Special education placements for more than 69,000 preschoolers with disabilities were examined within and across five southern states. Data were gathered from the 2007 December 1st Child Count reported to the U.S. Department of Education. All states examined offered state-funded prekindergarten programs. Analyses compared disproportionate…

A clustered randomized design was used in which 28 inclusive preschool classrooms were randomly assigned to receive 2 years of training and coaching to fidelity in the LEAP (Learning Experiences and Alternative Program for Preschoolers and Their Parents) preschool model, and 28 inclusive classes were assigned to receive intervention manuals only.…

This article advocates for the need to link early childhood program quality and professional development, with a particular focus on how this topic relates to early childhood inclusion. There is consensus in the early childhood field about various components of program quality for young children in general, and a number of states now have program…

The engagement and interaction of 12 children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were measured during free play in segregated and inclusive prior-to-school early childhood settings to compare the learning opportunities provided in each type of setting. Ratings of overall engagement and the frequency and quality of interaction were also compared…

This study examined a comprehensive modularized inclusion training program provided to 1,298 diverse early child care providers (center-based, family home, and license exempt settings) on providers' attitudes and perceived competence toward inclusion. Second, factors (number of trainings attended and provider characteristics) associated with…

Little research has been carried out on the inclusion of children with special needs in child care. The purpose of this study was to determine what variables predict the inclusion of children with disabilities in centers and home care. Logistic regression was used to examine the association of several indicators of quality child care and…

In the current investigation, the processes of functional assessment and function-based intervention were used to resolve the severe challenging behaviors of a boy with autism and mental retardation in an inclusive kindergarten in South Korea. A multicomponent intervention was developed in collaboration with classroom personnel and was implemented…

Providing appropriate programs for young children with disabilities is a priority of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1990 (IDEA), recently reauthorized as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) of 2004. The IDEIA requires that programs be provided in natural or least restrictive environments, and…

This study investigated the nature of kindergarten children's understanding about and attitudes toward disabilities. Interviews with 77 Canadian children enrolled in inclusive classrooms showed that kindergarten children (a) conceptualize disabilities chiefly according to physical appearances and (b) possess a fairly accurate understanding of some…

This study compared the social-communicative performance of six preschool children with developmental delays during free play in both mainstream and reverse-integration program settings. Neither setting appeared to promote adequate rates of initiating and responding. The use of attention-getting devices increased the number of successful…

Describes lessons learned from a qualitative study of 16 inclusive preschool programs. Lessons focus on the meaning of inclusion as it relates to organizational and social contexts experienced and perceived by families, educators, and administrators. Suggestions are made for addressing challenges without abandoning the commitment to inclusive…

This case study investigated how planning, communication, and decision making across program boundaries took place when a public school district relocated one of its early childhood special education classrooms to a private childcare facility in order to enable social interaction with typically developing children. Logistical barriers impeded…

Data were collected for 2,752 students from 22 school districts in two states. In one state, approximately 30 percent of the graduates were placed in regular classrooms while in the other state, 16 percent were found in regular classrooms. Approximately 80 percent of severely disabled preschool graduates were placed in self-contained special…

A survey of 31 Colorado special education directors determined which handicapped children, from birth to age 5, should be served in which settings. Results found that administrators see an emerging role for the public schools, are willing to serve a broader range of young handicapped children, and see the need for more integrated settings.…

Placement data on 582 graduates of public special education preschool programs in Washington indicated that 36 percent of the children were placed in regular education and 65 percent in special education. Placement stability one and two years later was high, with 62 percent of those changing placements moving to less restrictive settings.…