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Abstract
This research brief presents a child outcome framework for understanding and evaluating transitions among early childhood programs and services for young children with disabilities. Drawing on prior transition research and ecological, bioecological, and organizational systems perspectives, the framework identifies three interdependent outcomes of successful transition: engagement with adults, peers, and materials; adaptation to the structure and culture of the receiving setting; and continued growth and development. The framework emphasizes a critical period of adjustment following entry into a new setting, with its duration influenced by the child’s age, program intensity, and child, family, and program characteristics. It also distinguishes early adjustment associated with transition planning and activities from subsequent performance increasingly influenced by the quality of instruction and intervention. Applications for policymakers, practitioners, families, and researchers include selecting transition supports, coordinating preparation across sending and receiving programs, and identifying measurable indicators of transition success. The framework shifts attention from the completion of transition procedures to children’s participation, adjustment, and developmental progress. It is presented as a conceptual model to guide practice and empirical investigation rather than as an established, validated measure.
Document Type
White Paper
Publication Date
6-2007
Funding Information
The National Early Childhood Transition Center is supported through a cooperative agreement, PR Award # H324V020003, through the US Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. However, the contents of this paper do not necessarily represent the positions or policies of the Office of Special Education or the US Department of Education, and readers should not assume endorsement by the federal government. September
Repository Citation
Rous, Beth S.; Harbin, Gloria; and McCormick, Katherine, "A Child Outcome Framework for the Early Childhood Transition Process" (2007). Educational Leadership Studies Faculty Publications. 8.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/edl_facpub/8
Included in
Early Childhood Education Commons, Educational Leadership Commons, Maternal and Child Health Commons
Notes/Citation Information
Rous, B., Harbin, G., & McCormick, K. (2007). A child outcome framework for the early childhood transition process [Research brief]. University of Kentucky, Human Development Institute, National Early Childhood Transition Center.
Originally published September 2006; updated June 2007.