Endorsement, ELEVATE Early Childhood Special Education

• Students design a developmentally appropriate curriculum unit integrating core content areas and addressing all developmental domains, including adaptations to accommodate a variety of individual learning needs and individualized instruction for all children, including those with disabilities.
• Students collaboratively create a Milestones padlet that requires students to demonstrate understanding around typical developmental milestones within an age range. The milestones padlet then provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate understanding about unique differences or delays that may be present within specific disabilities, as well as differences that may be present due to sociocultural context and values present within a family.
• Students create a portfolio of key terms, deadlines and requirements under IDEA for students with a disability. This portfolio will also specifically include principles under Parts C and B, qualification requirements under Parts C and B, and a description of Section 619 and its relevance to ECSE work, and key components of procedural safeguards and due process.
• Students will observe, analyze and reflect on a Child Find team evaluation and an IEP eligibility meeting.

Block 1 Courses: Fall Semester (11 credits)

• ECED 5010: Curriculum in Early Childhood Education, 3 credits
• ECED 6100: Medical & Physiological Aspects of Development, 3 credits
• ECED 6912: Preschool Practicum, 1 credit
• Credits for Prior Learning, 4 credits

*Total costs per semester, includes tuition and student fees = $2674

• Students work with a family using a valid and reliable screening tool to conduct a screening. Students will practice writing the results, including recommendations and next steps they would provide to families.
• Students will participate in and reflect on an IEP Meeting.
• Students will create a progress monitoring portfolio that includes administering a curriculum based measure to determine child’s interests, strengths and next developmental steps, document development with artifacts over time, and effectively partner and communicate about development with families and colleagues.
• Students will create a positive support guidance plan for a child that includes: centering teaming and goal setting; collecting data on social emotional behaviors; conducting a functional behavior assessment (FBA); collaborating with team members, including family, to summarize data and create a plan;  implementing an intervention that promotes social and emotional development; and, collecting post-intervention data to evaluate success.

Block 2 Courses: Spring Semester (8 credits)

• ECED 5070: Social Competence and Classroom Support, 3 credits
• ECED 5200: Screening and Assessment of Young Children, 3 credits
• ECED 6914, Primary Practicum, 1 credit
• Credits for Prior Learning, 1 credit

*Total costs per semester, includes tuition and student fees = $2317

• Students will engage with a family with an infant/toddler with a disability or at risk for a disability. They will observe the family, interview the family, and participate in typical routines with the family. This experience culminates in a written analysis of their understanding, synthesis and demonstration of the principles of family centered, culturally sustaining practice.
• Students will observe and analyze a Child Find team evaluation and an IFSP eligibility meeting.
• Students will create an intervention plan by accessing and summarizing background information in relation to child’s development, including family’s identified priorities and concerns; designing and implementing the routine based intervention plan that is directly linked to the child’s assessment; collect, summarize, and interpret data to inform and evaluate plan; adapt intervention practices as necessary; and reflect on intervention process and collaboration with colleagues and family.

• Students will complete the professional growth plan that has been iteratively updated each semester. Students will reflect and critically examine their learning from and articulate their ongoing goals as leaders and advocates of equitable and inclusive early childhood environments. Students will include a reflection of their mentor teachers’ feedback as a part of this process.

Block 3 Courses: Summer Semester (5 credits)

• ECED 6300: Early Intervention Strategies, 3 credits
• ECED 6910: Infant/Toddler Practicum, 1 credit
• Credits for Prior Learning, 1 credit

*Total costs per semester, includes tuition and student fees = $1375