ECO Resources: Professional Development Resources

Preparation for Training

  • Guidance for Preparing for Training [52K DOC] [37K PDF]- October 2008
  • Possible questions for needs assessment [52K DOC]- January 2010
  • Introductory COSF Training Agenda [20K DOC]-March 8, 2006

General Topics

Why Collect Outcomes Data?

This section provides background information for those new to outcomes measurement. Learners will:

  • understand the current requirements and the historical roots of federal accountability
  • understand the various purposes and uses of outcomes measurement

Trainer Information and Resources

Suggested Activities:

Suggested Participant Materials

  • PPT slides as handouts
  • Additional handouts included with suggested activities

Understanding The Three Child Outcomes

This section provides an in-depth description of the three child outcomes and the functional nature of the outcomes for the introductory learner. Learners will:

  • understand the development of the three child outcomes
  • understand the content of the three child outcomes
  • differentiate among the three child outcomes
  • differentiate between functional outcomes and discrete skills

Trainer Information and Resources

Suggested Activities:

Suggested Participant Materials

  • PPT slides as handouts
  • Functional Outcomes
  • Additional handouts included with suggested activities)

Assessing the Three Child Outcomes

This section presents information about recommended practices for functional assessment and crosswalks for the introductory or intermediate learner. Learners will:

  • understand the use of formal assessment instruments for measuring child outcomes
  • differentiate between evaluation for eligibility purposes and functional assessment of the three outcome areas for accountability purposes

Trainer Information and Resources

Suggested Activities:

Suggested Participant Materials

  • PPT slides as handouts
  • Additional handouts included with suggested activities)

COSF Topics

The Child Outcome Summary Form (COSF)

This topic introduces the COSF and the 7-point rating scale. It also covers essential knowledge for teams using the COSF. Intended for introductory learners who are new to the COSF.  For intermediate learners who need a 'refresher' on the use of the 7-point rating scale, please see the voiced COSF refresher PPT, below. Learners will:

  • understand the rationale for using the COSF
  • differentiate between the a and b questions on the COSF
  • differentiate between the 7 points on the rating scale
  • differentiate among age-appropriate, immediate foundational, and foundational skills and behaviors

Trainer Information and Resources

Suggested Activities:

Suggested Participant Materials

Practice Using the COSF Rating Scale

This section focuses on the team process used to determine a rating on the COSF 7-point scale. Intended as an introduction for learners who are new to the COSF or as a 'refresher' for intermediate learners. Learners will:

  • differentiate among the three child outcomes
  • understand how a rating is determined by a team
  • understand the role of information about the child's functioning across settings and situations in determining a rating
  • understand the role of age-expected child development in determining a rating
  • understand the role of the family in the team rating

Trainer Information and Resources

Suggested Activities:

Suggested Participant Materials

  • Additional handouts included with suggested activities

Refresher

Background on federal and state requirements; review of COSF

This section re-visits the reasons for collecting outcomes data, the three child outcomes, assessment, and the use of the COSF. For intermediate or advanced learners who need a general 'refresher.' Learners will:

  • understand the current requirements and the historical roots of federal accountability
  • understand the various purposes and uses of outcomes measurement
  • understand the content of the three child outcomes
  • differentiate among the three child outcomes
  • differentiate between the 7 points on the rating scale
  • differentiate among age-appropriate, immediate foundational, and foundational skills and behaviors

Trainer Information and Resources

Suggested Activities:

Suggested Participant Materials

Involving Families in the COSF Process

This topic is for all learners at all levels and addresses the role of families in the COSF process and strategies for involving them. Learners will:

  • Understand the role of the family in the team rating
  • Understand how to evaluate a team discussion for quality as relates to family participation

Trainer Information and Resources

Suggested Activities:

Suggested Participant Materials

COSF Quality Assurance

This section provides guidance for checking the quality of the COSF process. For intermediate or advanced learners, particularly those who supervise COSF users or are otherwise responsible for assuring the quality of COSF data. Learners will:

  • Understand key considerations related to accurately completing the COSF
  • Understand how to evaluate a team discussion for quality
  • Understand how to evaluate completed child outcomes summary forms for accuracy

Trainer Information and Resources

Suggested Activities:

Suggested Participant Materials

  • PPT slides as handout
  • Table explaining federal reporting categories (document)
  • COSF to progress categories
  • Additional handouts included with suggested activities

Looking at Data

This topic covers child outcomes data analysis and use. For intermediate or advanced learners, particularly those who are responsible for or interested in data management, interpretation, and reporting. Learners will:

  • Understand child outcomes data for program improvement, including for instruction, resource allocation, and professional development

Trainer Information and Resources

Suggested Activities:

Suggested Participant Materials

  • PPT slides as handouts
  • Additional handouts included with suggested activities

Activities

Professional Development Training Activities

Sample Trainings

The following materials are from trainings conducted in several states by ECO.

