- FPG experts will be presenting at meetings around the world. Visit the FPG website for a complete list of upcoming presentations.
- Visit the FPG websitefor the latest news on FPG projects.
While the majority of preschool classrooms have at least one child with a disability, teachers often have little or no training in education and caring for these children. A survey of those overseeing early childhood teacher preparation programs reveals that even though early intervention and special education is part of many programs’ missions, coursework and training often fall short, according to new research published in the Journal of Early Intervention. A snapshot is available online.
This document describes what is known about an early intervening system being developed for young children (i.e., 3 t o 5 year-olds), called Recognition and Response. The Recognition and Response system is an emerging early childhood practice designed to help parents and teachers respond to learning difficulties in young children who may be at risk for learning disabilities as early as possible. The complete report is available online.
Dr. Samuel L. Odom, the Edward and Mary Lou Otting Professor and coordinator of the special education program at Indiana University, has been named director of the FPG Child Development Institute at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Odom will also serve as a professor in the UNC School of Education. Dr. Odom returns to UNC where he was the William C. Friday Distinguished Professor of Child Development and Family Studies from 1996 to 1998 and led the effort to establish a Ph.D. program in early childhood, literacy and families. Since 1999, he has coordinated Indiana University’s special education program.
Dr. Oscar Barbarin, a Fellow at the FPG Child Development Institute at the University of North Carolina, has received a $6.2 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to develop and analyze ways to combat academic underachievement problems for minority boys. The award is the Kellogg Foundation's largest grant to Carolina to date. The five-year grant will support the Promote Academic Success Initiative, which builds on Barbarin's previous research on educational outcomes and achievement gap issues for young African-American and Latino children. The project will work to mobilize and support partnerships among Head Start, public schools, families and community agencies to focus on and improve the academic and social development of boys of color between 3 and 8 years old. The researchers will identify and report the most promising multi-systemic (family, school, community) interventions. Dr.Barbarin also is the L. Richardson and Emily Preyer bicentennial distinguished professor for strengthening families in the School of Social Work.
FPG Child Development Institute has been awarded a $2.5 million five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education to establish the National Center on High Quality Personnel in Inclusive Early Childhood Settings. An inclusive setting educates typically developing children and those with disabilities in the same classroom. The number of 3- to 5-year-olds with disabilities in regular classrooms has been on the rise for the past decade, increasing by 32 percent between 1992 and 2001, according to the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs. Today, while 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. In fact, a recent 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 teacher preparation programs, coursework and training often fall short. "To overcome these challenges, we are creating this national center to improve the quality and accessibility of rigorous, ongoing professional development, training and technical assistance for early childhood personnel," said Dr. Pam Winton, senior scientist and director of outreach at FPG. While the center will serve as a resource to all states, FPG plans to select eight states for a more intense collaboration.
Are you interested in quality materials on topics related to early childhood and early intervention? The Natural Resources listserv is one way to stay up-to-date with the latest free or low-cost booklets, CD-ROMs, videos, PowerPoint presentations and other items. The listserv was developed by FPG Investigator Camille Catlett as part of the Natural Allies Project. Subscribe to the Natural Resources listserv and receive weekly email announcements featuring a product that is available at no cost or very low cost. A short description combined with ordering information will give you the details you need to add another valuable resource to your own library. Previous issues are archived online. If you are interested in subscribing to the weekly listserv please send an email to listserv@unc.edu with a blank subject line. The text of the message must be: subscribe natural_resources2. Be sure the Subject is blank. Then send the message.