9/2013

The ECTA Center is developing a system framework for high quality, effective, and efficient Part C and Section 619 programs as one of its initial knowledge development activities over the first two years of its cooperative agreement with OSEP. The work will involve collaboration with national, regional, and state partners.

Six Partner States (DE, ID, MN, NJ, PA, WV) representing Part C and Section 619 will ensure that the framework is reflective of (and applicable to) the diversity of state systems (e.g. Lead Agency, eligibility criteria) and useful to Part C and Section 619 programs.

The Center has also formed a Technical Work Group (TWG) made up of national TA providers, researchers, and consultants with expertise in the field to help guide the development process.

The framework will be designed to guide state-level Part C and Section 619 coordinators and staff in evaluating their current Part C and Section 619 systems, identifying areas for improvement, and providing direction on building a more effective system that requires, supports, and encourages implementation of effective practices.

The framework and corresponding self-assessment will be:

• Evidence based;
• Useful to Part C and Section 619 programs, including resources and exemplars to illustrate ways state can meet quality;
• Responsive to the variation that exists across states; designed in a way that recognizes that states can reach quality in different ways;
• Related to critical areas of Part C and Section 619;
• Consistent with IDEA requirements;
• Consistent with recommended early childhood practices (e.g. DEC, DAP);
• Consistent with best practices from implementation science;
• Developed through an iterative validation process where consensus is built across national and state experts in the field; and
• Comprised of key components of an effective Part C and Section 619 system such as governance structure, funding and finance, personnel, and data systems that are defined and include sub-components and quality indicators scaled to measure the extent to which a component is in place and of high quality.

The framework and corresponding self-assessment will be tools for states to self-assess (and plan for improvement) on the extent to which they are implementing IDEA and supporting local implementation of effective practices.

The ECTA Center will provide general, targeted and intensive TA related to using the framework, self-assessment and resources to help all states improve the effectiveness and efficiency of their systems.

Source: The ECTA Center

Available at: http://ectacenter.org/topics/sysframe/sysframe.asp