Consumer Research Report

1. TUSD Exceptional Education Consumer Research Report June 13, 2005

2. Jacqueline Denton Nancy Edwards Rick Haan Jaimie Leopold Karen McMaster Kathryn Martin Jane Mullins Mary Neale Terri Polan Gail Steinbach Data Team • Cathy Taylor

3. Consumer Research Focus Groups were held: May 2nd and May 9th 2005 The purpose of the focus groups was to obtain: • Primary Consumer Input • Supporting Consumer Input

4. Consumer Research Focus Group Questions Questions were given to each focus group asking for information and solutions regarding a wide range of areas.

5. Consumer Research Focus Group Questions These questions were formulated and customized by the data group and were based on trends identified in small groups. Determining consumer values was at the heart of the question development.

6. Additional Focus Group Info It is the intention of the Exceptional Education Department to obtain additional focus group input from other stakeholders. For example: • Focus group information from Students • Focus group information from Principals

7. Additional Focus Group Info This round of gathering information is not meant to be a one time project. This is the start of a process intended to be continued and added to in the coming school year.

8. Consumer Research Report • Is the compilation of all focus group input gathered to date. • Is a summary of feedback trends and themes. • Is to be used with the EnvironmentalScan and Internal Summary to provide a balanced, data-based guide to developing an Action Plan.

9. Top Themes by Focus Group Parents Number of Participants: Approx. 23 • Communication • Professionalism • Funding • Professional Development • Increased Parent Involvement

10. Top Themes by Focus Group Teachers: General Ed. & Special Ed. Number of Participants: Approx. 28 • Leadership • Communication • Funding • Professional Development • Curriculum Materials

11. Top Themes by Focus Group Paraprofessionals Number of Participants: Approx. 9 • Communication • Professional Development • Respect • Compensation for Extra Work

12. Top Themes by Focus Group Related Services:OT/PT/APE/Psychologists/Social Workers Number of Participants: Approx. 11 • Communication • Professional Development • Leadership • Professionalism

13. Top Themes by Focus Group District Leadership Number of Participants: Approx. 5 (2 principals; 1 leader from Accountability & Research; 1 leader from AZ. Dept. of Ed. And 1 leader from Health Services) • Communication • Professional Development • Funding • Staffing/Highly Qualified

14. Top Themes by Focus Group District Departments Number of Participants: Approx. 11 (Human Resources – 1; Psychologist – 1; Compliance Technicians – 5; Public Relations – 1; Transportation – 1; Counselor – 1; Parent - 1) • Communication • Professional Development • Connection/Collaboration • Staffing/Highly Qualified

15. Top Themes by Focus Group Outside Agencies Number of Participants: Approx. 10 • Communication • Collaboration • Leadership

16. Top Themes by Focus Group Community at Large Number of Participants: Approx. 6 • Transition After High School • Communication • Collaboration • Accountability

17. Top Themes by Focus Group Gifted and Talented Number of Participants: Approx. 7 • Communication • Professional Development • Leadership

18. Top Themes by Focus Group Students Number of Participants: Approx. 1 • Technology • Inclusion/Independence • Help Teachers

19. Trends Communication • Information • Letting people know what is going on • Role Definitions • Easier Access to Information • Follow Up Communication • Organizational Structure and Updates when there are changes • Professional looking publications

20. Trends Professional Development • Adequate training • Research based • Time to take trainings • Training on special education procedures for Leadership • Special Education Teacher Job-Alikes • Increase connectivity and reduce feelings of isolation

21. Top Themes Across Groups Connection/Collaboration with other Departments • Acceptance of special needs groups • Two way communication • Be invited to each others “table” • Coordinate between Departments • Leadership be on the same page • Decision Making

22. Top Themes Across Groups Equipment/Materials • Age Appropriate Materials Modified for Low Reading Skills • Math Materials • Middle School High Interest Low Vocabulary Materials • Assistive Technology • Research Based • Current • Not Hand-Me-Downs

23. Top Themes Across Groups Funding • Federal & State Allocations • Money to Pay Staff More • Money to Provide Quality Prof. Dev. • Money to Add Staff • Money for Curriculum Materials • Money to Implement or Continue Research Based Service Delivery Models • Take Advantage of Grant Money

