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MAASE UPDATE Framework for the Future Project: Phase I. December 12, 2007. Review of Background & Purpose. Era of increased expectations Many previous efforts toward reform Commitment to actively engage with stakeholders. Beliefs.
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MAASE UPDATEFramework for the Future Project: Phase I December 12, 2007
Review of Background & Purpose • Era of increased expectations • Many previous efforts toward reform • Commitment to actively engage with stakeholders
Beliefs • SE must be proactive and promote achievement leading to adult independence and positive post-school outcomes for SWD • SE systems design must be supported by state and local implementation of policy and procedures • SE must embrace parents as partners in their child’s education
Top Issues: Personnel • Definition • Challenges in recruitment & retention • Endorsements driven by state’s categorical eligibility • Ancillary service personnel obligated to certification criteria of professional organizations
Top Issues: Personnel • Survey results • 96% of all respondents=critical • 76% of middle school administrators = important.
Top Issues: Personnel • Findings • Educator training programs must keep pace • IHEs need to collaborate • Continuing education needs to reflect current best practice
Top Issues: Service Delivery • Definition • Implementation of programs & services birth through age 25 based on categorical distinctions
Top Issues: Service Delivery • Survey results • 96% of all respondents=critical • 75% of elementary principals = critical
Top Issues: Service Delivery • Findings • Responses were identical to task force Final report of 1994 • Cooperative services with general ed, other agencies and community services
Top Issues: Service Delivery • Findings (con’t) • Radical change of service delivery is necessary • Assessments should inform teaching & learning • Flexibility in service delivery options • Rules should not limit options • System needs to be simpler • Students 21-26 should have flexibility for transitioning • Easy transition in and out of SE • Need for radical change to meet student needs
Top Issues: Silo System • Definition • “silos” operate independently of each other • Extend beyond education
Top Issues: Silo System • Survey results • 83% of all respondents=critical • 69% of high school administrators = important
Top Issues: Silo System • Findings • Silo systems were created and are driven by funding • Create problems of ownership of all students
Top Issues: Regulations • Definition • Federal and State rules & regulations
Top Issues: Regulations • Survey results • 91% of all respondents identified excessive and/or conflicting regulations =critical
Top Issues: Regulations • Findings • SE system is over-regulated • Conflicting sets of regulations create barriers • Some regulations have outlived their usefulness
Top Issues: funding • Definition • SE expensive and under-funded
Top Issues: Funding • Survey results • 97% of all respondents = critical • 80% of attorneys = critical
Top Issues: Funding • Findings • Every subgroup indicated that federal full funding is needed • Concerns about real and perceived separate funding streams • Funding discrepancies between individual school districts and between ISD/RESAs
Top Issues: Funding • Findings (con’t) • Decisions are made without the basis of law or best practice • Significant confusion about the SE funding process • Cost/benefit does not support the money spent • Non-special rules drive up the cost
Top Issues: Administration of SE • Definition • Administration of SE increasingly complex and legalistic
Top Issues: Administration of SE • Survey results • 93% of all respondents = critical
Top Issues: Administration of SE • Findings • Administrators need to increase skills that will lead to more productive relationships with parents • Administrators need to build collaborative relationships within the educational system
Top Issues: Administration of SE • Findings (con’t) • Administrators need skills for district level leadership • Compliance driven system diverts attention from leadership to management
Top Issues: SE Paperwork • Definition • Documentation required to meet mandates
Top Issues: SE Paperwork • Survey results • 88% of all respondents = critical • 60% attorneys & 68% of parents or advocates = critical TRUST IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN PAPERWORK
Top Issues: SE Paperwork • Findings • Decrease in paperwork is needed • Use technology to simplify and streamline • State level leadership to unify paperwork
Top Issues: Data Management • Definition • Multiple systems • Various data entry and reporting systems • Distributed between local, intermediate and state agencies
Top Issues: Data Management • Survey results • 84% of all respondents = critical • 96% of superintendents & 94% of SE administrators = important
Top Issues: Data Management • Findings • Central state source for all data • Training and information on data management
Top Issues: Attitudes & Beliefs • Definition • Belief that having a disability minimizes capabilities and results in lowered expectations • Many educators unsure of their roles and responsibilities
Top Issues: Attitudes and Beliefs • Survey results • 91% of all respondents = critical • 71% of elementary administrators = critical
Top Issues: Attitudes & Beliefs • Findings • Teachers need to believe all students can learn and teach all with high expectations • Training for general education and special education to foster cultural shift
Top Issues: Attitudes & Beliefs • Findings (con’t) • Implement best practices and data driven decision making • Special Education is a service, not a place
Top Issues: Systemic Change • Definition • Potential barriers to the implementation of any change
Top Issues: Systemic Change • Survey results • None collected; topic emerged from interviews
Top Issues: Systemic Change • Findings • System will tend to resist change • Change will require coordinated efforts
Summary • Immediate need to: • Engage all stakeholders • Establish comprehensive vision • Proceed with an articulated plan • Identify strategies, goals and timeline • Identify research based models implemented in other states
Summary • Stakeholders interviewed support further efforts and offered continued engagement • Responsibility for leadership rests with MAASE • SE administrators are the education advocates • SE administrators are in pivotal position as steward of resources • SE administrators bear the daily impact of the systemic issues
Recommendations • Move forward • With clearly defined agenda • Create comprehensive new vision • Align with the beliefs • Provide the foundation of reform efforts • Address all of the issues • Work in phases
Responsible Reform • If not now……when? • If not MAASE…who? Children, parents, educators of Michigan cannot continue to wait!