Laws that Support Early Childhood Education – Selected Resources

Please note: Some resources may require a subscription or have restricted access due to a publisher paywall.

Books:

• Copeland, T. (2006). Family child care contracts and policies (3rd ed.). St. Paul, MN: Redleaf Press.
• Copeland, T. & Millard, M. (2006). Family child care legal and insurance guide. St. Paul, MN: Redleaf Press.
• Wood, K. & Youcha, V. (2009). The ABCs of the ADA. (2nd ed.). Baltimore, MD: Paul H Brookes Publishing Co.

Articles/Tools:

• American Academy Of Pediatrics, American Public Health Association, National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education. (2011). Caring for our children: National health and safety performance standards; Guidelines for early care and education programs. 3rd edition. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics; Washington, DC: American Public Health Association. Available online at https://cfoc.nrckids.org/CFOC
• American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). (2009). Medication Administration in Early Education and Child Care Settings [Curriculum]. Healthy Futures: Improving Health Outcomes for Young Children project. Elk Grove Village, IL. – This medication administration curriculum is designed for early education and child care professionals and is divided into 5 modules which includes information on preparing, administering and documenting medication in these settings. Available online at https://shop.aap.org/medication-administration-in-early-care-and-education-settings/
• Center to Mobilize Early Childhood Knowledge (CONNECT). (2013). Foundations of inclusion policy advisory: Rights for children, parents and teachers related to inclusion (PDF). Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, Author. Available online at http://community.fpg.unc.edu/sites/community.fpg.unc.edu/files/resources/
  Handout/CONNECT-Foundationsofinclusion-Policyadvisory.pdf — This 2-hour training curriculum is designed to be used by professional development/technical assistance providers in a face-to-face facilitated workshop for early childhood professionals. The curriculum includes a facilitation guide, the Foundations of Inclusion-Birth to Five video and PDF documents of all the handouts. You can access the training by visiting the Connect Modules’ website.
• Child Care Law Center. (2009). Questions and Answers: IDEA & Child Care [PDF]. San Francisco, CA. Retrieved from https://ccids.umaine.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2015/02/QA-IDEA-Child-Care-09.pdf
• Child Care Law Center. (2020). Know the Law Abut responding to challenging Behaviors. Available online at https://www.childcarelaw.org/content/know-the-law-about-responding-to-challenging-behaviors/
• Disability Rights Maine. (n.d.) After School Programs & the ADA (PDF). Available online at https://drme.org/assets/brochures/After-School-Prog.-09.27.18.pdf
• Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTACenter). (October 2014). Determining least restrictive environment (LRE) placements for preschool children with disabilities: Reference points and discussion prompts (PDF). Retrieved from http://ectacenter.org/~pdfs/topics/inclusion/determining-lre-placements.pdf
• Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA Center). (nd). Team Decisions for Preschool Special Education Services Guiding Questions (PDF). Retrieved from http://ectacenter.org/~pdfs/topics/inclusion/team-decisions-guiding-questions.pdf
• Equity for Americans with Disabilities: A timeline – A timeline of landmark events related to the Americans with Disabilities Act from the ShareAmerica website.
• Kids Included Together (KIT) Online Learning. (2015, September 7). Understanding the Laws Supporting Inclusion (PDF). Available online from http://elearning.kit.org/oltpublish/site/document.do?dispatch=show&id=d1afe389-55af-11e5-9903-002590f9ff98&entityType=GROUP&entityId=cc65edfc-b8a5-11e3-bc5a-00163e0054ca&inner=false
• Lee, A. M. (n.d.) ADA: Protecting your child’s civil rights. Retrieved from http://pathfinder-nd.org/resource.php?r=262
• National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management. Eligibility and Service Delivery Policies: Differences Between IDEA Part C and IDEA Part B: A Comparison Chart, 2016. Available online at http://www.infanthearing.org/earlyintervention/docs/aspect-idea-part-c-and-idea-part-b.pdf
• National Center on Early Childhood Development, Teaching and Learning. (n.d.). Standards in Action: Services for Children Who do not Qualify for IDEA. [Fact Sheet]. Available online at https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/sia-do-not-qualify-for-idea-fact-sheet.pdf
• National Child Care Information Center (NCCIC) (2006). Technical Assistance Memo: Moving toward Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance: A checklist and guide for privately operated child care programs. [PDF] Available online from https://ectacenter.org/~pdfs/topics/inclusion/ta_memo_moving_toward_ada.pdf
• Pacer Center. (2013, 2019). ADA Q&A: Child Care Providers. Bloomington, MN: Author. Available online at https://www.pacer.org/parent/php/PHP-c51a.pdf
• Smith, B.J. (2014). IDEA provisions supporting preschool inclusion (PDF). School of Education and Human Development. University of Colorado Denver. Retrieved from https://ectacenter.org/~pdfs/meetings/data2014/IDEA_Provisions_supporting_preschoolInclusion.pdf
• Sweet, M. (2008). A Thinking Guide to Inclusive Child Care [PDF]. Madison, WI: Disability Rights Wisconsin. Retrieved from http://www.disabilityrightswi.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/A-Thinking-Guide-to-Inclusive-Childcare.pdf
• Understanding the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – this webpage by Youngstar, Wisconsin’s Child Care Quality Rating and Improvement System, provides some guidance to child care programs on the ADA.
• U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Civil Rights. (2006). Fact Sheet: Your Rights Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation (PDF) . Washington, DC. Available online at https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ocr/civilrights/resources/factsheets/504.pdf
• U.S. Department of Justice. (n.d.) ADA fact sheet: Summer camps are for children of all abilities (PDF). Available online at https://www.justice.gov/file/campadaflyerpdf/download

