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Special Education:. Where Are We and Where Do We Need to Be?. Where is Expert Instruction in 2010 (and Why Should We Care)? Doug Fuchs, Vanderbilt OSEP’s PD Conference July 20, 2010. Overview. 2 influential views on GE/SE reform. Different names; we’ll call them A and B
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Special Education: Where Are We and Where Do We Need to Be?
Where is Expert Instruction in 2010 (and Why Should We Care)?Doug Fuchs, VanderbiltOSEP’s PD ConferenceJuly 20, 2010
Overview • 2 influential views on GE/SE reform. Different names; we’ll call them A and B • I’ll briefly describe each and how they are similar and different • Main pt: Neither seriously addresses how schools will provide for children and youth with serious learning problems • A proposition
Major Views (“A” and “B”) of GE and SE in an RTI Context • General agreement on: • RTI can be important school reform • Tiered general education instruction • Progress monitoring • General education’s necessary role
“A” on RTI’s Purpose • RTI should promote both early intervention (prevention) and more valid methods of disability identification. These two aims are inextricably connected.
“A” on GE Instruction • Evidence-based, explicit, and top-down. • Tier 1: “research principled” core curricula and evidence-based class-wide instructional programs (e.g., DI, CWPT, CIRC). • Tier 2: Small-group tutoring with validated, standard instructional protocols.
Instruction is the “Test” • Tier 2 should accelerate the progress of many at-risk students as well as identify candidates for multi-disciplinary team evaluation for special education. • Like all tests, the tutoring protocol should be standard, replicable, implemented with fidelity, and time sensitive.
“A” on Special Education Implicit is that SE is important and distinctive; and special educators should provide most intensive instruction • But little discussion of what “most intensive” means, nor who trains whom to ensure its delivery to children with severe learning needs.
View B on RTI’s Purpose • Uniform challenging standards for all. • Assessments are aligned with the standards. • Virtually all (including most SWD) participate in the assessments. • Student performance is the basis of accountability. • Standards will close the achievement gap and eliminate nearly all high-incidence SWD. • Emphasis on instruction, not evals or labels or SE • Most “high-incidence” will disappear
Problem Solving is to “B” as Standard Protocols Are to “A” • Problem solving is the engine of instruction at the various tiers, like standard protocols are the engine in the A view. Problem Solving is personalized, not standardized • (Caveat: Hybrid forms) • Multiple meanings of problem solving: • Differentiated instruction (Tier 1; e.g., co-teaching) • Team collaboration (Tier 2; e.g., TATs, ISTs) • Behavioral Consultation (Tier 2 or 3)
View B and the Blurring SE • Resources connected to SE, compensatory ed, and other funding streams are to “fuel” the problem solving engine • Blurring SE into GE makes GE more resourceful, capable of accommodating all • Special educators co-teach, tutor students with and without disabilities, and sit on school teams • SE does not have a distinctive or lead role in reform. It must be “blended” into GE’s multi-tiered instruction
How Effective Is Problem Solving? • Differentiated instruction; building-based teams; Behavioral Consultation • Summary: • Surely effective for some, maybe for many. But not intensive enough to be effective for all, esp. students with very serious learning probs. • With a “blurred” SE who at the bldg level will instruct these children? Who will be the experts?
How Effective Are the Standard Protocols in View A? • Strong evidence of effectiveness for some…not all • With researchers, 3% to 5% of general population are NRs; with teachers 10%? 15%? • Again, where is the expertise at the bldg. level to help NRs?
Experimental Teaching (“Data-Based Instruction”) • One way to think about “intensive” instruction and “expert” instruction
Case Study • Sam developed sizeable reading deficits by the end of 2nd grade, despite strong Tier 1 and 2. • In 3rd grade, he entered Tier 3. In his school, it was delivered as part of special education. • Given Sam’s large reading deficits, his teacher, Mrs. Hayes, set his IEP goal as competent 2nd-grade performance at the end of 3rd grade.
Sam’s Case • She began with the Wilson program, but conducted sessions more intensively (twice daily, each time for 30 minutes, on a 1:1 basis). • She also implemented CBM. Each weekly test assessed overall competence in the 2nd-grade reading curriculum using passage reading fluency. • The score on each week’s CBM test is an overall indicator of reading competence at 2nd grade.
After Seven Weeks with Intensified Wilson Program… • Mrs. Hayes studied Sam’s progress. • On his graph, Sam’s scores were all below his goal line. Research tells us that with this pattern, he is not likely to achieve the year-end goal. • So Mrs. Hayes needed to revise her student’s instructional program to foster greater progress.