24. Top Themes Across Groups Professionalism/Accountability/Leadership • Support and Encouragement • Consistency • Decisive Decision Making by Leaders • Knowledgeable about Special Education • Follow Through • Follow Up • Enforce Procedures • Hold People Accountable for Doing Their Job

25. Trends Building Bridges • Finding opportunities to connect • Finding common ground • Two-way support • Acknowledging each others good works • Problem solving together instead of blaming • Recognizing ownership for the education of all students

26. Principal SurveysRespondents: 8 of 114 Trends: • Communication • Professional Development • Accountability • Student Instruction • Program Organization and Administration • Funding • Collaboration • Staff Teacher Quality

27. Trends from Small Discussion Groups March 16, April 20 & May 18th Summarized in the Final Report Slide in Still Under Construction!

28. Many Thanks • Thank you to all who participated in the focus groups. • Thank you to all who worked as facilitators in this process. • Thank you to all staff and parents who attended and contributed to the small group sessions March16th, April 20th, and May 18th

29. Many Thanks Thank you to Jaimie Leopold for facilitating this process.

30. Where Do We Go From Here? ACTION PLAN COMMITTEE A Committee Will Work to Develop an Action Plan for the Exceptional Education Department. The Mission Statement will be Updated

31. Where Do We Go From Here? ACTION PLAN COMMITTEE The Action Plan will be created based on the Results of: • Internal Summary • Environmental Scan • Consumer Research Report

32. Where Do We Go From Here? ACTION PLAN COMMITTEE The Action Plan Committee will be representatives from within and outside the Exceptional Education Department and key leaders will be held accountable for ensuring the Action Plan is carried out.

33. Where Do We Go From Here? ACTION PLAN COMMITTEE The Action Plan will not address EVERY issue needing attention but will logically prioritize the most important issues and set goals for improvement.

34. Bill Ball –Transportation Mark Brady – Teacher of the Visually Impaired Vanessa Chacon – Teacher Ray Chavez – Multicultural Studies Vicki Dawson – Social Worker Jacqueline Denton – Ex. Ed. Medicaid/Special Projects Nancy Edwards – Ex. Ed. Budget Control James Fish – Principal Coach Sabrina Hallman - Principal Kristine Hansen - Principal Jimmy Hart – Principal Carol Holly – Teacher Steve Holmes – Language Acquisition Elaine House – Ex. Ed. High School Dept. Chair Judith Knight – Finance Glenna Kornegay – Parent Kelly Langford – Senior Academic Officer Jaime Leopold - Facilitator The Following People have been Invited to be on the Action Plan Committee

35. Patti Lopez – Deputy Superintendent Kate Mader – Ex. Ed. Behavior Specialist Kathryn Martin – Ex. Ed. Direct Link Lisa McCorkle – Principal Karen McMaster – Interim Ex Ed Executive Director Rosalva Meza-Aldaghi – TEA Terry Midkiff – Ex. Ed. Lead Compliance Technician Jane Mullins – Ex. Ed. Interim Assistant Director Mary Neale – Ex. Ed. Accountability Coord. Dan Perino – Ex. Ed. Transition McGee Phillips – OT Terri Polan – Ex. Ed. Professional Development Melissa Price– Psychologist Lynn Rawls – Teacher of the Hearing Impaired Terry Ross - Principal The Following People have been Invited to be on the Action Plan Committee

36. Dea Salter – Academic Leadership Pamela Smith – Ex. Ed. High School Dept. Chair Carin Stair – Ex. Ed. Program Specialist Gail Steinbach – Ex. Ed. Compliance Technician Paula Stilwell – Ex. Ed. Admin. Assistant Debbie Summers – Principal Shelley Sykora – Ex. Ed. Admin. Assistant Lori Taniguchi – Speech/Language Pathologist Cathy Taylor – Ex. Ed. Technology Coordinator Tari Tenace – Ex. Ed. Integration Specialist Velma Valenzuela – Teacher Leila Williams – Ex. Ed. Interim Assist. Dir. Of Related Services. The Following People have been Invited to be on the Action Plan Committee

37. Where Do We Go From Here? ACTION PLAN COMMITTEE The Action Plan will be shared with District Staff, Departmental Staff, Parents and the Community at Large upon its completion.

38. TUSD Exceptional Education