Reading Recovery is an early intervention program that helps low-achieving first-grade children to become independent readers who need no further remediation. Reading Recovery was introduced by Marie M. Clay who, in the mid 1970s, developed procedures with teachers and tested the program in New Zealand. In 1984, the success of the program in New…

A telephone interview survey was conducted to determine the reasons some Maine schools have chosen not to implement Reading Recovery, despite the program's statewide support and continued financial support toward training costs from the Maine Department of Education. Out of 72 selected schools, 47 participated, for a response rate of 65%. A…

Two articles are presented on the implementation of Reading Recovery in Maine. The first article, "Collaborative Efforts Can Make a Difference: The Development of Reading Recovery in Maine" articulates and shares the process which took place in Maine in the hope that it will assist interested stakeholders in other states in the…

This commentary on the inclusion of children with disabilities in early childhood programs raises issues concerning balancing the roles of advocate, scientist, and person with strong beliefs; interpreting the intent of research on integration issues; and a seeming overreaction to a supposed "deficit-model" of the past. (DB)

This article describes PIIE (identify Preference, choose Intervention, Implement, and Evaluate), a new approach designed to promote the communicative behaviors of young children with autism and pervasive developmental disorder. Two case examples are included to illustrate the process and its utility with toddlers and preschool age children.…

Programs are described which use adapted puppetry technology and play with the physically handicapped, the elderly, special needs classroom students, and temporarily housed families. The programs were found to improve intellectual, social, and emotional behaviors, including self-expression, imagination, and communication skills. (Author/JDD)

Fifty states and five territories were surveyed to determine implementation of the federal Program for Infants and Toddlers with Handicaps, established through Public Law 99-457. Questions focused on the states' interagency coordinating councils, definitions of developmental delay, and activities related to the required minimal components of…

The Wisconsin Hills (Brookfield, Wisconsin) Elementary School Peer Intervention Team (PIT Crew) is a group of collaborating classroom teachers, specialty area teachers, and support staff who consult with one another to develop intervention strategies to assist students. The PIT Crew model has resulted in fewer referrals for special education…

This article describes progress made by states and U.S. territories in implementing the Part H program for handicapped infants and toddlers and the Section 619 preschool grants program, both authorized by the 1986 Amendments to the Education of the Handicapped Act. Challenges faced by states include financing, personnel supply and standards, and…

This paper is a study of systems change in services to infants and toddlers with disabilities resulting from Part H of the Individuals with Disabilities Act. It examines the process of moving from federal legislation to implementation in one state (New York) and offers practical strategies to change agents in order to maximize successful systemic…

This analysis of federal laws, state-level policies, and providers' and consumers' viewpoints examines the degree to which family-oriented early intervention policies and practices are family centered. Results indicate a movement toward adoption of family-centered policies and practices, but show discrepancies between state-level policymakers and…

Two studies found that the "First Step to Success" early-intervention program for at-risk kindergartners could be replicated successfully, that educators who participated in the First Step training sessions rated the quality of the training highly, and that about half of those trained actually went on to implement the program. (Author/CR)

Interviews with 15 families of young children with disabilities and 14 professionals working with them indicated that professionals have an understanding of the change in focus from child-centered to family-centered intervention; however there was some incongruence between family-centered attitudes and actual practice. Families expressed overall…

Treatment integrity is an underexposed issue in the phonological awareness intervention research. The current study assessed the integrity of treatment of the families (N = 32) participating in the experimental condition of a home-based pre-reading intervention study. The participating kindergartners were all genetically at risk for developing…

The Pittsburgh Public School District asked the RAND Corporation to monitor the first year's implementation (2006-2007) of Excellence for All (EFA) and provide feedback to district staff, the board, and other stakeholders. The Pittsburgh Public School District leadership developed EFA with the aim of increasing student achievement by improving…