Essential Components of an Effective Educational Program Overview Simon Gonsoulin, NDTAC

1. Essential Components of an Effective Educational Program Overview Simon Gonsoulin, NDTAC

2. Overview Essential Components • Rigorous and Relevant Curricula • Administrator and Teacher Quality • Methods, Tools, Materials Practices Aligned with Standards—Personalize Learning Environment • Adequate Allocation of Funds, Inclusive of IDEA and 504 • Quality Assurance Processes • Navigable Transitions • Social and Behavioral Needs of Students • Safe and Healthy Facility-wide Climate

3. Rigorous and Relevant Curricula • Adopt and implement rigorous and relevant curricula to guide instruction and promote accreditation and approval of the juvenile justice school as an education entity by the SEA. • Curriculum should be comparable to nonsystem- involved youth. • Incorporate technology into the instructional effort and curriculum.

4. Administrator and Teacher Quality • Employ qualified staff who can positively affect academic, career, behavioral, emotional, and social outcomes for students. • Develop and implement a professional development program that supports the mission of the agency and goals of the educational program. • Promote and nurture staff who are committed to engaging and connecting with youth from the recruitment and interview process through day-to-day interaction.

5. Personalized Learning Environment • Employ instructional methods that engage students and are aligned with 21st-century standards. • Provide instruction that is age appropriate and inclusive of prevocational and market-driven career or technical education. • Provide specialized programming that addresses achievement gaps and credit-recovery programming. • Participate in state accountability system

6. Adequate Allocation of Funds • Allocate adequate funding to support comparable educational opportunities for ALL youth, inclusive of youth with educational disabilities, when compared to their peers who are non-system involved. • Fund postsecondary educational opportunities for youth who possess a high school diploma or GED.

7. Quality Assurance • Establish a strong quality assurance process that measures critical elements of educational programming. • Identify and measure a set of outcomes associated with the educational well-being of youth who are confined. • Establish a quality assurance process that directs both current and future delivery of services.

8. Navigable Transitions • Establish formal procedures and processes to ensure successful and readily navigable transitions across multiple systems. • Ensure transitional efforts are supported by key personnel. • Ensure an adequate transition coordinator/ advocate role is established to oversee these activities.

9. Student Support Services • Provide student support services that address the non-cognitive behavioral and social needs that promote educational success. • Focus on family engagement and culturally relevant professional development

10. Safe and Healthy Climate • Fostering conditions for learning • Prioritize education in programming • Freedom from physical harm • Avoid harsh and exclusionary discipline practices