By the IDC Buzz Staff
Preschool data play an important role in helping us to understand and shape the educational landscape, especially for children with disabilities and their families. It’s not uncommon for those who work with Section 619 preschool data to feel both privileged to do such meaningful work and overwhelmed by the details of it. First, we want you to know that you’re not alone, and second, we want to offer you support as a 619 professional through our renewed 619 Coordinator Data Quality Peer Group. Read on to get the inside scoop.
The Significance of Preschool Data
When it comes to IDEA data, those who work with Section 619 need to understand both the significance of that data and the subtleties of it, which can be different than working with K-12 data. Because preschool comes with a separate set of program- and data-based nuances, staff working with 619 data need to develop networks of support among other 619 colleagues, both inside and outside of their state, as a means to help them improve their understanding of the data and the quality of the data as well.
Indeed, a quality preschool program has a positive effect on a child’s education. Quality preschool data help to inform decisions about preschool programs, which can improve outcomes for students with disabilities far beyond their pre-K years. Since IDC also deeply understands the importance of preschool data, we are here to help 619 professionals develop supportive networks in a guided but self-driven way.
Building Connections in the 619 Data Quality Peer Group
To help kick-start networking in the 619 data space, this past June at our Interactive Institute 2023, IDC TA specialists Christina MacDonald and Tony Ruggiero stepped in to offer some tools and get the network building process started. They took advantage of the institute to facilitate the first in an all-new series of meetings for IDC’s 619 Data Quality Peer Group (DQPG).
The DQPG offers states the opportunity to build both internal and external support teams for their 619 work and create a foundation of collaboration among fellow 619 data professionals. Both 619 coordinators and Part B data managers will benefit from taking part. The DQPG can help participants start discussions and generate ideas about how their state can build the type of internal teams they need to help continue their efforts to improve their preschool data quality and enhance its connection to the larger IDEA data network.
What Can You Expect by Participating in the 619 DQPG?
The goal of the DQPG is to bring state staff together to expand their capacity to work with 619 data through the simple act of sharing: sharing challenges, sharing proven solutions, sharing resources, and even sharing ideas to co-create possible solutions for improving the quality of their 619 data. When we make connections, incredible things can happen, and the DQPG creates time and space for these interactions to take place. Though the emphasis of these gatherings is on participant-guided discussion, our experience has suggested a few topics that might be of relevance to attendees concerned with 619 data:
-- state systems and processes related to data, including teaming, data roles, engaging partners, promoting data quality, and sustaining data initiatives;
-- supporting LEA data collection, integrity, and use of preschool special education data; and
-- data analysis for program improvement and use with stakeholders, including access to services and environments, disproportionality, LEA determinations, monitoring and compliance, and connections to K-12.
And that’s just scratching the surface. The entire point of IDC’s 619 DQPG is to clear a space where discussion can take on a life of its own about such topics or any others that members need to bring to the table. Innovation and answers aren’t always found in the places we expect; sometimes you have to build a network to get where you need to go.
More IDC Peer-to-Peer Opportunities to Connect
The 619 Data Quality Peer Group is just one of many peer groups IDC offers. IDC supports peer groups related to the SPP/APR, the SSIP, data managers, and more. We encourage you to take part in those of interest to you. Contact your IDC State Liaison today for more information and to see a schedule of upcoming events.