Videos and Learning Modules:

• Center for Inclusive Child Care Info Modules: Self study training modules on a variety of topics including; (ADA) Americans With Disabilities Act, IDEA, Natural and Least Restrictive Environment, Inclusion and other relevant topics. Available online at https://www.inclusivechildcare.org/resource-library/info-module/americans-disabilities-act
• CONNECT: The Center to Mobilize Early Childhood Knowledge created a series of free, web-based, instructional resources for early childhood faculty, professional development providers and learners around the nation. This short video provides an overview of inclusion legal and policy foundations and inclusion research, as well as a definition, the desired results and defining features of inclusion in early childhood. Available online at https://www.connectmodules.dec-sped.org/connect-modules/resources/videos/foundations-of-inclusion-birth-to-five/
• IEP Basics – These video clips from the Head Start Center for Inclusion provides teachers with a short and useful way to use resources when learning and participating in Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings. Available online at https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/children-disabilities/article/individualized-education-program-iep-basics
• United States Access Board. (2007). A Summary of Accessibility Guidelines for Play Areas. Available online at http://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/recreation-facilities/guides/play-areas/
• United States Access Board. (2005, 2007). Accessible play areas: A Summary of accessibility guidelines for play areas [PDF]. Available online at https://www.access-board.gov/aba/guides/chapter-10-play-areas/

Websites:

• ADA Home Page. A web site for Information and Technical Assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act.
• Administration on Disabilities. AoD’s website from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Administration for Community Living.
• Center for Parent Information and Resources (CPIR) – The Resource Library provides information on numerous topics. The CPIR is pleased to serve as the new home of many of the resources developed by NICHCY, the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities. Topics include information about children with disabilities, Disability Fact Sheets, Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) and parents rights, the Short and Sweet Individual Education Program (IEP) Overview and more.
• Child Care Law Center. CCLC is a national nonprofit legal services organization that uses legal tools to make high quality, affordable child care available to every child, every family, and every community.
• Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the Americans with Disabilities Act. U.S. Department of Justice web page.
• Council for Exceptional Children. The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving educational outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities, students with disabilities, and/or the gifted.
• Council for Exceptional Children Public Policy Update. CEC’s Public Policy Unit has put together a variety of resource documents on their website for you to download at your leisure.
• IDEA – Individuals with Disabilities Education Act website provides public access to the most recent data about children with disabilities served under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
• Maine Expanding Inclusive Opportunities (MEIO) Toolkit – The website has an Early Childhood Settings Inclusion Toolkit. The toolkit provides basic information about high quality inclusive settings for young children and their families. These resources are useful for individuals thinking about starting a program as well as for staff currently working in care and education settings.
• The Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA Center). A web site providing information and resources related to Federal laws affecting preschool inclusion (IDEA, Rehab Act [Section 504], ADA, Head Start.
• The Access Board. The United States Access Board’s web site; A Federal Agency Committed to Accessible Design.
• U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children & Families. Their web site providing information resources on children with disabilities.
• U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs’ (OSEP’s) IDEA website. – This site was created to provide a “one-stop shop” for resources related to IDEA and its implementing regulations.
• Understood for Learning and Attention Issues – At a Glance: Which Laws do What. Three federal laws protect the rights of people with disabilities, which can include people with learning and attention issues. These laws are the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Find out which laws do what.
• Wrightslaw – Wrightslaw provides accurate, reliable information about special education law, education law, and advocacy for children with disabilities for parents, educators, advocates, and attorneys.

Department of Justice, ADA Information Line, 1-800-514-0301 (v), 1-800-514-0383 (tty).

Disability and Business Technical Assistance Centers (DBTACs), 1-800-949-4232 (v/tty).

Access Board (technical assistance on ADA Accessibility Guidelines), 1-800-872-2253(v), 1-800-993-2822 (tty)

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Updated: 07/11/2024

Funding for the 2011 update of the Growing Ideas Resources for Guiding Early Childhood Practices has been provided by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Child and Family Services, Early Childhood Division.