Leading Region 14 Comprehensive Center | Promoting Inclusive Early Education | Celebrating Principals
With fall in full swing, we’re deep into another school year of collaborating with educators. We’re excited to share updates and resources to help you support learners at every age and every stage and create supportive learning environments for all.
This edition of WestEd 360° features:
WestEd to Lead Federal Comprehensive Center Serving the Bureau of Indian Education
WestEd was selected to lead the Region 14 Comprehensive Center (R14CC), which, for the first time, the U.S. Department of Education has dedicated to solely serving the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), a federal agency that funds, and in some cases operates, elementary and secondary schools on 64 reservations in 23 states. The BIE is responsible for providing quality education opportunities from early childhood through life in accordance with a wide diversity of Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages’ needs for cultural and economic well-being.
“We are pleased and honored to lead the 2024–29 Region 14 Comprehensive Center: to collaborate with the Bureau and provide tailored supports that lift up quality schools to meet Tribal community needs,” said Robert Salley , who serves as the director of the Region 14 Comprehensive Center, which began its five-year term on October 1, 2024.
WestEd continuously partners with Tribal nations, American Indian Education Directors in SEAs, Tribal schools, and public school systems to improve opportunities and outcomes for Indigenous youth.
Expanding Access to Inclusive Early Education for Children With Disabilities
Inclusive early education is crucial for the social-emotional and academic development of all children, yet access remains limited. During the 2022–23 school year, fewer than half of U.S. preschoolers with disabilities received essential supports in inclusive settings.
Findings from WestEd’s evaluation of the California Department of Education’s Inclusive Early Education Expansion Program (IEEEP) show that inclusive programs significantly benefit children, with 75% of families noting positive impacts on social skills and language development.
“I definitely have seen the improvements in [my child's] interactions with people, and even with the play dates we do after school with other families and other kids. I’ve seen an improvement, especially with his speech and his socialization. So it’s been a great benefit so far.” — Family member of a child with disabilities
It’s important to note that collaboration between general and special education teams is vital to success, and many programs still lack adequate special education staffing.
IEEEP grants have facilitated partnerships among educational and community organizations, enhancing access through strategies like improving referral processes, developing shared visions for inclusion, and restructuring staffing. Professional development and adaptive equipment purchases have also increased program capacity.
“Because of the grant, we now have much better partnerships with local agencies running state preschools and Head Starts, so more students are being included, there is a shared commitment to increase and expand inclusion moving forward, and conversations about blending programs occur regularly and the work will continue.” — Partner collaboration survey respondent
Sustaining these inclusive models requires a robust data infrastructure to monitor resource allocation. Ongoing investment in collaboration, training, facility upgrades, and community engagement is essential for expanding inclusive early education opportunities.?
By prioritizing these strategies, communities can create lasting change, ensuring that children with disabilities can thrive in inclusive environments that celebrate diversity and promote understanding among all students.
Celebrating and Supporting Principals
October is National Principals Month! We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated principals who lead our schools. Thank you for all that you do to inspire teachers, staff, and students, adjust to evolving needs, and adopt best practices and effective policies to serve your community.?
Here are some resources on the essential role that principals play and how to best support them.
领英推荐
Announcing New LinkedIn Showcase Pages on Educational Leadership and Supporting English Learners, Multilingual Learners, and Migratory Students
We’re thrilled to share two new WestEd Showcase pages to help you grow your network and share research-driven resources and learning opportunities to increase equitable student outcomes and strengthen improvement systems.
By following these Showcase pages, you’ll also get to know the dedicated professionals who lead WestEd’s Educational Leadership and System Design and English Learner and Migrant Education Services teams, who are ready to support your efforts by drawing on their personal experiences and deep expertise.
Spotlight on New Publications Authored by WestEd Experts
Upcoming Learning Opportunities and Events
Monday, October 28: WestEd leaders from the Data Integration Support Center and the Center for Economic Mobility will present at the Community of Innovation: Modernizing State P20W+ Data Systems led by the Council of Chief State School Officers
Monday, October 28: WestEd experts Vanessa Ximenes Barrat and Kenwyn Derby will lead a workshop at the 2024 Blueprint for Success Conference hosted by California College Pathways
Wednesday, October 30: Webinar: Results from the Reimagining and Amplifying Mathematics Participation, Understanding, and Practices (RAMP-UP) Study from IES-Funded English Learner Research Studies, hosted by the?National Research & Development Center to Improve Education for Secondary English Learners
October 31–November 1: 2024 National Forum to Advance Rural Education (NFARE) ?
November 6–8: 2024 CERA Annual Conference ?
November 6–9: 2024 NAEYC Annual Conference
November 12: WestEd’s Leading Together Virtual Series: Strategic Leadership Actions to Ignite School Improvement with Contann Dabney , WestEd Senior School and District Improvement Facilitator
November 13–21: Curriculum Development for English Language Development: Planning Culturally Responsive and Sustaining Instruction with WestEd experts Dr. Yetunde Akinola, Ph.D. , Dr. Julie Webb, Ed.D. , and Dr. Christine Snyder, PhD , and Antonio Mora from the San Diego County Office of Education
Register for the 2025 Quality Teaching for English Learners (QTEL) Winter Institutes from January 27–31, 2025 in Washington, D.C.
Leading Together: Subscribe to the WestEd E-Bulletin
Join a diverse community of professionals working together to improve education and human development. Subscribe to the E-Bulletin for the latest on professional development, award-winning research, career opportunities, and insights that help to shape a better future for all learners.
That’s a wrap for this edition of WestEd 360°. Thank you for reading and sharing this newsletter with your world!
Equity-Focused Indigenous (M)other Scholar; Qualitative Researcher; Writer; Teacher; Editor; 20+ years Experience in Indigenous Ed./Higher Ed; Mediator
1 个月Congratulations!