News and Updates

The ECTA Center Preschool During the Pandemic series illustrates how the fields of early education and early childhood special education have been successfully supporting preschoolers and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic. Episode 13, a new, two-part video was just added to the series.

Episode 13 - Authentic Learning in Remote Preschool

Part 1: Home Learning Materials and Authentic Assessment
Part 2: Informing and Differentiating Instruction

During the COVID-19 pandemic, programs are providing services through a range of options, including in-person, distance learning, or a blended approach. Those using distance learning or a blended approach have fewer opportunities to observe children and collect other documentation to confidently rate the DRDP. The strategies described in this document enable assessors to observe children and collect documentation during distance learning.

The requirements for children with Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs), and Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) to be assessed with the DRDP are:

• Children will continue to be assessed with the reduced set of DRDP measures in the Interim DRDP for Special Ed through the spring of 2021
• Children must have a signed IFSP in a local education agency (LEA) or a signed preschool IEP to be assessed
• Special education services must have begun by April 1 for a child to be included in the spring DRDP assessment

We urge you to download, read, and keep handy the “Supplemental Guidance for Special Education on Using the DRDP during the COVID-19 Pandemic.”

The Mini-Guide is a companion to the Using the DRDP (2015) with Children Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing guidance. Teachers of the deaf and hard to hearing can share this information by topic with their partners as they collaborate to complete the DRDP. Instructions for a daily listening check for hearing aids are now also included.

This interactive tutorial describes what adaptations are, how they can help us more accurately assess children’s skills as we observe their daily activities, and provides a variety of examples of the seven adaptations used for the DRDP.