Kansas Early Childhood Outcomes Resources

Introduction to Early Childhood Outcomes in Kansas

All federally funded programs are required to provide data on effectiveness and results. As required by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), with broad stakeholder input, developed a system for collecting and reporting early childhood outcomes (ECO) data from Part B/619 preschool programs and Part C infant toddler services. Baseline data were reported in 2008 and since that time outcomes data are used at the federal level to examine the effectiveness of state programs serving children with disabilities from birth through age five. Annual outcomes data are reported to OSEP in the Annual Performance Report and publicly reported thereafter by KSDE and KDHE.

The three early childhood outcomes are:

1. Positive social-emotional skills (including social relationships),
2. Acquisition and use of knowledge and skills (including early language/communication, and literacy for three, four, and five year olds), and
3. Taking appropriate action to meet their needs.

To determine child progress on the outcomes, information is required by OSEP to be collected at two points in time:

1. when children first enter the early intervention or preschool program and
2. when children permanently exit the early intervention or preschool program. Assessment information is collected and ratings are made and documented for Part C and Part B/619 programs according to procedures developed by KDHE and KSDE for their respective data collection systems.

Between 2005 and 2015 the Kansas Inservice Training System, KSDE, and KDHE worked collaboratively to create materials and guiding documents and to provide regional, statewide, and online training opportunities to support ongoing implementation and improvement of the ECO rating process in Kansas. In 2013 programs began integrating outcomes into the IFSP/IEP process to improve practices for children and families. With the development of a statewide web-based IFSP for Part C services, KDHE has fully integrated the ECO ratings with the IFSP process for infants and toddlers. In 2015 KDHE discontinued use of the OWS database. This resulted in training materials, guidance, and ECO resources for Part B/619 and Part C programs being being held separately by KITS.

Training Material Links

• State Performance Plan Indicators (Indicator 7 Questions and Answers and Early Childhood Verification can be accessed from the KSDE website by scrolling down to Indicator 6 & 7: Preschool Settings and Skills)
• IFSP/IEP-Outcomes Integration
• Child Outcomes
• A Family Guide to Participating in the Child Outcomes Measurement Process
• Understanding and Using ECO Data for Program Improvement Webinar
• The UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute - The Early Childhood Outcomes Center
• Edelman, L. (Producer). (2011). Child Outcomes Step By Step (Video). Published collaboratively by Results Matter, Colorado Department of Education; Desired Results access Project, Napa County Office of Education; and Early Childhood Outcomes Center. Available in English and Spanish.
• ECTA Child Outcomes Summary From and Instructions
• ECTA Decision Tree for Summary Rating Discussions (PDF)

Training Material Documents

• For training materials, guidance, and ECO resources on Kansas Part C Early Childhood Outcomes, email kskits@ku.edu

• For training materials, guidance, and ECO resources on Kansas Part B/619 Early Childhood Outcomes, email Julie Rand at KSDE

Contacts

For more information, contact:

Beccy Strohm at bstrohm@ksde.org, Kansas State Department of Education, Special Education Services

or

Tricia Waggoner at tricia.j.waggoner@ks.gov, Kansas Department of Health and Environment.