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Our mission:
The Program Effectiveness Data Analysis Coordinators (PEDACs) provide innovative support service that coordinates and facilitates research activities, enhance capacity for evidence based planning and child outcomes measurement, in early childhood education.
The Program Effectiveness Data Analysis Coordinators provide support in the following areas:
Community Services Inventory
In all areas of the Eastern Ontario Region, the DAC(s) collect an inventory of programs and services for children 0-6 years and their parents and caregivers. This database is called The Community Services Inventory (CSI).
The agency/program contact information in the database is shared with the community through online directories such as the Parent Resource Centre's Incredible Directory for use as an information and referral resource to assist parents and community agencies.
The CSI can assist in identifying gaps and overlaps in programs and services, and help with community planning.
The DAC(s) have used the data collected from the CSI, along with other indicators, to assist the Eastern Ontario Region's community networks with early years planning. Knowing how well communities are supporting children and families is the key to planning next steps
How well children are prepared for school is directly related to their early experiences and impacts their later overall success in school.
The Early Development Instrument (EDI) measures children's readiness to learn at school and was developed by Dr. Dan Offord and Dr. Magdalena Janus of the Offord Centre for Child Studies at McMaster University.
The EDI is a 104-item checklist that is completed by Senior Kindergarten teachers for each child in their class and measures readiness for the Grade One learning environment. Although it is completed for individual children the results are compiled and interpreted for groups of children living within a particular geographic area such as a neighbourhood or city. As such, the EDI is known as a population-based measure and is not a diagnostic tool nor is it an indication of a school's performance.
The DACs work to promote the EDI to local school boards and train Senior Kindergarten teachers on how to use the instrument. Once the data has been collected the DACs, in conjunction with other community partners, analyze, interpret and map the data. The EDI data is used in conjunction with other relevant data sources to develop an evidenced-based approach to program planning. The results are shared with early years community partners.
The DAC(s) provide workshops and training to the early years community on various evaluation-related topics throughout the year. Some of the topics include logic model development, planning a program evaluation, conducting formative and summative program evaluations, conducting a needs assessment, survey development, and conducting focus groups.
Resource Development
The Data Analysis Coordinators monitor current early years research on an ongoing basis and maintain a library of resources. Research summaries can be found in our Wee Count newsletter,DAC Research Summaries and the newly developed Eastern Region Community Profiles.
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