State Part C Coordinator Survey

Appendix B

State Part C Coordinator Survey

IDEA – NAIS

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

This survey is part of the IDEA National Assessment Implementation Study (NAIS), a new study that is occurring as part of the congressionally mandated National Assessment of Progress under IDEA 2004. The NAIS is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education (ED), Institute of Education Sciences (IES). The purpose of the study is to develop an understanding of how state and local government agencies are implementing early intervention and special education programs supported under IDEA 2004. The NAIS has important implications for the education of children with disabilities as it will provide critical information to the Department of Education and Congress and inform the next reauthorization of IDEA. The NAIS is not a compliance study, nor a study of the results of effectiveness of IDEA.

We are requesting you and other state Part C Coordinators complete this questionnaire because you and your staff have the most knowledge about early intervention policies and practices for infants and toddlers identified for services in your state. As grantees under IDEA, state education agencies are required to participate in this data collection (20 U.S.C. 1221e-3, 1226c, 1231a, 3474, and 6511(a)); it is not voluntary. With your contribution, ED and Congress will gain a more accurate and complete understanding of how IDEA is being implemented for young children at the state level.

With your contribution, ED and Congress will gain a more accurate and complete understanding of how IDEA is being implemented for young children at the state level. While we are aware that the regulations for Part C have not been finalized, this survey still provides an opportunity to capture the policies and practices currently in place in states for infants and toddlers identified for early intervention.

Please note that data on state policies and resources/supports may be reported by state. Thus, while personally identifiable information about individual respondents will not be released, data displayed by state could be attributed to the state agency or possibly to an individual respondent.

Thank you for joining us in our effort to understand the implementation of IDEA 2004. We appreciate your time and cooperation.

Please see the next page for definitions for completing this survey.

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 1800-0011. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average one hour (or 60 minutes) per response, including the time to review instructions, search existing data resources, gather the data needed, and complete and review the information collection. If you have any comments concerning the accuracy of the time estimate(s) or suggestions for improving this form, please write to: U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C. 20202-4537. If you have comments or concerns regarding the status of your individual submission of this form, write directly to: Lauren Angelo, U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, 555 New Jersey Avenue, N.W., Suite 502H, Washington, D.C. 20208.

If you have any questions, contact:

Martha Wilaby, 1-888-463-1892

e-mail: IDEA-NAIS@westat.com

Definitions

Throughout this questionnaire “children with disabilities” is used to reflect infants and toddlers (up to 36 months) with an Individualized Family Services Plan (IFSP).

“Early intervention” refers specifically to the services being provided to children with IFSPs and their families under Part C of IDEA.

The term “Special Educator” as used throughout the survey refers to one of the types of qualified personnel who provide early intervention services as referenced in IDEA, Part C (Sec. 632(4)(F)(i)).

The term “fiscal year” as used throughout the survey refers to the definition of fiscal year used by your state, not to the Federal fiscal year.

STATE PART C COORDINATORS QUESTIONNAIRE

ORGANIZATION AND SERVICE DELIVERY

Lead Agency Responsibilities and Staffing

1. For the current fiscal year (2009), which state agency is designated as the lead agency for early intervention under IDEA, Part C (e.g., State Department of Health)? Please indicate more than one agency if there are co-leads in your state.

Indicate lead agency below

2. How many times has the lead agency changed since full implementation of Part C in 1991?

 If none, enter 0, then skip to Item 4

3. When did your agency become the lead agency?

___ ___ / ___ ___ ___ ___

m m y y y y

4. As the designated Part C coordinator, which of the following best describes the scope of your responsibilities?

Part C early intervention (children birth to 3) only
Part C early intervention (children birth to 3) and Part B-619 preschool (ages 3 through 5)		 Skip to Item 7
Part C early intervention (children birth to 3) and other obligations, not specified above (indicate below)

If you checked c please describe other obligations below:

5. If your agency does not have responsibility for preschool special education services, how closely do you work with staff from the Part B-619 preschool agency?