  • Texas: Integrating Child Outcomes Measurement into the IEP Process This training was conducted with 20-25 TA providers that work in the Texas Regional Service Centers on the topic of integrating the child outcomes summary process into the IEP process and on involving families more in both the COS process and the IEP process. Information and activities related to integrating child outcomes measurement into the IEP process, communication strategies to build collaboration, involving families in the COSF discussion, and involving families in the IEP process.

  • Texas: Analyzing and Using Child Outcomes Data This training was conducted with 25-30 TA providers that work in the Texas Regional Service Centers on the topic of analyzing and using child outcomes data collected using the Child Outcomes Summary Form (COSF). Information and activities related to reviewing and interpreting data, pattern checking, and communicating with various audiences about the data.

  • Ohio Preschool Special Education Outcomes Institute on Data Analysis. ECO and NECTAC staff collaborated with Ohio's Office of Early Learning and School Readiness, Department of Education to conduct two two-day professional development opportunities for local 619 administrators and service providers. This training emphasized the reporting and use of child outcomes data.

  • Texas: Increasing the Quality of Child Outcomes Data This training was conducted with 20-25 TA providers that work in the Texas Regional Service Centers on the topic of increasing the quality of child outcomes data collected using the Child Outcomes Summary Form (COSF). Information and activities related to reviewing and interpreting data, pattern checking, and communicating with various audiences about the data.

  • Delaware: COSF Refresher ECO staff conducted a one-day 'COSF Refresher' training with Part C and 619 (preschool) staff in Delaware on March 10, 2010. Topics included the history and background of the child outcomes measurement requirement, understanding the 7-point COSF scale, immediate foundational skills, and recommended practices for the COSF process.

  • North Carolina: Child Outcomes Measurement Under the NC General Supervision Enhancement Grant, ECO staff developed four modules to address child outcomes measurement. A needs assessment completed by local Part C administrators identified the need for professional development in these areas --professional development for new staff, COSF refresher training, quality assurance, and data analysis. The four modules address each of these topics in turn.

  • Illinois: Got Data? A Workshop on Early Childhood Outcomes This two-day training provided a review of child outcomes measurement and data collection using the COSF. The training also introduced strategies for assuring the quality of COSF data and ways to analyze and use outcome data for program improvement.

Child Development

Age-Expected Child Development Resources

Below are selected resources helpful in understanding typical child development. What resources do you use for understanding age-expected child development? Please share them with us! Email your suggestions or links to staff@the-eco-center.org.

Printable version: Age-expected resources [PDF]

American Academy of Pediatrics
Offers health and developmental milestones for different stages, and developmental signs which may need further evaluation.

Centers for Disease Control
This website provides information on developmental milestones for children from 3 months to 5 years of age and offers developmental warning signs for each age group. The site also offers interactive tools for users to specify certain ages, select areas of development, and examine expected changes in milestones over time.

Colorado age-anchoring resources
These materials, developed by Larimer County, CO, provide examples of age-expected development according to the three child outcome areas. They cover child skills and functioning from birth to 36 months. Outcome 1:[297 KB PDF] Outcome 2:[309 KB PDF] Outcome 3:[304 KB PDF]

First Signs
First Signs is a public awareness and training program addressing early detection and intervention of autism and other developmental disorders.  This site provides information on monitoring development, typical milestones, video clips of children with ASD, and tips on sharing concerns.

Illinois Child Development Modules: Understanding Young Children's Development
Two narrated modules were developed by training personnel in Illinois based on content developed by the University of Connecticut Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. The modules correspond to two of the three child outcome areas and are focused on identifying age-appropriate skills among children zero to three:

Infant and Toddler Connection of Virginia
This manual was developed to provide a resource to assist practitioners in determining how a child is functioning in relation to their same aged peers in the three OSEP outcome areas. The manual reviews typical child development among infants and toddlers ages birth to three.

Maryland's Part C Age-Anchored Early Learning Guidelines
For children birth to age three: http://cte.jhu.edu/onlinecourses/HealthyBeginnings/HBFINAL.pdf

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
This site provides background information on speech and language development from birth to 5 years. Interactive checklists for different ages are available

North Dakota DPI Age Expectation Developmental Milestones [PDF]
This document was developed by North Dakota's Department of Public Instruction and documents age-expected functioning according to the three child outcomes. They also have a summary version- milestones by age group [PDF] and a three-page milestones quick reference [PDF].

Parenting Counts Developmental Timeline
This online resource from Talaris Institute provides research-based information about children's developmental milestones from birth to age 5.

University of Connecticut Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
An online training module on social-emotional development in infants and toddlers related to the three OSEP chid outcomes.

The University of Maryland Medical Center
This site provides an overview of common developmental milestones and recommendations for play activities at various ages from birth to 5 years.

Zero to Three
Brain development, challenging behaviors, mental health topics, play, social development, temperament, and more. Each section has interactive tools, parent handouts, tip sheets, FAQ’s, articles, PowerPoint slides, and other resources.