The U.S. Department of Education issues a second five-year grant to SRI to provide students with disabilities free public education programs tailored to specific needs.
SRI announced today that its education research division has secured a five-year, $33.75 million grant from the Office of Special Education Programs at the U.S. Department of Education to continue leading the Center for IDEA Early Childhood Data Systems (The DaSy Center).
The grant is the second extension from the Department of Education for SRI to lead DaSy, a center first established by SRI in 2013 as a national technical assistance center that partners with state agencies across all U.S. states and territories.
The center supports early intervention and preschool special education programs for infants, toddlers, and young children under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the federal law that ensures students with disabilities are provided with a free, appropriate public education tailored to their individual needs.
The DaSy Center will implement evidence-based strategies over the next five years to do the following:
- Improve states’ capacity to collect, report, analyze, and use high-quality, early intervention and early childhood special education preschool data
- Enhance and streamline data systems by sharing, linking, and integrating data to improve the analysis of IDEA data to address critical policy questions
- Increase states’ capacity to collect, report, analyze, and use data to improve access to and receipt of services for young children with disabilities and their families
“We are honored to continue our strategic partnership with the Office of Special Education Programs and state agencies across the U.S. through the next phase of The DaSy Center,” said Grace Kelley, director of the DaSy Center and senior principal education researcher with SRI’s education division.
“Over the next five years, we aim to strengthen states’ abilities to collect and analyze IDEA data, helping to improve outcomes for infants, toddlers, and young children with disabilities. By enhancing data systems and advancing equity in family engagement, we are committed to making a lasting impact on early childhood special education programs nationwide.”
When asked about their interactions with The DaSy Center, staff employed by state agencies who are most affected by DaSy’s work reported:
“We are committed to making a lasting impact on early childhood special education programs nationwide.” — Grace Kelley
“Our [early intervention] program serves 42,065 infants and toddlers under three who are diagnosed with certain conditions, are not meeting developmental milestones, or are at-risk of developmental delays due to social characteristics … DaSy’s consultation and technical assistance have helped us make meaningful differences in the lives of those 42,065 infants and toddlers while being good stewards of taxpayer funds.” — State Agency Part C Data Manager
“Since 2020, our Part C program has received technical assistance from DaSy in a variety of services and supports related to our state systemic improvement plan and improvements for an effective monitoring system. Currently, our Part C program is receiving individualized TA and engaging with other states through participation in a cohort that focuses on advancing equity in family outcomes, improving the quality of family data, and using these data to improve the implementation of recommended practices with families and family engagement at multiple levels. This work has been monumental in improving outcomes for children and families in our Part C program. Our program is stronger as a result of the support from DaSy.” — State Agency Part C Data Coordinator
Kelley said the team at The DaSy Center looks forward to continuing this critical work with states, ensuring they have the tools and capacity needed to build high-quality data systems and to use data to improve outcomes for young children with disabilities and their families.
SRI’s education division helps federal and state agencies, school districts, major foundations, nonprofit organizations, and international and commercial clients tackle some of the most complex issues in education to help students succeed. Its mission is to reduce barriers, optimize outcomes, and ensure educational equity for all children, youth, and families.
The division does this by conducting high-quality research, supporting the use of data and evidence, helping to strengthen state and local systems, and developing tools that improve teaching and accelerate and deepen learning. Its work covers a range of topics: early learning and development, disability and inclusion, supporting multilingual learners, student behavior and well-being, teaching quality, digital learning, STEM and computer science, literacy and language arts, and college and career pathways.
For more information on this program or to work with SRI, contact us today.
