Leveraging Federal Resources: Teacher Quality, Research, and Program Improvement

1. Leveraging Federal Resources:Teacher Quality, Research, and Program Improvement PeggiZelinko Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII) Robert Ochsendorf Institute of Education Sciences (IES) Bonnie D. Jones Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)

2. State P-12 Student Standards NCLB and IDEA HQT Requirements State Teacher Licensure Standards Pre-Service PreparationState LicensureProfessional Development For Re-Licensure State Licensure Requirements State Program Approval Standards State Professional Development Requirements STATE PERSONNEL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK

3. HQT under IDEA HQT requirements vary by teacher responsibility - • Support regular instruction (e. g., consulting teachers, intervention specialists) • Teach core academic subjects • Teach core academic subjects exclusively to students who are assessed against alternative academic standards • Teach multiple core academic subjects (and new to the profession) and are highly qualified in mathematics, language arts, or science

4. HQT Status of Teachers Employed to Provide Special Education in US and Outlying Areas 11.2% 359,063 = HQT 45, 514 = Not HQT 88.7% http://www.ideadata.org

5. Purpose of Special Education 325T Program Improvement Grants To improve the quality of K-12 special education teacher preparation programs to ensure that - • program graduates are able to meet the HQT requirements under sections IDEA, and • are well prepared to assist children with high incidence disabilities in meeting State academic achievement standards.

6. INPUTS OUTPUTS OUTCOMES Program Investments Intermediate Activities Participation Short Term Long Term TA to support capacity building and knowledge development (e.g., teleconference, listserv, meetings) 5 domains/5 year plans/Year One Review Grant activities • Applicants • IHE Grantees • Arts & Sciences Dept • General Ed Dept • SEAs Increased number of redesigned K-12 high incidence prep programs aligned to HQT Increased collaboration IHE/SEA/LEA Project Officers/Leadership Discretionary Grant Funding Time TA&D Network & PD Centers CIPP Technology (e.g., teleconf- erence, email, listserv) UNI Web site and staff person Research base Increased number of teachers that are HQ and well-prepared to teach students with disabilities Increased retention of HQT teachers with the appropriate knowledge & instructional skills Overarching Goal: To improve results for children with disabilities Process Measures Outcome Measures OSEP Personnel Development Program 325T Focus Logic Model

7. Features of 325T Grants • Cooperative Agreements • Redesign during first project year of 5 yr project • Intensive Year-one Review of plans by OSEP and external reviewers prior to implementation • Partnerships with the appropriate academic departments – College of Arts & Sciences • Use of resources from the IRIS Center, NCCTQ, and NCIPP

8. Features of 325T Grants • One 325T award per IHE • No training stipends • Budget Limits • On average, $100,000 per year; limit of $500,000 over the 5 year project period • Cohort support (listserv, monthly teleconference, annual meeting, webinars)

9. Selected Priority Requirements • Revise curriculum • Expand induction and mentoring components • Integrate evidence-based interventions • Enhance competencies of beginning special education teachers to- • collaborate and work with general education teachers, and • work effectively with culturally and linguistically diverse populations;

10. Selected Priority Requirements • Extend clinical learning opportunities, field experiences, or supervised practica • Provide support systems (including tutors, mentors, and other innovative practices) to enhance retention in and successful completion • Evaluate the extent to which graduates have the knowledge and skills necessary to provide scientifically based or evidence-based instruction and services that result in improved outcomes for children with disabilities.

11. 325T Five Domains of Improvement • Improvement on Licensure (or Certification) Standards • Improvement on Organizational Structure and Instructional Delivery • Improvement on Curriculum and Course Content • Improvement on Student Support • Program Evaluation

12. Program Performance Measures • The percentage of projects that incorporate scientifically-based or evidence-based practices in the curriculum; • The percentage of scholars completing IDEA-funded training programs who are knowledgeable and skilled in scientifically-based or evidence-based practices for infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities. • The percentage of scholars who exit training programs prior to completion due to poor academic performance; • The percentage of degree or certification recipients employed upon program completion who are working in the area for which they were trained and are fully qualified under IDEA. • The percentage of program graduates who maintain employment for three or more years in the area (s) for which they were trained).

13. 325T Priority Funding

14. How to apply? Search: Forecast Discretionary Grants FY 2010 Forecast has not been published. Training available to Minority Institutions through the Monarch Center Outreach to potential applicants through pre-application virtual meetings for FY 2010. Contact bonnie.jones@ed.gov