Frequently Asked Questions

• Why is the Center needed?
• How can states participate?
• Can my organization play a role?
• How does the Center define professional development?
• What is evidence-based practice?

Why is the Center needed?

The number of three- to five-year-olds with disabilities in regular classrooms has been on the rise for the past decade, according to the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs. But teacher preparation programs have not kept up. A study by FPG researchers published in the Journal of Early Intervention found that while early intervention and special education is part of the mission of many programs, coursework and training often fall short.

Therefore, although most preschool classrooms have at least one child with a disability, teachers often have little or no training in educating and caring for these children.

For more information, visit the Rationale Section.

 

---

How can states participate?

The National Professional Development Center on Inclusion (NPDCI) collaborated with the Office of Special Education Programs of the U.S. Department of Education, the Child Care Bureau and the Office of Head Start to design and implement a fair and equitable selection process for identifying four states with a strong need for, and commitment to, developing State Networks for improving inclusive preschool professional development opportunities. In early 2008 a selection process will be conducted to select four additional states.

For more information, visit the Work with States page .

 

[ back to top ]

 

---

Can my organization play a role?

Yes. We encourage you to collaborate with others in your state to apply to participate in the project, share information about NPDCI with your members, and visit the website often for updates.

 

[ back to top ]

 

---

How does the Center define professional development?

For the purposes of our work professional development is defined as
structured teaching and learning experiences that are formalized and
designed to support the acquisition of professional knowledge, skills,
and dispositions, as well as the application of this knowledge in
practice (National Professional Development Center on Inclusion, 2007).
The following is our conceptual framework for an integrated cross-agency
professional development system.

 

[ back to top ]

 

---

What is evidence-based practice?

The authors of a new book, Evidence-Based Practice in the Early Childhood Field, define evidence-based practice as "a decision-making process that integrates the best available research evidence with family and professional wisdom and values"-in other words, a balance of scientific proof and professional and family experience and values.

This definition empowers those directly connected to the child, parents and professionals alike, to tap into various sources of knowledge to make informed decisions. Most importantly, knowledge is not limited to research, allowing each child's experiences to be considered independently.

For more information, visit the Evidence-Based Practice Section.

[ back to top ]

 

---