Purpose
The purpose of this module is to provide information on Policy Analysis. This module aims to expand the knowledge base and capacity of pre-professionals, educators, and service providers. Each topic embedded in this module includes the following materials: (a) Syllabus, (b)Professional development guide (slide deck), (c) Case study, (d) Learning activities, (e) Multimedia illustrations, (f)Resources
Topics within the module can also be adapted by faculty for use as course materials. The topics within this module are designed to be flexible. Sample syllabi serve as a resource to help you consider the key sections and content to include in a syllabus, as well as ideas for content specific to each topic area. Professional development (PD) guides can be used in their entirety to cover multiple PD sessions. Specific content in the topics, PD guides, multimedia illustrations (videos), learning activities, and resources can be used individually to enhance existing course content.
Objectives
As a result of active participation and successful engagement with this module, students will be able to:
- Critically analyze historical and contemporary education policies and legislation impacting Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education (EI/ECSE), including IDEA, ADA, and Section 504.
- Evaluate the role of advocacy in shaping educational policy and identify strategies for influencing policy at the local, state, and federal levels.
- Apply policy analysis frameworks to assess the effectiveness and equity of current practices in early childhood special education.
- Design evidence-based recommendations for improving policy implementation and compliance within educational systems.
- Demonstrate leadership skills in promoting inclusive practices through policy development, stakeholder engagement, and collaborative decision-making.
- Integrate ethical and legal considerations into policy analysis and advocacy efforts to ensure equitable access for children with disabilities and their families.
Syllabus
PD Guides
Foundations of Disability
Foundations of United States Educational Policy
Disability Rights Movement
Legislative Foundations in ECSE - Historical
Legislative Foundations in ECSE - Contemporary
Key Rights and Provisions under IDEA
IDEA Rules and Regulations
Noncompliance: Litigation, Policies and Procedures - Part 1
Noncompliance: Litigation, Policies and Procedures - Part 2
Implementation of IDEA
Advocacy in Policy
Roles of Faculty in Advocacy
Learning Activities
Foundations of Disability
- Activity 1: Exploration of the World Health Organizations 2022 Global Report
- Activity 2: Exploration of Willowbrook State School
- Activity 3: Exploration of Section 14(c)
Foundations of United States Educational Policy
- Activity 1: Exploring Educational Policy Analysis
Disability Rights Movement
- Activity 1: Temple University, Disability Rights Timeline
- Activity 2: Film: Crip Camp (adapted from original film)
- Activity 3: Advocacy to Access: Policy Influence Map
Legislative Foundations in ECSE - Historical
- Activity 1: The Beginning of Head Start
- Activity 2: The Education of Students with Disabilities: Where do we stand?
Legislative Foundations in ECSE - Contemporary
- Activity 1: IDEA Mandates
- Activity 2: Congressional Hearings in Preparation for IDEA 2004 Reauthorization
- Activity 3: No Child Left Behind and Every Student Succeeds Act
Key Rights and Provisions under IDEA
- Activity 1: Case Study of Rights and Provisions
- Activity 2: Parental Rights: Exploration of Resources
IDEA Rules and Regulations
- Activity 1: Understanding the Process of Federal Rulemaking
- Activity 2: The Role of Public Engagement
- Activity 3: Dear Colleague Letter
Noncompliance: Litigation, Policies and Procedures - Part 1
- Activity 1: Writing a District Memo
- Activity 2: Gallery Walk
Noncompliance: Litigation, Policies and Procedures - Part 2
- Activity 1: Mock Debate
- Activity 2: Mock Debate 2
- Activity 3: Diagramming IDEA, ADA, and Section 504
Implementation of IDEA
- Activity 1: Part C and Part B Role Playing
- Activity 2: Federal and State Responsibilites
- Activity 3: Federal Oversight
Advocacy in Policy
- Activity 1: Case Study of Grassroots Advocacy
- Activity 2: Visual Map of Professional Organizations
- Activity 3: Designing an Advocacy Campaign
Roles of Faculty in Advocacy
- Activity 1: Advocating for Evidence-Based Policy
Multimedia Illustrations
The video library is a compilation of almost 500 videos that may be used in early childhood intervention pre-service courses or in-service training. Each video contains the following relevant information:
- Title with a description
- Link to video
- Suggested citation
- Length of the video
- EI/ECSE standard
- DEC Recommended Practice
Resources
Resources to supplement the Syllabus:
- CEC Policy Fact Sheet: Federal v. State Role in Special Education
- Empovia. (2021, October 25). Leading with empathy & Allyship EP59: Demystifying disability with Emily Ladau [Video]. YouTube.
- The ADA Legacy Project. (2015). Behind the scenes in the Reagan and Bush administrations – stories from no pity.
- Minnesota Olmstead Implementation Office. (2025, March 12). Wheels of justice march and the capitol crawl.
- ADAPT. (n.d.). The ADAPT community: 25 years of activism and counting.