Rarely have contact with them (once or twice a year)
Moderate amount of contact with them (more than six times per year)
Work closely with them (at least monthly)

6. What topics do you regularly address when working with the state Part B-619 Coordinator?

Child Find
Transitions
Training/professional development
Data sharing
Disputes
State Performance Plans required under IDEA
Annual Performance Reports required under IDEA…………………………..
Other

If “other” please describe below

7. Which entities in your state have responsibilities for and provide early intervention services under IDEA Part C? Please do not consider staff with administrative duties. Ongoing service coordination should be reported in the last column (oversee or coordinate direct services). Check all that apply.

	Responsible for intake	Performs evaluation/ eligibility	Oversee or coordinate evaluation/ eligibility	Performs initial service coordination	Provides direct services	Oversee or coordinate direct services
State level staff employed by lead agency:
housed at lead agency
housed at regional agency
housed at local agency
State level staff employed by agency other than lead agency:
housed at state agency
housed at regional agency
housed at local agency
regional public agencies/programs
regional private agencies/programs
local public agencies/programs
Local private agencies/programs
contracted through state agency
contracted through regional agency
contracted through other local entity
Individual service provider contracted with:
state level
regional public
regional private
local public
local private
Other agency

If “other” please describe below:

Service Coordination

8. Which model best describes the way on-going service coordination (i.e., post initial IFSP development) is provided in your state?

Dedicated: individual provides only service coordination and does not provide other Part C early intervention services
Blended (dual) role: individual provides service coordination and other EI services
Both a and b are used in our state (dedicated and blended or dual role)
Other

If “other” please describe below

9. What is the minimal education required of service coordinators? Check one.

Bachelor’s degree
Associate’s degree
High school diploma
Other

If “other” please specify below:

10. What additional qualifications are required of service coordinators? Check all that apply.

Must be licensed social workers
Must be certified/credentialed by the state as a service coordinator
Must complete mandatory early intervention training
No additional qualifications required
Other

If “other” please specify below:

Interagency Coordinating Councils (ICC)

11. For which age range is the State Interagency Coordinator Council (SICC) responsible?

Birth to age 3
Birth to age 5
Birth to age 8
Other

If “other” please specify below:

12. How many staff support the SICC? Please indicate the number in full-time equivalents (FTEs).

 If the SICC does not have dedicated staff, please enter 0

13. Does your state have local Interagency Coordinating Councils (ICCs) ?

Yes
No		 Skip to item 16

14. For which age range are the local ICCs responsible? Check one.

Birth to age 3
Birth to age 5
Birth to age 8
Varies across ICCs
Other

If “other” please specify below:

15. What are the roles and responsibilities of the local ICCs? Check all that apply.

Advisory
Local policy development
Local policy implementation
Child Find/public relations/awareness
Hire and supervise local council staff
Hire and supervise local intake staff
Hire and supervise service coordinators
Ensure provision of IFSP services
Contract with local providers for IFSP services
Provider recruitment
Local monitoring
Quality assurance
Other

If “other” please specify below:

16. Does your state have regional ICCs?

Yes
No		 Skip to item 19

17. For which age range are the regional ICCs responsible? Check one.

Birth to age 3
Birth to age 5
Birth to age 8
Varies across ICCs
Other

If “other” please specify below:

18. What are the roles and responsibilities of the regional ICCs? Check all that apply.

Advisory
Regional policy development
Regional policy implementation
Child Find/public relations/awareness
Hire and supervise regional council staff
Hire and supervise regional intake staff
Hire and supervise service coordinators
Ensure provision of IFSP services
Contract with local providers for IFSP services
Provider recruitment
Regional monitoring
Quality assurance
Other

If “other” please specify below:

Part C Funding and Financing

19. Does the Part C early intervention policy in your state permit the provision of services for children after they turn age 3?

Yes
No

20. What are the top three funding sources that support Part C early intervention services as required by IFSPs? Please write in the space provided a “1” for the source that provides the largest share of funding, a “2” for the source that provides the next largest share of funding and a “3” for the third largest funding source.

IDEA, Part C
IDEA, Part B
Children with Special Head Care Needs (CSHCN)/Title V
Medicaid/Title XIX
State early intervention funds
State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)
Local municipality or county funds
Private insurance
Family fees/co-payments/sliding fee
Other

If “other” please specify below:

21. For the current fiscal year (2009) what percentage of all sources funding early intervention services came from IDEA, Part C?

