Improving Collaboration through Standards-Based

IEPs: Tools and TacticsSpecial School District

Amber Del Gaiso & Scott Crooksakdelgaiso@ssdmo.org/sdcrooks@ssdmo.org

• SB IEP rationale & process

• SB IEP pilot process

• Strategies & tools for implementation

• Incorporating Universal Design for Learning (UDL) strategies into process

• Results - impact on IEP goals & collaboration

Agenda

K: What I know about SB IEP

W: What I would like to know

L: What I learned

KWL chart

Why the shift? A special education best practice implemented nationwide

2010 NASDSE survey: ◦ 37 of 42 responding

states indicated use of standards-based IEPs

◦ MO one of eight states that did not respond

NCLD.org

Why the Shift? It’s good for kids!

Positive Focus◦ IEPs are built on the belief that a student with

disabilities is capable of achieving grade level proficiency if given appropriate instruction and supports.

Raises the Bar◦ Parents and teachers have higher but realistic

expectations.

Why the Shift? It’s good for kids!

Encourages Collaboration & Awareness◦ IEP teams come to better understanding of state

‘s academic content standards & work together to support student learning.

Aligns with Standards-Based Grading◦ For partner districts that are utilizing or moving

towards this grading, SB IEP will allow for alignment.

Why the Shift? SSD CSIP

Goal 1: Develop and enhance quality educational/instructional programs to improve performance and enable students to meet their personal, academic, and career goals.

Goal 5.1: Increase effectiveness of collaborative structures at the buildin/area and classroom level.

Why the Shift? SSD SB IEP Project Team’s Charter• Problem: Current IEP process doesn’t encourage collaboration

within IEP/school teams & goals often don’t align to standards, limiting success for students.

• Opportunity: We can improve collaboration within IEP/school teams in order to increase academic, transition, vocational & behavior/social success of all students through the implementation of IEPs aligned to standards.

• Goal: SB IEP implementation will increase the number of collaboratively created & grade level standards-aligned IEP goals from x% to 100%.

Jessica Yates, jessica.yates@maine.edu

Meeting all of a child’s academic needs = Two types of goals

Goals aligned with grade level achievement/performance standards that:◦ Include specific conditions to facilitate student access to, and

progress towards, mastery of Missouri Learning Standards

Goals designed to address a child’s basic skill deficiencies that:◦ Can be aligned with Missouri Learning Standards, but may not

necessarily be aligned with grade-level standards

Programming must remediate skill deficiencies AND ensure access to grade level content/skills – two-pronged approach

Review 7 Step Process

Complete a 3-2-1:◦ 3 things we do

currently◦ 2 things we don’t yet

do◦ 1 question

7 Step Process

• SB IEP rationale & process

• SB IEP pilot process

• Strategies & tools for implementation

• Incorporating Universal Design for Learning (UDL) strategies into process

• Results - impact on IEP goals & collaboration

Agenda

SB IEP pilot added to District CSIP

Project Team established, created mission & goals

Team researched best practices & exemplar training models

SB IEP Pilot Process

Pilot sites selected

Professional learning provided to pilot school SSD administrators

Pilot school SSD administrators provided professional learning to SSD staff

SB IEP Pilot Process Continued

Admin participated in ongoing professional learning cohort group during year

Admin provided ongoing support & professional learning to staff during year

Data was analyzed throughout process!

SB IEP Pilot Process Continued

Reflect on our pilot steps – which step(s) might your district consider for implementation of SB IEPs?

Debrief

• SB IEP rationale & process

• SB IEP pilot process

• Strategies & tools for implementation

• Incorporating Universal Design for Learning (UDL) strategies into process

• Results - impact on IEP goals & collaboration

Agenda

Project team developed a whole TOOLBOX of tools to aid in implementation!

Strategies & tools for implementation

“Toolkit helps teachers craft tangible learning targets for individual students and supports student growth with research-based strategies, tailored for a student’s specific needs.”

Goalbook Toolkit

SB IEP Charter & Roles

Admin & Teacher next steps documents

Collaboration tools

Google site & associated resources

IEP Collaboration Conversation Tool

Review Collaboration Tool

How might a tool like this improve collaboration?

Which questions do you think would be especially important for your teachers to consider?

• SB IEP rationale & process

• SB IEP pilot process

• Strategies & tools for implementation

• Incorporating Universal Design for Learning (UDL) strategies into process

• Results - impact on IEP goals & collaboration

Agenda

Incorporating Universal Design for Learning (UDL) strategies into process

In addition to improving goal-writing process, project team saw an opportunity!

Why not improve instructional practices along the way?

What is UDL?

Do teachers in your district utilize UDL strategies?

Which area (engagement, representation, expression) might be a good place to start with your staff?

Debrief

• SB IEP rationale & process

• SB IEP pilot process

• Strategies & tools for implementation

• Incorporating Universal Design for Learning (UDL) strategies into process

• Results - impact on IEP goals & collaboration

Agenda

Implementation 14-15 Pilot

◦ 235+ Special Educators◦ 25 Schools

15-16 Full Implementation◦ 3000+ Special Educators◦ Approximately 270 Schools

Results – Goal Analysis Scoring Rubric

◦ Core Purpose ◦ Conditions ◦ Learner Behavior◦ Criteria ◦ Adaptation

Each component can be scored as a 0, 1, or 2

Total possible points: 10

Results – Goal Analysis

Core Purpose Conditions Behavior Criteria Adaptations0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2

Pre-pilot & post-pilot goal evaluation

Pre Post

+0.22 -0.11+0.38 +0.13 +0.29

Pilot Non-pilot0123456789

10

Overall goal improvement in pilot vs non-pilot

Pre-dataPost-data

+0.48

Results – Goal Analysis

+1.12

Resources Accessed by Subject Area

Transition

Writing

Math

Speech & Lang

Reading

Behavior/SEL

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

3

12

14

15

20

29

Percent Viewed

Top 10 Most Viewed Subject Strands

Behavior/SEL

Self-Management

Responsible Decision Making

Speech & Lang

Expressive Language

Articulation

Academic

Comprehension: Lit

Comprehension: Info

Narrative

Informative & Explanatory

Phonics and Decoding

Number Operations

• SB IEP rationale & process

• SB IEP pilot process

• Strategies & tools for implementation

• Incorporating Universal Design for Learning (UDL) strategies into process

• Results - impact on IEP goals & collaboration

Agenda

Improving Collaboration through Standards-Based

IEPs: Tools and TacticsSpecial School District

Amber Del Gaiso & Scott Crooksakdelgaiso@ssdmo.org/sdcrooks@ssdmo.org