The article argues that early childhood special education (ECSE) should approach administrator preparation through models of organizational behavior and management. Four are presented--the technical, human relations, political, and symbolic models--with illustrations from ECSE field experiences. The article suggests that an integrated use of…

Although leadership has more frequently been viewed as a style or a set of competencies, the model of leadership as a function of repertoire has the advantage of providing a more adequate basis for selecting and preparing effective leaders for early childhood special education programs. The repertoire model, used with the other models, offers a…

Administrative issues in privately and publicly funded programs are contrasted across six areas: funding, philosophy and services, population served, parent involvement, staffing practices, and standards and governance. Key differences center around funding stability and administrative flexibility. A service system featuring a continuum of…

Basic definitions and concepts in educational liability are presented, as well as descriptions of the conditions under which early childhood special educators may be held liable for physical, educational, or psychological injury of students. Litigation is discussed. Finally, preventive measures are enumerated and legal defenses are considered.…

A cost analysis approach can effectively integrate budget and program planning. By analyzing staff time across components of an early childhood program, one can analyze program operations and their costs. The cost analysis system examines personnel costs as well as nonpersonnnel costs and in-kind contributions and provides a format for displaying…

The paper surveys the planning necessary for effective inservice education for early childhood special education staff. A definition is offered, followed by an outline of general assumptions and guidelines. Next, a planning approach consisting of four interrelated phases is described: support and start-up, initial planning, program design, and…

Current research programs for handicapped preschoolers and their families is reviewed under five administrative roles--program manager, policy planner, monitor-evaluator, advocate, and trainer-facilitator. Implications for administrators include activities/skill building in affective development, family services, technology, policy analysis,…

The paper examines four assumptions of intervention programs that must be clarified before the question of efficacy can be addressed: (1) implicit theory of human development, (2) conceptualization of the specific interventions, (3) how developmental change is measured, and (4) strategies used for selecting program participants. A final discussion…

Sixty-four high-risk children were randomly assigned at birth to a more intense treatment condition (Educational Daycare Plus Family Education) or a less intense treatment condition (Family Education Alone). Both groups were compared to control Ss. IQ score gains at 36 months were greater for the more intense group than for the other two groups.…

Results, to age 19, of a study of 123 Black youths from families of low socioeconomic status, indicate lasting beneficial effects of preschool education in improving scholastic placement and achievement; decreasing delinquency and crime, welfare assistance use, and incidence of teenage pregnancy; and in increasing rates of high school graduation,…

Examination of an early intervention program featuring combination home- and center-based, transdisciplinary team services for children with moderate to severe disabilities and their parents indicated statistically significant positive behavioral changes for both children and their parents. No relationship was found, however, between amount of…

The article reports the methodology and results of a two-year program evaluation effort to determine effectiveness of an early intervention program for disabled infants and preschool children. Overall, the results indicated the intervention program had a positive impact on participating children and their parents. (Author/CL)

The paper describes the evaluation of two levels of a center-based early intervention project offering two-day services for toddlers and five-day services for preschoolers with mild/moderate cognitive delays. Effects of services were assessed in terms of developmental change and the number of objectives achieved. (Author/CL)

The article describes a study to determine effectiveness of the Model Preschool Program for Children with Down Syndrome and Other Developmental Delays at 11 outreach sites. Assessment of performance gains of 164 disabled children (11 months to 14 years old) showed that gains in child performance were significantly greater than predicted in four…

The paper proposes a methodological expansion in evaluation research--an eco-behavioral approach. Implications of using the eco-behavioral approach in the evaluation of preschool programs for the disabled are discussed. This methodology is said to allow both determination of early intervention effectiveness and specification of factors responsible…