 If percentage is unknown, please enter DK

Family Cost Participation

The term “family cost participation” (FCP) is a broad and encompassing term used to describe any approach that a state may elect to institute (either by the use of private insurance, developing a family fee system, or both), that results in some degree of cost to a family participating in the Part C system. FCP may mean indirect or direct cost to the family through the use of their private insurance coverage, or the assignment of some sort of financial cost¹ to the family to receive Part C IFSP services.²

22. For the current fiscal year (2009), is there a family cost participation (FCP) policy for Part C early intervention services in place in your state?

Yes
No		 Skip to Item 24

23. What does your state’s FCP policy require? Check one.

Private insurance only
Family fees only
Both private insurance and family fees

Referral and Identification

Referrals

24. What are the top three referral sources for Part C early intervention services? Please write in the space provided a “1” for the source providing the most referrals, a “2” for the source that provides the next largest number of referrals, “3” for the source providing the third largest number of referrals.

Private agency
Local school district
Health department
Social service agencies (e.g., Head Start)
Regional agencies (e.g., service centers)
Families
Primary Health Care Providers
Other

If “other” please specify below:

25. Which activities does your lead agency conduct to support the identification of children birth to age 3 in need of Part C early intervention services? Check all that apply.

Child Find screenings
Development/dissemination of written materials, (e.g. posters, pamphlets) to pediatricians and other health care providers
Development/dissemination of written materials (e.g. posters, pamphlets) for child care centers, nursery schools, and other facilities
Workshops for pediatricians and other health care providers
Workshops for staff from child care centers, nursery schools, and other facilities.
Outreach to referral sources
Web-based information and other electronic materials
Outreach through radio, TV, newspapers and other print media to promote awareness of disabilities and services for young children
Other

If “other” please describe below:

Interagency/Part B Coordination

26. Does your state have a Preschool Special Education Advisory Council?

Yes
No		 Skip to Item 28

27. Does your agency have a Part C representative on that Council?

Yes
No

28. Which agencies participate in the Part C state-level interagency agreements? Check all that apply.

Education
Health
Mental health
Social services
Head Start/Early Head Start
Developmental disabilities
Child care
Other

If “other” please describe below

29. What areas do these state-level interagency agreements address? Check all that apply.

Evaluation/eligibility/assessment
Cost or resource sharing
Responsibility for direct services
Transition to preschool
Professional development and/or training
Data sharing
Other

If “other” please describe below

30. For the current fiscal year (2009), is your agency organizing or funding any collaborative training activities with the following agencies? Check all that apply.

Education
Human services
Health
Mental health
Social services
Head Start/Early Head Start
Developmental disabilities
Child care
Other

If “other” please describe below:

Part C Option

Amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in 2004 include a provision that provides the option for states to use Part C funding to provide services for children until they enter kindergarten. This is commonly referred to as the “Part C Option.”

31. During the current fiscal year (2009), is your state using the Part C Option?

Yes		 Skip to Item 33
No, but it is under consideration
No

32. Which issues are affecting (or affected) your decision? Check all that apply.

Insufficient funding
Insufficient lead agency staffing
Insufficient provider capacity
Part C lead agency is not able to promote school readiness as required
Insufficient interagency coordination at the state level
Insufficient interagency coordination at the local level
Other

If “other” please describe below:

33. Which program personnel have been involved in the decision regarding the use of the Part C Option in your state? Check all that apply.

IDEA, Part C
IDEA, Part B, 619
Other

If “other” please describe below

Transitions from Part C to Part B

34. For the current fiscal year (2009), in what ways is your agency supporting the transition of children with disabilities from Part C to Part B? Check all that apply.

Part B preschool funds can be used to provide FAPE (free, appropriate, public education) to children before their third birthday
Part C funds can be used to provide FAPE for children past their third birthday .
Developed policies on transition from Part C to Part B
Provided technical assistance to local providers on transition
Developed/disseminated materials for parents on transition from Part C to Part B
Developed/maintained an electronic database of individual child records to allow children to be followed from Part C to Part B
None of the above
Other

If “other” please describe below:

Early Learning Guidelines

Early learning guidelines describe expectations for young children’s learning and development.

