Early Childhood Special Education

Partnering with the Minnesota Department of Education's Early Childhood Centers of Excellence, Sourcewell specialists provide local professionals technical assistance, mentorship, and coaching.

Teacher reading a book to students

Research-based practices

The Early Childhood Centers of Excellence project expands the use of scientific, research-based practices, focusing on:

  • Use of assistive technology

  • Implementation of Routine-Based Interventions (RBI)

  • Improvement of assessment, evaluation, and intervention practices for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CLD) children and families

  • Use of communication options for a child with a hearing loss (ASL, cued speech/language, auditory verbal, and auditory oral)

  • Implementation of strategies to address challenging behaviors

  • Effective practices to support successful inclusion of children with disabilities

  • Infant mental health

  • Categorical disabilities and intervention practices

  • Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP), Individual Education Plan (IEP), and writing

  • Data-based decision making at the levels of the child, program, district, and region

  • Understanding and implementation of Response to Intervention (RTI) and Positive Behavioral Support and Interventions (PBIS)

  • Transition requirements and practices

  • Priorities set through Minnesota’s special education system of general supervision (compliance)

The Regional Low Incidence Project will provide the administrative infrastructure for the Early Childhood Centers for Excellence Project.

Questions?