A Randomized Trial of the STAR Program for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

描述(由申请人提供)：本申请是针对患有自闭症谱系障碍的儿童的STAR计划的随机试验，利用即将在费城学区实施的STAR(基于自闭症研究的教学策略)，并寻求支持，以进行这一基于课堂的计划的随机对照现场试验。主要目的是检验STAR和比较条件对与ASD相关的学业进步和损害的影响。我们将评估一学年期间的变化：1.学校准备情况，重点是学业前技能；2.交流，包括使用富有表现力和接受性的语言；3.社交和社交技能；4.适应性和挑战性行为。第二个目标是考察STAR与以下结果之间的潜在调节作用：1.儿童的症状以及基线时的年龄和发育年龄；2.教师的影响，特别是项目实施和培训的忠诚度；3.在研究期间之前和同时接受的其他干预措施；以及4.家庭特征。费城学区计划从2008年9月开始，在42个幼儿园到二年级的自闭症支持教室中，为大约330名儿童使用STAR。如果这项提议得到资助，该学区将随机选择其中一半教室的教师和助手进行明星培训，并将另一半教室的培训推迟到2009年。后一类教师将接受同等强度的结构化教学培训，这是该地区目前的护理标准。将在学年开始、中期和结束时采取措施。儿童措施将涉及学习进步、交流、社交和行为、临床表现和其他干预措施的使用。教师衡量标准将包括知识、经验和与工作相关的压力。我们将通过独立观察来评估节目的保真度。拟议研究的结论将为一项有希望的做法的实施和有效性提供及时和关键的证据，与将调查结果转化为实践和政策直接相关。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application, A Randomized Trial of the STAR Program for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, capitalizes on the impending implementation of STAR (Strategies for Teaching Based on Autism Research) in the School District of Philadelphia and seeks support to conduct a randomized controlled field trial of this classroom-based program. The primary aims are to examine the effects of STAR versus the comparison condition on academic progress and impairments associated with ASD. We will assess changes, over the course of an academic year, in: 1. School readiness, with a focus on pre-academic skills; 2. Communication, including use of expressive and receptive language; 3. Socialization and social skills; and 4. Adaptive and challenging behaviors. The secondary aims are to examine the potentially moderating role between STAR and these outcomes of: 1. Children's symptoms and chronological and developmental age at baseline; 2. Teacher effects, specifically fidelity of program implementation and training and experience; 3. Other interventions received prior to and concurrent with the study period; and 4. Family characteristics. The Philadelphia School District plans to use STAR for the approximately 330 children in 42 kindergarten- through-2nd grade autism support classrooms starting in September 2008. If this proposal is funded, the district will randomize teachers and aides in half of these classrooms to STAR training and delay training the other half until 2009. Teachers in the latter group will receive training of equal intensity in Structured Teaching, the district's current standard of care. Measures will be taken at the beginning, middle and end of the academic year. Child measures will address academic progress, communication, socialization and behavior, clinical presentation and use of other interventions. Teacher measures will include knowledge, experience, and job-related stress. We will assess program fidelity through independent observations. Findings from the proposed study would provide timely and critical evidence regarding the implementation and effectiveness of one promising practice, with direct relevance to translation of findings into practice and policy.