The New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute has been awarded a prestigious $75,000 Vision Grant from the Spencer Foundation to support a groundbreaking, interagency research project aimed at improving how young children with disabilities and their families transition from Early Intervention (EI) services to preschool special education in New York City.
This one-year planning project, titled Interagency Collaboration to Transform New York City Early Childhood Special Education Transitions, will bring together policymakers, practitioners, researchers, and families across multiple city agencies and organizations to better understand the transition process during this critical developmental period.
In New York City, Early Intervention services are governed by the NYC Health Department, while preschool special education (also known as the Committee for Preschool Education, or CPSE) falls under the jurisdiction of the New York City Public Schools (NYCPS). New York State overall has struggled to meet implementation requirements between these two systems. This project has the potential to provide valuable research and insights that can be used to improve outcomes for young children and their families.
The Spencer Vision Grant supports the collaborative planning of innovative, interdisciplinary research designed to transform education systems for equity. It is also a prerequisite for applying to the Spencer Foundation’s Transformative Research Grant, for large-scale research projects.
This award provides a unique opportunity to directly engage with NYC early childhood policymakers, practitioners, and families across agencies; plan a transformative project that investigates systemic barriers; and determine a shared vision for system change with EI and preschool special education transitions.
The NYC Early Childhood Research Network, an initiative of the Institute, is designed to create opportunities for researchers and policymakers to collaborate and improve early care and education in NYC. The Research Network will facilitate this collaborative work.
Building on a conceptual framework for improving transitions and outcomes for children, the research team will employ tools such as root cause analysis and process mapping to identify and address challenges across NYC agencies during the transition process.
The project team includes 14 members representing city and community organizations, including:
- The New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute (PDI) — Dona Anderson, Executive Director
- The NYC Early Childhood Research Network — Lindsey Bravo, Director of Research and Evaluation and Principal Investigator
- The Staten Island Alliance for North Shore Children and Families — Diana Jaquez, Early Intervention ambassador and parent representative
- Fordham University – Co-Principal Investigator Dr. Annie George-Puskar
- The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Bureau of Early Intervention
- New York City Public Schools
- Division of Early Childhood Education (DECE)
- Division of Inclusive and Accessible Learning
The team convened for its kickoff meeting in June 2025 and was invited to participate in two national working sessions at the Spencer Foundation’s Chicago offices to collaborate with other grantees and shape the project’s next phase.
As New York City seeks to advance equity in early childhood services, this project offers a vital opportunity to investigate and address systemic barriers to successful transition, strengthen interagency collaboration, and create lasting structural change in how young children with disabilities are supported through the earliest years of education.
“The Institute is proud to be able to work with our City agency partners and higher education researchers to explore how the systems that serve young children with disabilities and their families can be aligned to ensure that all children can thrive,” said New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute Executive Director Dona Anderson.
“I’m incredibly proud of our dedicated leadership in the Division of Early Childhood Education and the Division of Inclusive and Accessible Learning who are steering this vital work alongside the NYC Early Childhood Research Network,” said Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos. “This type of collaborative research is necessary to ensure every child with disabilities receives seamless, high-quality support during their crucial early years. When we break down silos between agencies and center families’ voices in our work, real opportunities are created that make real differences for our youngest learners. I’m excited to see how this teamwork will inform systemic changes that benefit children and families across New York City.”
“New York City’s Early Intervention program helps ensure our youngest New Yorkers and their families have the resources they need to support a healthier future,” said Lidiya Lednyak, Acting Deputy Commissioner of the Division of Family and Child Health at the New York City Health Department. “I look forward to strengthening our work with New York City Public Schools and community partners, and exploring how we can best support the transition of our clients into classrooms for continued success.”
“The Research Network was created to bridge research, policy, and practice, and this project exemplifies that mission,” said Lindsey Bravo, Director of the NYC Early Childhood Research Network. “By identifying systemic barriers and co-creating solutions, we’re working toward a goal of ensuring that children with disabilities and their families experience smooth transitions and long-term success.”
About the Spencer Foundation
The Spencer Foundation invests in education research that cultivates learning and transforms lives. Based in Chicago, IL, the Foundation supports research that is methodologically diverse, forward-thinking, and committed to achieving equity in education systems.
About the New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute
A public-private partnership based at the City University of New York, the New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute leads work to elevate the profession of early childhood in New York State through systems-building, policy and practice solutions, research and evaluation, and communications.
