1. Continue strengthening ties between IDEC and ICEC to meet members' needs and, ultimately, to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities and their families.
2. Continue promoting inclusion of DEC "Recommended Practices" in professional networking and staff development opportunities.
3. Work collaboratively with ICEC Governing Board members to improve ICEC's role in developing policies and procedures locally and at the state-level to increase educational outcomes for all students.

None at this time.

1. An IDEC Governing Board meeting was held in Champaign/Urbana in mid-July in which new officers were installed. Please see the list of the current Governing Board officers listed above. Up-dates were provided on the Sharing A Vision conference plans (October 7, 8, and 9, 2009 at the Westin Hotel in Lombard, IL). The SAV website is up-and-running (www.shareavision.com). A schedule of planning meetings to be held from now until the commencement of the conference was developed and disseminated. Speakers on a variety of topics are being sought to fulfill the needs of the diverse attendees. Topics will include preschool-level RtI & Problem-Solving, Early Childhood Outcomes (ECO) system, facilitating the EI to School transition, use of Individual Growth and Development Indicators (IGDIS) to link student perform to important outcomes, Preschool Numeracy Indicators (PNIs), development of effective inclusion practices, increasing family involvement in EI and preschool services, creative effective instructional models for students on the autism spectrum, developing the next generation of leaders in the EI and ECSE fields, selective mutism and mental health issues, among others. The ICEC members who do not belong to IDEC are encouraged to make plans to attend this terrific professional development opportunity. More details to come! Many thanks to Micki Ostrowski for her many years of service to IDEC in the Treasurer's role!
2. Donna Nylander, DEC Membership Chair, is hosting a conference call sponsored by DEC on "Linking Curriculum to Important Child Outcomes" on Thursday, 9-18-08 at the Valley View Early Childhood Center in Bolingbrook where she is the Principal. Attendees will listen to two authors of an article in the monograph of the same title speaking about exemplary curriculum development and implementation processes, then hold a discussion about the conference call. Attendees wll also receive a free copy of the DEC monograph. More regional professional development events are planned to bring together learning communities within the EC field.
3. Donna also recently conducted a presentation at the Illinois Special Educaiton Directors Summer Conference on developing preschool tiered instructional models and problem-solving practices that are in place in her program. It was very well received!
4. Other leaders in the ECSE field are conducting presentations at the IAASE Fall conference to be held on 9-26-08 in Tinley Park. LuAnn Shields (Principal), Lisa Snow (School Psychologist), Lynette Chandler (NIU) and Robin Miller Young (Program Coordinator), IDEC members, will be talking about leadership strategies to recognize and respond to the instructional needs of early learners. Effective small group instruction and data-based decision-making will be among the topics emphasized, as well as creating sustainable change.
5. The IDEC community is very excited that two of our colleagues from Barrington will be conducting a presentation at the ICEC Fall conference on effective practices with students diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. Excitement has also been generated by development of the IDEC Saturday Showcase in which Christine Martin and Lynette Chandler will describe ways to combine the Illinois ASPIRE Problem-solving training wtih DEC REcommended practices. Training "Projects" completed by staff of an inclusive preschool will be highlighted.
6. In her role as IDEC President Elect, Robin contacted Amanda VanDerHeyden and Matt Burns to welcome them each to the ICEC Fall conference. Each presenter said that they were looking forward to the conference and they had a wonderful workshop planned for the Very Special Thursday pre-conference.