35. Does your state have general early learning guidelines for infants and toddlers birth to age 3?

Yes
No		 Skip to Item 44

36. Which state agency released the early learning guidelines? Check all that apply.
    
    

Education
Human services
Health
Mental health
Social services
Head Start/Early Head Start
Developmental disabilities
Child care
Other

If “other” please describe below:

37. Which domains are covered by the guidelines? Check all that apply.

Physical/health
Cognitive
Approaches to learning
Social/Emotional
Communication/language
Other

If “other” please describe below:

Standards-Based IFSPs

Standards-based IFSPs are those that align goals for children with disabilities with existing early learning guidelines

38. For the current fiscal year (2009), does your state provide a mandated IFSP with services aligned with the early learning guidelines?

Yes
No

39. For the current fiscal year (2009), does your state provide a suggested standards-based IFSP with services aligned with the early learning guidelines?

Yes
No

40. For the current fiscal year (2009), does your state have formal policies in place regarding the alignment of the provision of Part C early intervention services with your early learning guidelines?

Yes
No

41. During the 2008 and 2009 fiscal years has your state provided any training or professional development on the alignment of early learning guidelines and the provision of Part C early intervention services?

Yes
No		 Skip to Item 44

42. Who was the target audience for the training or professional development on the early learning guidelines? Check all that apply.

Part C early intervention providers
Service coordinators
Administrators
Other

If “other” please describe below:

43. What topics were covered by the professional development? Check all that apply.

Assessment of children’s current skills
Developing standards-based goals for physical/health
Developing standards-based goals for cognitive skills
Developing standards-based goals for approaches to learning
Developing standards-based goals for social/emotional areas
Developing standards-based goals for communication/learning skills
Linking assessment to instruction
Other

If “other” please describe below:

Personnel

44. Please indicate below the disciplines for which your state has routinely experienced difficulty finding qualified Part C early intervention professionals during the current (2009) or preceding two fiscal years (2007 and 2008). Check all that apply.

Special Educators
Audiologists
Speech/language pathologists
Occupational therapists
Physical therapists
Orientation/mobility specialists
Nutritionists or dietitians
Pediatricians and other physicians
Nurses
Family therapists
Psychologists
Social workers
Service Coordinators
Other

If “other” please describe below:

45. Which state agency is responsible for licensing/certification of Special Educators? Check all that apply.

Part C, early intervention lead agency
State education agency (SEA) (if not lead agency)
State licensing/certification agency that is not part of the SEA or the early intervention lead agency
Other

If “other” please describe below:

46. How do Special Educators qualify for licensing/certification? Check all that apply.

Portfolio
Exam/Proficiency test
Undergraduate or graduate degree program
Coursework (not leading to a degree)
Other

If “other” please describe below:

47. For what age range is a Special Educator certification or credential applicable in your state? Check one.

Birth to age 3
Birth to age 5
Birth to age 8
Other

If “other” please describe below:

48. During the current (2009) and past (2008) fiscal years, what strategies has your state routinely used to increase the number of qualified Special Educators? Check all that apply.

Collaborate with universities to create programs and curricula to ensure that graduates meet standards (e.g., create a task force, fund grants to IHEs for restructuring)
Pay for tutoring to prepare teachers for certifications tests/licensure exams
Provide funding for teachers to participate in professional development opportunities (e.g., IHE tuition, workshop fees)
Pay fees for tests/licensure exams
Provide alternative routes to certification in preschool special education for persons with a special education degree
Provide alternative routes to certification in preschool special education for any person with a bachelors
Other

If “other”, please describe below:

Family Involvement

49. In what ways and at what level are families involved in the Part C system? Check all that apply.

	State	Region	Local
Providing training to other families
Providing training to Part C early intervention personnel
Employed as Part C early intervention personnel (e.g., service coordinator)
Participating on committees/task forces (other than ICC)
State monitoring (e.g., participate on monitoring teams)
Developing policies and procedures
Involved in procedural safeguard systems
Don’t know
Other activity

If “other” please describe below:

50. For the current fiscal year (2009), is your agency offering any of the following to early intervention providers to promote the involvement of families of children with IFSPs? Check all that apply.

