OSEP 2009 National Early Childhood Conference

The Use and Reporting of ARRA Funds for Preschool Special Education

Jim O’Brien Office of Head Start/ACF/HHS

jim.obrien@acf.hhs.gov

ARRA funding increase of $2.1 billion for Head Start

• In addition to ARRA funding, the FY 09 appropriation provided a $234.8 million funding increase for Head Start.

• $1.1 billion from ARRA is for Early Head Start expansion.

• The remaining $1 billion from ARRA (and the $234.8 million increase in FY 09 appropriation) was allocated consistent with requirements of the Head Start Act.

The remaining $1.235 billion used for the following purposes, consistent with the requirements of the Head Start Act :

• Cost-of-living increase $ 325,577,000

• Quality improvement funding $ 353,779,000

• Head Start expansion (Including AIAN and MSHS) $ 219,612,000

• Early Head Start expansion $ 199,612,000

• Increased T/TA funding $ 30,820,000

• State Advisory Councils $ 100,000,000

• Increased program support $ 3,410,000

• Centers of Excellence $ 2,000,000

Disabilities section on the ECLKC http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/ecdh/Disabilities

State Planning: Project CSEFEL

SpecialQuest State Leadership Teams

SpecialQuest Ambassador Directory

Hearing Screenings in Head Start

ECHO Teams work with State Early Hearing and Detection and Intervention (EHDI)

State-Level ECHO Teams

• Alaska Arkansas Colorado Connecticut • Hawai‘i Illinois Iowa Kansas • Michigan Missouri Nebraska North Carolina • Kentucky Oklahoma Washington District of Columbia• Oregon Pennsylvania Utah Virginia

Participating States receive:• Assistance in establishing Early Childhood Hearing Outreach (ECHO) Teams (typically

composed of 5 individuals, at least one being a pediatric audiologist).

• Resources to conduct initial training workshops and support in establishing an ongoing training and technical assistance system for Head Start programs.

Featured Links• http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/ecdh/Disabilities The Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC) is the official communication channel

for Head Start and Early Head Start grantees, TA network, regional offices, Head Start parents and families, OHS consultants, and anyone else involved with Head Start.

• http://www.vanderbilt.edu/csefel/states.html The Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL) is focused on

promoting the social emotional development and school readiness of young children birth to age 5.

• http://www.specialquest.org/summaries.htm SpecialQuest resources are designed to touch the “head, heart, and hands” of families and

professionals working together to create inclusive communities for young children with disabilities.

• http://www.infanthearing.org/earlychildhood/hss.html NCHAM's Early Childhood Hearing Outreach (ECHO) Initiative focuses on "echo-ing" successful

newborn hearing screening efforts by extending the benefit of periodic hearing screening to children 0 – 3 years of age in a variety of settings including Head Start settings.