To: Leaders in Head Start and Early Childhood Special Education
From: The Head Start Collaborative Inclusion Work Group

The enclosed survey was developed through a collaborative effort of members of the Head Start Inclusion Work Group, representing the following agencies: the Region IX Head Start TA Network, the California Department of Education (Head Start Collaboration Office and Special Education Division), the California Head Start Association, the Department of Developmental Services, First 5 California, and representatives of both programs and technical assistance projects. The survey was developed out of a need to identify a statewide perspective on California’s efforts to support young children with disabilities in early childhood education inclusive programs. By completing this survey you are helping to establish a set of recommendations and priorities for effective professional development and to help target necessary resources for teachers and children.

This survey is intended to identify the degree to which policies and practices are in place and implemented that support the inclusion of young children with individualized education plans (IEPs) in Head Start Programs. We are interested in getting the perspective of both Head Start Program staff members and early childhood special educators providing services to children with IEPs enrolled in Head Start.

The information from this survey will be used to recommend professional development activities to support the inclusion of children with IEPs in Head Start programs and to contribute to sustainable quality practices that benefit all young children.

Your response to the survey is critical to the success of this effort. Please take the time to print the survey and distribute it to the people in your program most qualified to accurately respond to the questions in this survey (see page 2 for suggestions). Once the information is compiled, completion of the online survey should take no more than 20 minutes.

Thank you for your leadership!