OSEP Funded Projects

TRACE: Tracking, Referral, and Assessment Center for Excellence

Trace identifies and promotes the use of scientifically based models and practices for early identification, child find, and referral for infants, toddlers, and young children with disabilities and their families who are eligible for Part C early intervention and Part B early childhood special education programs. The Center conducts research syntheses of early identification, child find, and referral models and practices with a focus on the characteristics of the practices and models associated with desired outcomes. It uses the characteristics of effective models and practices to conduct studies for establishing the extent to which educational programs at all levels are using scientifically based early identification, child find, and referral models and practices. It determines if the use of scientifically based models and practices is associated with desired outcomes, and it compares and contrasts the relative effectiveness of different models and practices. It develops, validates, and evaluates the effectiveness of scientifically based training units for implementing effective early identification, child find, and referral models and practices. The TRACE products page includes a complete list of publications and materials for improving the effectiveness of practices in each of these areas.

OSEP has a number of projects related to early childhood screening and assessment.

• New Assessment: Early Childhood Resources has resources on assessment including an Assessment Overview, Early Childhood Assessment Measures, a Parents and Families Information Channel and a Diagnosticians and Psychologists Information Channel.
• Project TaCTICS: Therapists as Collaborative Team Members for Infant-Toddler Community Services has developed two modules on assessment: Routines Based Assessment in Natural Environments and Linking Assessment to Intervention through Team Planning.

View all OSEP-funded early identification projects across competition types in the Projects Finder database or conduct a Projects Finder search for early identification projects within a specific competition type, a state, or meeting other criteria.