NEILS Database Use for Research and Policy Analyses
June 16-18, 2008

The University of Maryland in collaboration with SRI International and the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), US Department of Education, will sponsor a two and half day training workshop on the use of large-scale educational databases for research and policy studies. The workshop will cover descriptions and applications of National Early Intervention Longitudinal Study (NEILS). Information on the NEILS database can be found at http://www.sri.com/neils/index.html.

Purpose
The overall goal of this training workshop is to provide researchers with specific skills and knowledge needed to conduct research using NEILS database. The workshop will include lecture and hands-on instruction on conducting research with this large nationally representative data set. The workshop will include:

• NEILS data set sample design and data components;
• methodological and technological issues relevant to data use;
• instruction and practice on how to analyze longitudinal data; and
• hands-on experience in conducting analyses.

Costs
There is no fee to attend this training workshop. Travel expenses, lodging accommodations, and a fixed per diem for meals and incidental expenses during the training workshop will be provided for out-of-area participants.

Who Is Eligible to Attend
This workshop is open to researchers, education practitioners, policy analysts from state and local education agencies and professional associations, and advanced graduate students and faculty members from colleges and universities who work pertains to children or students with disabilities.

* Participants who would like to use SAS software will need to provide their own computers with the necessary software installed. Due to the limited use of SAS and financial constraints, the workshop will not provide laptops with SAS software installed.

Application Materials
If you are interested in attending the NEILS Dataset workshop on June 16th to June 18th, please complete and return:

1. The application form.
2. A copy of your curriculum vitae or resume, highlighting your experience with statistical analysis.
3. A letter of recommendation from your faculty advisor if you are a graduate student.

Applications should be received no later than May 2, 2008. Applications will be reviewed and selected candidates will be informed by May 9, 2008. Selected candidates will receive the workshop agenda and information about travel arrangements.

Application Deadline
May 2, 2008
See http://largescaledb.umd.edu for applications.

Point of Contacts
For general questions, contact Ming-yi Cho at the Institute for Exceptional Children and Youth at the University of Maryland - largescaledb@gmail.com

National Early Intervention Longitudinal Study. NEILS provides trend information on a large, nationally representative sample of children with disabilities and children at risk of disabilities who were between birth and 31 months and began early intervention services between September 1997 and November 1998. Data was collected from families, service providers, program directors, kindergarten teachers, and service records. Data was collected from family interviews, service records, service provider surveys, program director surveys, and kindergarten teacher surveys.

The following are examples of research issues that can be address with NEILS:

• family outcomes at the end of early intervention services
• services provided in the first 6 months of early intervention services
• relationship between birth history and child health and children and family characteristics
• demographic characteristics of families and children receiving early intervention services
• the characteristics of children deemed eligible to receive early intervention services
• behaviors of children in early intervention services

For more information on NEILS, visit the study website (http://www.sri.com/neils/index.html).