Texas Education Agency 2005 Showcase of Promising Practices

1. Texas Education Agency2005 Showcase of Promising Practices Plano Independent School District Appropriate and Consistent Evaluation of Students with Articulation Concerns 2005-06 Plano Independent School District

2. Suggested Presentation Participants: • Speech Language Pathologists • School district administrators • Principals • Special Education Directors • Special Education Coordinators interested in learning about a dynamic process for equitably and consistently assisting students presenting with concerns related to speech articulation. 2005-06 Plano Independent School District

3. Rationale for Change • Inconsistency in identification • Inaccuracy in identification • Misuse of developmental norms • Lack of research data • Abuse of “best practice” • Use of SLP “opinion” vs. “professional judgment” 2005-06 Plano Independent School District

4. Historical Roots • Texas Speech Language Hearing Association Convention meeting was called • Task Force formed under Vice-Presidency • Task Force included two university professors and eight practicing SLPs from across the state and from urban and rural districts • Task Force developed a “Template for Eligibility” after 3 years of work 2005-06 Plano Independent School District

5. The Plano ISD Practice Development • Training in the TSHA Template in the spring of 2001 to Plano ISD SLPs. • Volunteer SLPs were sought to participate in development. • A group of nine SLPs representing all three clusters began meeting in the fall of 2001. • The team set a goal to have a manual ready in a semester. • 1 1/2 years later a working document was “ready”. • The team discovered there were many differing attitudes and practices despite the guidelines currently in place 2005-06 Plano Independent School District

6. Implementation of the Practice • Supplemental training was provided in January, 2003 to the entire SLP department by the development team • Articulation Eligibility Manuals were provided • District SLPs were directed to begin using new guidelines • Eligibility Team continues to meet to review input from the larger group 2005-06 Plano Independent School District

7. Snapshot of the Process for Articulation Eligibility • Administrative rapport and support for evidence-based practice in evaluation • Teacher/parent training in development of articulation skills • Pre-referral committee meeting • Pre-referral recommended intervention strategies • Consistent and research-based evaluation • Effective reporting of evaluation results • Determination of recommendation of eligibility 2005-06 Plano Independent School District

8. Significant Changes from Previous Guidelines • More specific and appropriate input from parents and teachers • Use of 1.5 SD on standardized testing and rationale • Discontinued use of developmental norms to establish eligibility • Differentiation of “SLP opinion” from “professional judgment” • Data collection supporting evidence-based practice 2005-06 Plano Independent School District

9. The Next Steps for Plano ISD • Continue to support the TSHA Task Force efforts to broaden the training in and use of the template • Continue to collect data and feedback, current research and best practices • Continue the process of developing district guidelines for language, fluency and voice • Put the Manual for Articulation Eligibility “on-line” to ensure all SLPs have access to the latest information, changes, forms 2005-06 Plano Independent School District

10. What you CAN expect during a visit to Plano ISD…. • Background information • Rationale for the practice • Method of developing the practice • The pitfalls • An overview of the practice • Results of the practice 2005-06 Plano Independent School District

11. What you CANNOT expect during a visit to Plano ISD…. • The articulation eligibility manual (in-depth training in the template is required) • A report on a practice that is impossible to replicate • A boring lecture (hopefully) 2005-06 Plano Independent School District

12. Opportunities to Learn About the Practice: • To plan a visit with Plano ISD Speech Language Pathologists to get an overview of the practice, how it was developed and the results, please contact Rhonda Gibson-Hoover rhoover@pisd.edu 469-752-8760 or Sue Johnsen sjohnse@pisd.edu 469-752-8783 2005-06 Plano Independent School District

13. 2005 On-Site Practice Information Dissemination Dates: • October 18 • November 15 • January 12 • February 10 • March 14 • April 14 Sessions will be scheduled from 1-4 pm. If additional sessions are needed, they will be scheduled in the morning on the above dates from 8:30-11:30 2005-06 Plano Independent School District