National Survey To Validate General Growth Outcomes for Children between Birth and Age Eight: Initial Results. Technical Report #3.

This monograph reports on a national mail survey to validate a set of general growth outcomes for children, including those with disabilities, between birth and age 8. The survey was part of a 5-year project to create a comprehensive measurement system to track the developmental progress of individual children with disabilities in this age range as well as to help families and professional educators generate interventions to facilitate children's growth over time. Surveys were sent to 1,099 parents of children with and without disabilities, as well as 1,275 professionals in early childhood and early elementary education. Respondents (351 parents and 672 professionals) were asked to rate the importance of 15 general growth outcomes describing young children's developmental trajectories between birth and age 8. Results indicate parents and professionals overwhelmingly supported the selected outcomes. Results are evaluated in terms of parental and professional acceptance of outcomes, applicability to subgroups of children, and limitations. Appendices include a list of outcomes and both parent and professional surveys. (DB)