Sam • To determine the nature of this instructional change, Mrs. Hayes conducted a Quick Miscue Analysis during Sam’s next CBM testing. • Quick Miscue Analysis is one strategy for diagnosing Sam’s reading strategies, determining what might supplement the Wilson program, and building Sam’s individualized program.
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Sam’s Instructional Change • Given Sam’s inadequate reliance on the semantics of the passage, Mrs. Hayes decided to introduce a tape recorder activity, whereby Sam monitored semantic miscues in his own reading. • Given Sam’s poor use of grapho-phonemic strategies, Mrs. Hayes also conducted a diagnostic assessment of Sam’s decoding skills. Because he had difficulty with vowel teams, she decided to target this for intensive review in and out of contextualized reading. • These changes were incorporated into the Wilson program.
After Seven Weeks with This Revised Wilson Program… • Mrs. Hayes again studied Sam’s progress. • She drew a line of best fit through his CBM scores to characterize his rate of progress. His rate of progress had improved substantially with this revised Wilson program. • However, his most recent 4 CBM scores all fell below his goal line. Research tells us that with this pattern, Sam is not likely to achieve his year-end goal.
Experimental Teaching is a technology of instruction that was developed and validated on SWD by SE researchers and teachers. • It is an intensive form of instruction that’s being overlooked by the very field that produced it. • We must embrace it again as it was embraced 20+ yrs ago in Minnesota, Kansas, Utah, and elsewhere.
But embraced in a way that connects it to recent advances in instruction and assessment, thereby making it more powerful than years ago. • Training a new generation of expert instructors, capable of working intensively, methodically, knowledgably, inventively, with most DTT children should be this field’s focus, purpose, and inspiration.
Perspectives on Serving Students with Sensory Disabilities Blind/Visually Impaired Deaf/Hard of Hearing Deaf-Blind Jay Gense
Special Education and Related Services… • For students who are blind/visually impaired • General Core Curriculum • Expanded Core Curriculum • Access
Special Education and Related Services… • For students who are deaf/hard of hearing • General Core Curriculum • Expanded Core Curriculum • Access
Special Education and Related Services… • For students who are deaf-blind • General Core Curriculum • Expanded Core Curriculum • Access
1. Assessment 6. Follow-up and Program Monitoring 2. Program Development 3. Materials Development 5. Training and Coaching 4. Direct Instruction Identifying Needs - - - Designing and Implementing Specially Designed Instruction
The Future ofSpecial Education for Students with Extensive Support Needs Issues, Difficulties, and/or Misunderstandings to Address Diane Ryndak
Outcomes for Adultswith Extensive Support Needs • Meaningful outcomes and existing outcome data • Quality and normal rhythm of life • Independence and participation • Use of general and extended curriculum • Community living • Employment outcomes • Self-advocacy & self-determination • Natural support network outcomes • Beyond traditional outcomes and data sets
Outcomes for Adultswith Extensive Support Needs • Lessons learned about outcomes, marginalization, and devaluing • Social justice • Institutionalization • Use of restraints, punishment, and seclusion • Future special education needs to be based an abilities model and a presumption of competence.
Outcomes for Adultswith Extensive Support Needs • Short- and long-term data support the importance of content and context • What combination of variables leads to improved outcomes? • What structures/systems provide flexibility for individualization of content and contexts while allowing for accountability?
Intensive Expert Instructionfor Students with ESN • “The students with the greatest needs receive services from those with the least expertise.” (Lou Brown, 1979) • Robust pedagogy exists that supports interventions across heterogeneous groups of students
Intensive Expert Instructionfor Students with ESN • Is a licensed Special Education teacher highly qualified or an expert? • If so, at what?
Intensive Expert Instructionfor Students with ESN • What is expert instruction for students with extensive support needs, who provides it, where, and when? • The future needs collaborative expertise, not expertise that isolates and divides. • The future needs expertise used by collaborative teams with shared desired outcomes for all students.
“Education System” -- Lack of Harmony and Connection • Across concepts and initiatives • LRE & transition across services • Access to general curriculum • State standards / individualized needs • Accountability and alternate assessment • School-wide PBS • RTI
“Education System” -- Lack of Harmony and Connection • Across stages • Conceptualization and development • Presentation to policy makers, service providers, and families • Implementation and monitoring across states • Practice in the field • Research and personnel preparation • Future needs all initiatives or models to address the needs of all students.
RTI and Students with Extensive Support Needs • Tiers 1-2-3 • RTI is as “only for students going for the regular diploma” • Role of supports, accommodations, modifications for students with disabilities in Tiers 1-2-3 • RTI for students with extensive support needs
Regular Diploma Special Diploma
Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier 3