorsement.
  3. The Early Childhood Special Education Approval be required for all teachers who hold a Learning Behavior Specialist I Endorsement in order to provide services to preschool-aged children with disabilities.
  4. The requirements for an Early Childhood Special Education Approval be based on professional standards that reflect those included in the ECSE Designation under the Type 04 Certification.
  5. All students who receive Early Childhood Special Education Approval be required to complete a practicum or student teaching experience with 3-5 year old children with disabilities.

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Here's how you can be involved with IDEC

There's one way you can be involved with state and national DEC. There are two openings in the IDEC Executive Board effective July 1, 2001. We need hardworking and committed individuals to fill the Vice President and Secretary positions, which are elected positions.

The Vice President participates in all Board activities and serves as officer-in-charge in the absence of the President and President Elect. This is a 4-year commitment. He or she serves initially as Vice President for the first year, then as President Elect, President, and Past President during the following three years. This provides for continuity on the IDEC Board. The Secretary prepares the minutes of IDEC meetings. This position serves for two consecutive years on the Board.

Members of the Executive Board are required to attend all IDEC Executive Board meetings held three times a year in designated locales in the state. To qualify for any of the above positions, you must be a current DEC member.

If you or someone you know is interested in running as a candidate for Vice President or Secretary, please contact Lynette Chandler on or before May 11, 2001 at 815-753-8424 or send her an email at <lchandler@niu.edu>

Ballots for the Vice President and Secretary will appear in the next issue of the IDEC Newsletter.

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CAN Update (Children's Action Network)

The new administration has been busy with education-related issues: The proposed budget includes the following proposals, " establish the Reading First program - an investment of $5 billion over five years to ensure that every child in America can read by third grade with special emphasis on intervention efforts aimed at children in kindergarten through second grade who are at risk of falling behind; Reform Head Start, by making school readiness-pre-reading and numeracy skills Head Start's top priority; and Support an early childhood reading initiative to help prepare young children to read in existing pre-school and Head Start programs."

Bills have been introduced in both the House and the Senate that would guarantee full funding for IDEA within the next 6 years. The Senate bill (S. 466) "Helping Children Succeed by Fully Funding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)," would change the funding stream under IDEA from discretionary to mandatory, thereby guaranteeing that federal special education funds would increase by $2.5 billion each year beginning in Fiscal Year 2002 until Fiscal Year 2007, when federal funding would reach 40%. Similar legislation was introduced in the House (H.R. 737). It is important to note that neither the Senate nor the House bill provides additional funding for preschool or Part C services.

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Early Childhood Graduate Study Opportunities at UIUC

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Special Education and Department of Curriculum and Instruction offers preparation at the master's and doctoral levels for students interested in pursuing work with young children and their families.

Students interested in Special Education may specialize in the infancy or preschool period or both. The program in Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) emphasizes principles reflecting family-centered, interdisciplinary, community-based, and inclusive perspectives. Within the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, the early Childhood Education (ECE) leads toward teacher certification with a concentration in special education. Doctoral programs in each Department encourages students to pursue individual interests related to all young children.

Applicants from a variety of academic and professional backgrounds are encouraged to apply. For additional information contact:

Micki Ostrosky
Department of Special Education
288 Education, 1310 S. Sixth Street
Champaign, IL 61820
Phone: 217/333-0260
ostrosky@uiuc.edu

OR

Daniel Walsh
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
306 Education, 1310 S. Sixth Street
Champaign, IL 61820
Phone: 217/333-8061
danielw@uiuc.edu

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State and Federal Government WWW resources

Federal Government

State Government

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What's New *** Upcoming Events *** Opportunities

2001 Sharing A Vision "Expanding the Possibilities"
7th Illinois Statewide Collaborative Early Childhood Conference
October 10-12, 2001
Crowne Plaza, Springfield

FEATURES

HIGHLIGHTS

October 10

October 11

REGISTER EARLY, SPACE IS LIMITED!
Early Bird Registration Deadline: August 1, 2001
Regular Registration Deadline: September 10, 2001

To receive a Conference Program Brochure and Registration Form, contact
Susan Ferry at 217-824-4776 or sharingavision@aol.com