Maximizing Federal Resources

1. Maximizing Federal Resources ESEA & IDEA Joint Fiscal Conference February 18, 2015 2011-2012 Mississippi Department of Education Office of Instructional Enhancement and Internal Operations/Office of Special Education

2. State Board Strategic Plan • All students proficient and showing growth in all assessed areas. • Every student graduates high school and is ready for college and career. • Every child has access to a high-quality early childhood program. • Every school has high quality teachers and administrators. • Every community using a world class data system to improve student outcomes. CEC Conference

3. State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP) • Focuses on results for students • Results Driven Accountability • Will be measured by a new Indicator 17 • State Identified Measurable Result (SIMR) • The state will increase the percentage of third grade students with disabilities in targeted districts who score proficient or higher on the state reading assessment to XX percent by FFY 2018. CEC Conference

4. REACH MS Grant Purpose • REACH MS focuses on supporting school-and district-wide implementation of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. CEC Conference

5. 2015 Grant Proposal for Continued Work • Goal 1: Support development and expansion of positive learning environments in Mississippi through effective implementation of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports within a Multi-tiered Systems of Support Framework. • Goal 2: Improve the subject-matter knowledge and evidence-based teaching practices of special education and regular education teachers, school and district administrators, university faculty, and state department of education personnel through implementation of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in order to help students with disabilities master the Mississippi College and Career Readiness Standards within a Multi-tiered Behavior Support Framework. CEC Conference

6. Priorities of the Task Force • Priority A: Access to the General Education Curriculum in the General Education Environment • Priority B: Increase the High School Graduation Rate and Decrease the Drop-Out Rate • Priority C: Increase the Post-Secondary Enrollment Rate and Work-Force Readiness Skills CEC Conference 2011-2012 Mississippi Department of Education Office of Instructional Enhancement and Internal Operations/Office of Special Education

7. Priority A Priority A: Access to the General Education Curriculum in the General Education Environment • Problem Statement: • “While many students with disabilities have physical access to general education classrooms, the achievement gap suggests they are not accessing the general education curriculum at an acceptable level.” CEC Conference

8. Priority A Strategies • Strategy 1: Increase awareness of “Inclusion” and “Access” by providing a common definition • Strategy 2: Increase the supports provided to students with disabilities in the general education setting • Strategy 3: Increase supports to all students through a multi-tiered support system (MTSS) • Strategy 4: Increase transparency of special education accountability • Strategy 5: Increase the capacity of all educators and administrators CEC Conference 2011-2012 Mississippi Department of Education Office of Instructional Enhancement and Internal Operations/Office of Special Education

9. Priority B Priority B: Increase the Graduation Rate and Decrease the Drop-Out Rate • Problem Statement: • “When comparing the graduation data of students with disabilities to nondisabled peers, there is a discrepancy between students with disabilities that graduate with a standard high-school diploma and nondisabled peers.” CEC Conference

10. Priority B Strategies • Strategy 1: Increase awareness of requirements for graduation, graduation options, and how to raise test scores • Strategy 2: Increase awareness of outcomes for students with disabilities to inform IEP (Individualized Education Program) team decisions • Strategy 3: Increase student access to kindergarten and high quality pre-kindergarten programs CEC Conference

11. Priority C • Priority C: Increase the Post-Secondary Enrollment Rate and Work-Force Readiness Skills • Problem Statement • “Based on post-secondary data, students with disabilities are not exiting school with the skills necessary to be college and career ready.” CEC Conference

12. Priority C Strategies • Strategy 1: Improve the Mississippi Occupational Diploma (MOD) • Strategy 2: Increase the number of transition specialists available to provide services to students with disabilities • Strategy 3: Increase the awareness for students with disabilities to develop post-secondary goals • Strategy 4: Improve communication to Institutions of Higher Learning regarding State initiatives, trainings, and webinars CEC Conference 2011-2012 Mississippi Department of Education Office of Instructional Enhancement and Internal Operations/Office of Special Education

13. Alignment of the Drivers CEC Conference

14. Questions? Contact Information Gretchen Cagle State Director Office of Special Education 601-359-3498 Gcagle@mde.k12.ms.us CEC Conference