In 2004, the CECDE invited tenders for four projects which aimed to address the needs of educationally disadvantaged children or children who have special needs. Tenders were invited from appropriate agencies and personnel to conduct a research project, entitled 'Early Assessment and Intervention in Educational Disadvantage' which aimed to focus on the development of a Framework and Guidelines to assist in identifying indicators of risk of educational disadvantage among rural infants and toddlers and to identify strategies, processes and interventions to counteract this risk at individual, family and community level. (author abstract)