Office of Early Childhood

Location: Dept of Ed > Teams and Sections > Office of Early Childhood

About Us

• Staff
• Overview of Early Childhood in Nebraska
• Policy Statements

Programs

• Early Childhood Grant Program
• Even Start Family Literacy Program
• Head Start-State Collaboration Office
• Kindergarten/Primary Grades
• Accreditation and Quality Improvement
• Child Care

Education and Training

• Early Childhood Training Center
• Professional Development and Training
• Early Childhood Professional Development Partnerships (RTC)
• Nebraska Early Learning Guidelines
• Results Matter
• First Connections
• School-Age Connections
• HeadsUp! Reading
• CDA Scholarship Project
• Nature Education

Resources

• Early Childhood Training Center Media Center
• Publications

Regulations

• Rule 11
• Rule 51
• Head Start Performance Standards
  
  Child Care Licensing

Links

• Early Childhood Special Education
• Early Development Network
• Title I
  
  Early Childhood Interagency Coordinating Council (ECICC)
• State and National Sites of Interest

 

Our Vision

All young Nebraska children are secure, healthy and successful!

Our Mission

To provide leadership, resources, and professional development in
support of high quality early childhood settings and effective parenting.

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What's Happening Now?

 

 Early Childhood Program Grant Applications available and due February 12, 2010!

• RFP Guidance (.pdf)

• Grant Application Template

• Grant Application Budget Template

 

  Regional Contact Matrix for Nebraska Early Childhood
Programs and Services(.pdf)

 

Approved Equivalency for Paraeducators in Programs
(operated under Rule 11) (.pdf)

NSSRS Programs Fact Template for Early Childhood Education!!

 

State Education Board Approves Six Grants for New,
Expanded Early Childhood Programs

The State Board of Education on June 10 approved more than $1 million for six early childhood education programs that will serve about 260 children.

The grants will allow Nebraska schools to create new or expanded programs for at-risk three-and four-year old children.

These grants will improve educational equity across the state by providing increased access to early childhood education programs. Chldren are served in inclusive environments to better prepare them to enter school and to succeed.

Grants were approved for:

• Diller-Odell Public Schools, $125,000
• Educational Service Unit 5 for Deshler Public Schools and Thayer Central Schools, $250,000
• Gibbon Public Schools $75,000
• Grand Island Public Schools $375,000
• Lincoln Public Schools $186,000
• Wilber-Claytonia Public Schools $75,000

 

 

Resource Documents for Practitioners: Functional IFSPs/IEPs

The technical assistance documents listed below can be used in the development of functional, participation-based IFSP/IEP outcomes and goals for young children with disabilities, birth to age five, and their families. Documents were jointly produced by the Nebraska Department of Education and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services in June, 2008.

• Preamble: Functional Participation-based IFSP/IEP Outcomes/Goals
  
• Assessments: Functional Participation-Based IEP/IEP Outcomes/Goals
  
• Characteristics of Functional Participation-based IFSP/IEP Outcomes/Goals
  
• Meetings: Functional Partipation-based IFSP/IEP Meetings
  
• References

 

GUIDE TO SERVING 3- AND 4-YEAR OLDS IN NEBRASKA serves as a resource for new and exisiting programs in school districts and education service units (ESUs) developing and implementing high-quality early childhood education programs that meet the regulations in Rule 11.

 

NEBRASKA EARLY CHILDHOOD POLICY STUDY

At the request of the State Board of Education, the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) conducted an early childhood education policy study. The study is an outgrowth of the State Board's early childhood recommendations in Providing Equitable Opportunities for an Essential Education for All Students. 

 

NEBRASKA EARLY LEARNING GUIDELINES is an exciting resource that is available to assist early childhood caregivers/teachers, parents and other adults with information about supporting the learning and development of young children. The Nebraska Early Learning Guidelines are available for Ages Birth to 3 and Ages 3 to 5. Both are now available in English or Spanish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Office of Early Childhood

Nebraska Department of Education

301 Centennial Mall South, Lincoln, NE  68509

Phone:  402-471-3184  Fax: 402-471-0117

 

Webmaster:

heidi.thomas@nebraska.gov

 

 

© Nebraska Department of Education