Author: Linh Le

IDIO is less than 2 weeks away! DaSy’s 2024 Improving Data, Improving Outcomes (IDIO) Conference, is coming fast – August 25-30, 2024, at the InterContinental Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana. DaSy is excited to host this event in collaboration with early childhood technical assistance center partners.

After our last in-person convening in 2022 in Washington, D.C., we are excited to come together again, in person, to share knowledge, build connections, and move our collective work forward.

This year’s theme, “Leading for Positive Impact” will guide our discussions and inspire our efforts as we work to enhance the impact of data in early childhood settings.

Intended Outcomes for IDIO 2024

The IDIO 2024 Conference aims to empower professionals in strengthening state capacity for equitable, evidence-based data systems, programs, practices, and outcomes for young children with disabilities and their families. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn the following:

• Improving state capacity to collect, analyze, report, and use high-quality IDEA Part C early intervention and Part B preschool data, including data on child and family outcomes.
• Embed equity throughout the data inquiry cycle.
• Enhancing, streamlining, and integrating early childhood data systems to address critical policy and practice questions.
• How to use national resources and states’ experiences and resources to build organizational capacity and support the implementation of evidence-based practices.

Spotlight on Keynote Speakers: Conference Opening and Closing Plenary

IDIO 2024 kicksoff with an Opening Plenary on Tuesday, August 27, at 1:00 PM CT. Grace Kelley, Director of DaSy, will open with “Welcomes and Introductions”. Then Glenna Gallo, Assistant Secretary of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) at the U.S. Department of Education, will deliver “Greetings and Remarks” that underscore the importance of data systems in shaping the future of early childhood education.

The opening keynote, Exclusionary Discipline and Disparities in Young Children, will be delivered by Dr. Walter S. Gilliam, Executive Director of the Buffett Early Childhood Institute at the University of Nebraska. His session will explore the alarming rates of expulsion and suspension in early childhood settings, especially among vulnerable groups. Dr. Gilliam will also discuss the challenges of measuring these practices and highlight the need for better data integration across early childhood programs.

The conference will close on Thursday, August 29, at 10:30 AM CT with a talk by Dr. Christina Bethell, Professor at the Bloomberg School of Public Health and School of Medicine at Johns Hopkins University. Her keynote, Prioritizing Possibilities for Child and Family Well-Being: Building Relational Systems of Care to Take Child Flourishing to Scale, will offer insights into creating systems that support the holistic well-being of children and families. Dr. Bethell will share new research on child flourishing, school readiness, and positive childhood experiences, highlighting opportunities to strengthen collaboration across early childhood systems and improve outcomes for young children and their families.

Explore New Orleans!

Whether this is your first time in New Orleans or you’re looking for something new to experience, we’ve compiled a list of fun activities and top-notch restaurants to help you make the most of your visit. From exploring the vibrant French Quarter to indulging in the city’s renowned cuisine, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Check out our recommendations by visiting Things to Do in NOLA page on the IDIO Conference website.

Earn Points and Win Prizes with The Big Easy Challenge

Be sure to download the conference app to participate in The Big Easy Challenge. Adding sessions in the app will add points to your score and at the end of each day a winner will be announced through the app. QR codes will also be placed throughout the conference venue to score even more points! Be sure to keep an eye out for the QR codes as you navigate the conference sessions and activities.

See You Soon at IDIO 2024!

IDIO is not just an opportunity to learn; it’s a chance to network with peers, share best practices, and collaborate on new strategies to improve outcomes for children and families. Don’t forget to check out the full IDIO 2024 Conference Agenda — it includes constituent group meetings, workshops, plenaries, concurrent sessions, and DaSyTalk sessions. The DaSy Team looks forward to welcoming you to New Orleans, Louisiana!

Important Links

• IDIO Conference website
• IDIO 2024 Conference Agenda
• IDIO 2024 Conference Presenters
• Things to do in New Orleans

Partner Centers

• The Center for IDEA Fiscal Reporting (CIFR)
• Center for Parent Information and Resources
• Early Childhood Intervention Personnel Center for Equity
• Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center
• National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations

About the Author

Linh Le is a Communications Specialist at SRI International. She currently supports communications for the Center for IDEA Early Childhood Data Systems (DaSy), managing the center’s social media efforts and blog.

Published August 2024.