DOT POINTS
DOT POINTS
Wisconsin Personnel Development System
4/1/08 – 3/31/09
Early Childhood Hub
All work is approached on a cross-sector level and includes partners from B to 3, CESA, Collaboration Coaches, Head Start, Higher Ed, Child Care, Family Systems, Health and the Parent Hub.
Transition
A cross sector event was held in 9/08 to address indicators B 12 and C 8. This event concentrated on bringing together Birth to 6 systems such as Birth to 3, CESA, RESource, coaches, RSN, LEA, DPI, DHS, Child Care and Head Start. Data was reviewed and analyzed, goals for student learning were discussed, content was considered, action plans were developed, collaboration in implementation was coordinated and follow up meeting were held at the regional levels to continue the work.
Environments
Various sources of data are being collected and analyzed by cross sector teams. This work is in collaboration with Kathy Laffin from the REACh Hub. Three questions that are moving the work forward are:
- How and what data is collected by whom and what does this data tell us?
- What learning opportunities, tools and resources are available to the early childhood community locally, regionally and statewide?
- How do these opportunities, tools and resources influence systemic change?
The analysis of these learning opportunities, tools and resources in relation to the data collected are helping to define what is learned from various data collection points and what information is desired to ensure that all audiences are receiving targeted training and technical assistance to improve outcomes for children and families.
WI Model Early Learning Standards (WMELS)
Approved trainers for the WMELS received targeted training in 1/09 on developing regional Communities of Practice to build cross-sector relationships and fidelity of training. The WMELS trainings are a key mechanism to inform the child care community of natural and least restrictive environments as well as ensure cross system communication among Birth to 3, early childhood special education, special education related services, 4 and 5 year old Kindergarten, administration, Head Start, child care and parents. The regional communities of practice continue to be supported through web surveys, a list serve and community collaboration coaches.
Telling the Work through A Story
Wisconsin Personnel Development System
Early Childhood Hub
4/1/08 – 3/31/09
Transition collaboration between B-3 and 3-5
When we take the time to bring the various agencies that provide technical assistance and provide direct services together in the same room, we have a valuable opportunity to ask questions that create greater understanding, build connections and move the work forward. These questions include: “What is common to Local Educational Agencies (LEA), County Birth to 3 programs (B-3) and Cooperative Educational Service Agencies (CESA)” and “What might be enhancing or restraining your LEA, CESA or B-3 to achieve maximum performance” and “What are the trends or questions that these conversations generate?” These discussions also help to dispel any “myths” or “key misunderstandings” across various systems in addressing the OSEP Transition Indicators (Part B Indicator 12 and Part C Indicator 8). As the technical assistance agencies and personnel further develop action plans based on these conversations, it informs the work needed at the state, regional and local levels.
As the state-wide discussion is followed up at a regional level with over 350 participants in five regions engaging in conversations to achieve new understanding in data collection, service delivery and system building, change is meaningful and relevant. As resources are shared, such as Designing and Implementing Effective Early Childhood Transition Processes (March 2008) developed by the National Early Childhood Transition Initiative to highlight evidence-based practices, professional competence is enhanced and best practices are highlighted. The results of these efforts improve the technical assistance structure and ultimately outcomes for children.
