Regional Task Force Groups

1. Regional Task Force Groups Prepared Summary of the 2005 – 2006 Final Reports for Initiative #5 NY Higher Education Support Center for SystemsChange Syracuse University September 2006

2. Regional Task Force Groups • 6 of 7 Regions actively engaged & funded • Regional liaisons and co-liaisons coordinate efforts • Regional TF membership may include IHEs, SETRC, RSSC, Teacher Center reps, LEAs, parents, community members and IDEA organizations

3. Regional Task Force Groups • Regional participation may be different than engagement at Statewide level • Regional members participating in Statewide activities (initiatives, study groups, leadership groups, Learning Communities) provide feedback to regional colleagues • Share common goals

4. Goal 1: • To plan and implement quality inclusive teacher preparation programs, or to enhance the quality of those already implemented; and

5. Goal 2: • To engage in and to support the professional development efforts of selected high need schools in the seven regions of New York State.

6. Long Island – Goal 1: • A study of the inclusive education practices of Long IslandSIG school districts: Amityville, William Floyd, Roosevelt, Central Islip, and Freeport • the study will inform current and future teacher preparation programs

7. Long Island – Goal 1: • Summit for Administrators of high need schools to share information about inclusive practices and inform teacher preparation programs

8. Long Island – Goal 2 • NYIT continued a 4 year partnership with Central Islip Union Free Schools • NYIT continued four year partnership with Wyandanch • A new partnership between NYIT and Amityville.

9. Long Island – Goal 2 • Hofstra has continued the 4 year partnership with Amityville • Hofstra developed a partnership with Roosevelt • New Partnership between Molloy College & Copiague UFSD

10. NYC – Goal 1: • Sponsored a conference, “Creating an Inclusive Environment for All Students,” at Pace University in New York City • Increased interaction among IHEs re: the issues in designing & implementing inclusive teacher preparation programs.

11. NYC – Goal 1: • Engaged Related Service participation in Task Force • Engaged preservice teachers and preservice OT providers at the Conference • NYCTF created electronic resources for regional use including a directory and weblinks

12. NYC – Goal 2: • Increased the visibility of the NYCTF throughout the public school system and the school community. • Over 500 people attended the conference. Over 100 people were turned away. • TF members Parent to Parent arranged for Theater of Dreams (student) performance at conference

13. NYC – Goal 2: • 30 schools were nominated by Parents of Inclusive Education (PIE) and by members of the NYCTF to receive certificates for schools reaching for excellence in inclusion. • 17 schools completed a brief questionnaire that provided qualitative and quantitative data on their inclusion programs. • SEQA presentation on new IDEA regs

14. Hudson – Goal 1: • Focused on strengthening the inclusive perspective of regional adolescent teacher education programs offered by task force college/university members: • summer 05 and 06 initiative forums & regional meetings • the high level of regional participation at the “Think Tank” on inclusive adolescent education.

15. Hudson – Goal 1: • Infused feedback gathered from classroom practitioners and new pedagogy for inclusive and differentiated instruction • New courses at Mt.St.Mary’s, Dominican, SUNY New Paltz • Increased TF membership and invigorated participation by IHEs

16. Hudson – Goal 2: • Yonkers high school with Iona College Partnership • The Mt. Vernon partnership with Pace University, Manhattanville College and College of New Rochelle. • Peekskill School District and Marymount College Tarrytown Partnership. • The Newburgh School District and Mount St. Mary College.

17. Hudson – Goal 2: • Worked closely with SETRC and RSSC for training opportunities (data analysis) and staff development efforts • Participated in School Improvement Grant Meetings to promote further collaborations • Shared experiences with TA networks and districts re: inclusive adolescent programs.

18. Midstate – Goal 1: • Strengthened relationships with RSSC, SETRC and SEQA • Infused UDL into teacher preparation programs • Engaged preservice teachers in Inclusion Conference (UDL presentation) • Strengthened inclusive teacher preparation programs with information about field practices vs. optimal situation inclusive placement

19. Midstate – Goal 2: • Reached consensus re: the attributes of quality inclusive schooling • Visited and documented inclusive practices in regional schools: • Levy Middle School - Syracuse City School District • Blodgett Middle School - Syracuse City School District • Herman Avenue Elementary School - Auburn City School District) • Developed a report with LEAs describing the implementation of inclusion in schools visited

20. Midwest – Goal 1: • Added St. John Fisher College and Roberts Wesleyan College to Task Force membership • Collaborative ongoing professional development activities re: inclusive education and teacher preparation • Paula Kluth in Spring 2006

21. Midwest – Goal 1: • Engaged more arts and sciences colleagues • Sponsored a regional co-teaching initiative used at University of Rochester, Houghton College, Nazareth College and St. John Fisher • Future co-teaching initiatives will support community members and parent advocates to co-teach at IHEs.

22. Midwest – Goal 2: • Consortium of IHE’s worked collaboratively with SIG schools • Clyde-Savannah • Rochester City • Alexander School Districts • Continued active participation with regional network agencies to support professional development efforts in other high needs schools

23. West – Goal 1: • Conducted a seminar for IHE TF members and other IHE representatives on IDEA 2004, to upgrade faculty working knowledge of federal and state changes in the legislation for integration into course content • Co-sponsored our second annual regional summit, “Making Connections…Regional Promising Practices” with the SIG Center of Upstate New York for IHEs, LEAs, TA Networks, and BOCES

24. West – Goal 1: • Engaged with Office of Disability Services staff to enhance post-secondary opportunities • 5 regional IHEs presented research & practice information at Inclusion Conference in Rye Brook, NY • In-progress on review of our regional UDL initiativeimplementation.

25. West – Goal 1: • Assessed the induction supports available to pre-tenure faculty in the region’s inclusive teacher preparation programs, through the administration of an online survey that extended to statewide involvement. Final data analysis and results generation early Fall, with a planned 12/06 refereed article submission.

26. West – Goal 2: • Continued partnerships in the Buffalo CSD, Jamestown CSD, Dunkirk CSD through the efforts of Buffalo State College, Niagara University, and SUNY Fredonia. • FSU recruited a district representative from Silver Creek CSD to participate in the Adolescent Inclusive Education Think Tank

27. West – Goal 2: • Continued to dovetail other-funded efforts, to address these systemic needs. • TLQP activities with high-need schools via Niagara U and Fredonia have been conducted with key staff of the regional TF • The Young Inquiring Scientists project funded under SED Math Science Partnership funds (awarded to Dunkirk CSD) conducted its Year 2 activities in partnership with TF reps from both FSU and BSC.

28. Summary Analysis • Continued creation and enhancement of inclusive teacher preparation programs • Documented, studied and supported inclusive education in regional schools • Increased partnerships with high need schools for the purpose of improving student outcomes and developing teaching skills for inservice and preservice educators

29. Summary Analysis • Increased awareness of NYSDOE priorities • Increased engagement with TA Networks • Increased congruence of purpose, goals and methods for LEAs, IHEs, TA networks and partners