Funds to provider agencies to help families participate in IFSP meetings (e.g., transportation, babysitting, translators)
Technical assistance related to promoting family involvement
Written guidelines related to family involvement
Workshops or professional development on increasing family involvement
Other activity

If “other” please describe below:

51. For the current fiscal year (2009), does your state have a federally funded Parent Training and Information Center (PTI)?

Yes
No	 Skip to Item 53

52. For the current fiscal year (2009), in what ways is your agency collaborating with the PTI? Check all that apply.

Development or delivery of professional development
Delivery of technical assistance
Dissemination of information regarding each other’s services
Development of training/guidance materials
Family outreach efforts
Promotion of alternative dispute resolution models
Other activity

If “other” please describe below:

Dispute Resolution

53. What regulations does your agency use to resolve disputes related to Part C early intervention for children with disabilities?

Regulations adopted from Part B
Regulations modified from Part B
Its own Part C regulations

54. During the last fiscal year (2008), how many formal mediations did your state complete for Part C early intervention?

 If none, enter 0, then skip to Item 57

55. Of the mediations reported in Item 54, how many concerned the following issues? Count mediations more than once if they involved more than one issue.
    
    

Evaluation of children for Part C early intervention services
Eligibility of children for Part C early intervention services
Part C early intervention services, as set forth in the IFSP
Environment/Setting
Family cost, including the use of private insurance
Procedural safeguards (e.g., prior written notice, confidentiality)
Transition
Other

If “other” please describe below:

56. Of the mediations reported in Item 54, how many resulted in a mediation agreement?

57. During the last fiscal year (2008), how many resolution meetings were requested?

58. During the last fiscal year (2008), how many impartial due process hearings were requested?

59. Of the number of impartial due process hearings reported in Item 58 how many concerned each of the following issues? Count hearings more than once if they involved more than one issue.

Evaluation/Assessment of children for Part C early intervention services
Eligibility of children for Part C early intervention services
Part C early intervention services as set forth in the IFSP
Environment/Setting
Family cost, including the use of private insurance
Procedural safeguards (e.g., prior written notice, confidentiality)
Transition
Other

If “other” please describe below:

60. Does your agency conduct administrative reviews?

Yes
No	 Skip to Item 63

61. During the last fiscal year (2008), how many state administrative review hearings did your state agency complete for Part C early intervention?

 If none, enter 0, then skip to Item 63

62. Of the number of state administrative reviews reported in Item 59, how many concerned each of the following issues? Count reviews more than once if they involved more than one issue.

Evaluation/Assessment of children for Part C early intervention services
Eligibility of children for Part C early intervention services
Part C early intervention services as set forth in the IFSP
Environment
Family cost, including the use of private insurance
Procedural safeguards (e.g., prior written notice, confidentiality)
Transition
Other

If “other” please describe below:

63. During the last fiscal year (2008), how many state/federal judicial reviews of hearings did your state complete for Part C early intervention?
    
    

 If none, enter 0, then skip to end

64. Of the number of state/federal judicial reviews reported in Item 61 how many concerned each of the following issues? Count reviews more than once if they involved more than one issue.

Evaluation/Assessment of children for Part C early intervention services
Eligibility of children for Part C early intervention services
Part C early intervention services as set forth in the IFSP
Environment/Setting
Family cost, including the use of private insurance
Procedural safeguards (e.g., prior written notice, confidentiality)
Transition
Other

If “other” please describe below:

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO COMPLETE THIS QUESTIONNAIRE!

Please use the space below to add any comments you have.

Contact Information

Please provide us with your name, title, address, phone number, fax number and email address in case we need to contact you to clarify responses to any of these questions.

Name
Title
Address
Phone
Fax
Email

If more than one person filled out this survey, please indicate their positions below and the section completed.

Position/Section…
Position/Section…
Position/Section…

Please estimate how long it took, in total, to complete this questionnaire.

hours

minutes

Thank you for completing this questionnaire.

1 E.g., Sliding Fee Scale, Co-payment, Participation Fee, Cost Share

2 Mackey-Andrews, S. (2005). A quick overview of Family Cost Participation. 2005 National Early Childhood Conference. Retrieved 5/2/05 from http://www.nectac.org/~docs/meetings/national2005/DEFININGFAMILYCOSTPARTICIPATION.doc

6

SEA Part C- final