DaSy - Center for IDEA Early Childhood Data Systems

Description:

The DaSy Center is a national technical assistance center funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). DaSy works with states to support IDEA early intervention and early childhood special education state programs in the development or enhancement of coordinated early childhood longitudinal data systems.

DaSy provides technical assistance (TA) and resources to state agencies to assist with the development or enhancement of data systems for Part C early intervention and Part B preschool special education programs supported through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The DaSy Center collaborates with other projects to leverage what is known and generate new ideas and products to help state agencies create and expand early childhood cross-agency and longitudinal data systems that include the Part C and Part B preschool data needed to collect, analyze, and report high-quality data required under IDEA. As outlined in our flyer, the DaSy Center conducts activities in three major areas:

• Knowledge Development. Center staff will work with Part C and Part B preschool state agencies to identify the status of their efforts to develop and enhance the data systems that contain their Part C and Part B preschool data and develop and enhance linkages between Part C and Part B preschool data and data from other early childhood programs. The Center staff also will work with a small set of partner states to develop a framework that identifies critical components and processes for data system development that are needed to report high-quality data required under IDEA, and will develop resources to support the use of the framework by Part C and Part B preschool state agencies in all states.
• TA and Dissemination. Center staff will provide a continuum of general, intensive, and targeted TA and dissemination activities for Part C and Part B preschool state agency staff. The Center will solicit applications and identify 10 states that will receive intensive TA in years 2 through 5. Using the framework as a guide, the Center will work with stakeholders in these states to develop and implement a TA work plan based on priorities identified by the Part C and Part B preschool programs. The Center will use what is learned through intensive TA to develop guidance documents for all states to promote critical data system capabilities/elements needed to collect, analyze, and report high-quality data that are required under IDEA. Targeted and general TA activities will include convening national meetings; conducting topical meetings or Think Tanks on data system topics; forming and supporting a variety of communities of practice; holding national teleconferences and webinar series; and developing online, print, and video training materials. Dissemination will include sharing information through presentations at national meetings, e-mail lists, and the Center’s website.
• Leadership and Coordination. Throughout the project, the Center will seek guidance from a diverse group of stakeholders to ensure that the Center’s work is addressing critical needs of those in early intervention and preschool special education as well as the general early childhood field. The Center staff will communicate and collaborate with other OSEP-funded and other TA projects to coordinate, leverage and maximize the TA resources available to states, including the Technical Assistance Coordination Center (TACC) on new products.