The Scholars Project: Maine's Distance Education Model for Preparing Early Childhood Special Educators to Work With Young Children With Disabilities. (June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rooks-Ellis, Deborah L.
• Is Part Of: Rural special education quarterly. Volume 36:Number 2(2017)
• Page Start: 84
• Page End: 91
• Publication Date: 2017-06
• Subjects: early intervention -- early childhood special education -- personnel preparation -- rural -- distance education; People with disabilities -- Education -- United States -- Periodicals; People with disabilities -- Education; United States; Éducation spéciale; Handicapé; Milieu rural; États-Unis; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 371.90973
• DOI: 10.1177/8756870517707926
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 8756-8705

Abstract

The Early Childhood Opportunity (EChO) Scholars project was designed to address the following significant needs in Maine: (a) prepare highly qualified early interventionists and early childhood special educators through distance education, (b) develop a system of support through a mentor network, (c) provide a graduate-level early childhood special education (ECSE) curriculum emphasizing current evidence-based practices (EBPs), and (d) develop a feedback loop designed to assess candidate knowledge, skills, and implementation of EBPs. This article describes the results of a 4-year Office of Special Education Programs project designed to support early childhood special educators across rural Maine. Key program components, successes, and future directions for continuous improvement are highlighted.