Child Development Division
| Subject: Assessment of Preschoolers with IEPs | Number: 09-24 |
| Authority: California Education Code Section 8203.5 | Date: February 2010 Expires: When Superseded |
ATTENTION: Executive and Program Directors of California State Preschool Programs and of Child Care and Development Programs Serving Preschool-Aged Children, Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) Directors, and Special Education Administrators at County Offices (SEACO) of Education
Purpose
The purpose of this Management Bulletin (MB) is to inform all California State Preschool Program (CSPP) contractors, other Child Care and Development programs serving preschool-aged children, namely: Family Child Care Home Education Networks (CFCC), Handicapped (CHAN), Migrant (CMIG), and all SELPA Directors and SEACOs regarding which Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP) assessment instrument is to be used for preschool children receiving special education services in program year 2009-10.
Background
Use of the Desired Results Developmental Profile - Revised (DRDP-R) will discontinue at the end of the 2009-10 program year. The California Department of Education (CDE) Child Development Division (CDD) has revised the DRDP Preschool assessment instrument (DRDP Preschool © [2010]) to be aligned with its Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 1; this assessment instrument will be used starting program year 2010-2011. To meet federal reporting requirements for children with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), the Special Education Division (SED) must report to the federal government using the same instrument over multiple years.
Assessment of Preschool Children with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)
Initial (New) IEPs: Preschool children with initial IEPs after September 1, 2009, will be assessed using the DRDP access, as this ensures use of the same assessment instrument over consecutive years.
Continuing IEPs: Preschool children with IEPs prior to September 1, 2009, will continue to use the same assessment instrument previously designated on their IEP; i.e., DRDP-R or DRDP access.
Local special education staff are responsible for initiating and completing the DRDP (DRDP-R or the DRDP access), in conjunction with the child development teacher(s). Child development teacher(s) are to collaborate with the special education staff regarding observations and documentation to inform the assessment ratings for the DRDP (DRDP-R or DRDP-R access). Likewise, special educators are to collaborate with child development teacher(s) to complete the DRDP (DRDP-R or DRDP access). Family members and others who know the child well may also inform the assessment ratings.
Special education staff are to continue to provide a copy of each completed DRDP (DRDP-R and DRDP access) and reports for child development teacher(s) to be used for both individual and program-level planning. The reports provided by the special education staff include:
- Rating record
- Developmental status and progress reports
- Documentation of observations
Similarly, observations by the child development teacher(s), portfolios of work samples, artifacts, and other supporting materials are to be shared with special education staff who are assisting the child with meeting the goals of their IEP.
The DRDP access assessment satisfies the program quality improvement requirements for CDD funded programs for the Desired Results Assessment System. The DRDP access and the DRDP-R include the same Desired Results and Indicators. The two assessment instruments have many measures in common and many measures that are similar. Documenting observations for the measures of the DRDP access is similar in content to that of the DRDP-R.
Resources and Training
Teachers in CDD programs may view or obtain a copy of the DRDP access on the Desired Results access Project Web site [http://www.draccess.org/] (Outside Source). Child development teachers are invited to join special education colleagues at any training event related to the DRDP access assessment system for preschool children in special education. Online training modules, tools and strategies to support collaboration are available at the site. Similarly, special education staff are invited to access training and technical assistance on the DRDP-R and the DRDP Preschool © (2010) on the Center for Child and Family Studies - WestEd Web site [http://www.desiredresults.us] (Outside Source).
Special education staff will continue to report DRDP data to the federal government in the fall and in the spring of each program year. It is recommended that both SED and CDD programs compare deadlines to determine completion dates that will satisfy both SED and CDD program requirements.
If you have any questions, please contact Desi Soto, CDD Administrator, Northern Field Services, by phone at 916-324-6164 or by e-mail at dsoto@cde.ca.gov; Greg Hudson, CDD Administrator, Southern Field Services, by phone at 916-323-1300 or by e-mail at ghudson@cde.ca.gov; or Chris Drouin, Administrator, Special Education Division, by phone at 916-327-3547 or by e-mail at cdrouin@cde.ca.gov.
This Management Bulletin is mandatory only to the extent that it cites a specific statutory and/or regulatory requirement. Any portion of this Management Bulletin that is not supported by a specific statutory and/or regulatory requirement is not prescriptive pursuant to California Education Code Section 33308.5.
