Self-Directed Learning

This page provides mini training sessions on a variety of child and family outcomes related topics. Each session is a short, stand-alone piece suitable for self-paced online learning. These sessions may be reviewed by individuals as an orientation to a new topic, or to refresh existing knowledge and skills. The content is suitable for providers, administrators, stakeholders and families.

Click on the icon next to each title to watch and listen.

Overview to Child and Family Outcomes

Orientation for New Staff (1hr 16min) watch & listen
This recorded webinar provides an overview to child and family outcomes measurement for the new learner.

Why Collect Outcomes Data? (6 minutes) watch and listen now
This session provides background information for those new to outcomes measurement. The session provides an understanding of the historical roots of federal accountability, the current requirements, and the various purposes and uses of outcomes measurement.

Child Outcomes

Understanding The Child Outcomes (5 minutes) watch and listen now
This introductory session provides a description of the three child outcomes. It is designed for learners to understand the development and content of the three child outcomes, differentiate among the three child outcomes, and differentiate between functional outcomes and discrete skills.

Child Outcomes Step by Step Video (9 minutes) link to video page
This video describes and illustrates the three child outcomes, offering a consistent way to describe the outcome areas across programs and states. It can be used for professional development and training, orienting families, and introducing the outcomes to policymakers or funders. .

Assessing the Three Child Outcomes (6 minutes) watch and listen now
This session is designed for the introductory or intermediate learner. Information presented includes recommended practices for functional assessment and crosswalks. Learners will understand the use of formal assessment instruments for measuring child outcomes, and differentiate between evaluation for the purposes of eligibility vs. accountability.

Integration of Outcomes and IFSP/IEP Processes

Introduction to IFSP/IEP integration (17 minutes) watch and listen now
This session provides an overview to the processes of integrating IFSP-IEP and outcomes, based on work from across ECO, NECTAC, and a number of early childhood professionals interested in these processes. Recent work is also highlighted. November 30, 2011.

Child Development

Understanding Young Children's Development
These three narrated modules were developed by training personnel in Illinois based on content developed by the University of Connecticut Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. The modules correspond to the three child outcome areas and are focused on identifying age-appropriate skills among children zero to three:

Child Outcomes Summary Process and Form

Developmental Trajectories: Getting to Progress Categories from COS Ratings (16 minutes) watch and listen now
This presentation provides an overview of how the ratings on the Child Outcomes Summary (COS) form translate to the OSEP progress categories and summary statements, using visual depictions of developmental trajectories between entry and exit.

Working with Data

Analyzing and Interpreting Child Outcomes Data
These are the first two in a five-part series of narrated presentations with actitivies on using child outcomes data. The content and activites are based on a data workshop at the 2011 Measuring and Improving Child and Family Outcomes Conference.
  • Using Data Activity 1: Comparison of State and Local Data (8 minutes). watch and listen now
  • Using Data Activity 2: Checking Data for Stability and Completeness (8 minutes). watch and listen now
    This is the second in the series of data workshop activities. In this activity, we dig a little deeper into the quality of state data by reviewing statewide missing data and trend data across years in order to answer the following questions:
    • Do we have enough data to trust the findings?
    • Are the data stable?