Systems Change In The Process Of Unifying Teacher Education

Current factors influencing the education and care of young children are many and varied. These factors include the increase of poverty among families with children under five, the growing presence of violence in the lives of young children, and changing demographics (Edelman, 1995). It has been estimated that by the year 2000, one of every four children in the United States will live in poverty. Birth rates for children who are most likely to be at-risk, minorities and immigrants, are substantially higher than birth rates among less at-risk populations (New Faces at School, 1991). In addition, progress in medical technology has increased the number of children entering school programs who are medically fragile (Rapport, 1996). Children who are technologically dependent and/or chronically and terminally ill are being enrolled in school and child care programs. As a response to these increases, federal legislation and many educators support the inclusion of children with disabilities in general education classrooms.