EC Division Spring Directors InstituteMarch 10, 2015

Greensboro, N.C.

Division Updates

North Carolina Governor’s School

• 1,849 Nominations – 650 Selected• Weather Delays• New On-Site Director for GS East• Website – www.ncgovschool.org

IEPs

• Nearly there• The 4 is done with some tweaking of LRE• Combinations

– DEC 1and 2– DEC 3and 6– DEC 2and 7

• DEC 5

SLD

• Public Comment• Raleigh, Kannapolis, Greenville• Collection of all of the feedback• Posting of the feedback and our comments• State Board action

– Discussion in May– Action in June

Charter Schools

• Change in our interactions– They will attend the Regular EC Directors meeting in

their regions.– We will have a Charter School representative from

each of the regions.– We are doing a summer Academy this summer to

provide support – this will most likely change after the integration of the meetings

– We have 6 new positions we are finalizing to support our monitoring and support of the Charters

LEA Self Assessment

• Will review the data from the pilots• Will make final changes to be ready for next

year• Will roll out for all districts next fall• Will actually implement through the regional

directors meeting• Will supply the date needed – but not in the

way we will once the new data system is in place

ECATS

• Still at DPI• Will pull together stakeholder group this summer

to review the applicants• Timeline

– Review in the summer– Work with the new vendor on forms in the late

summer and fall– Pick volunteers to work with us in January to February

of 16– Implement fall or 16-17 school year

Legislation• Dyslexia – draft bill

– National trend – repeats what is in IDEA– Focused on screening and teacher licensure and

instructional practices

• EC Scholarship – HB 133– Increase the amount from 3 to 4 thousand per

semester– For any student enrolled in EC services for 75 days for

the semester in which the are seeking reimbursement

New Initiatives

• Mental Health– Stakeholder group – Strategic Plan– Next steps = policy development or legislation

• Pre-K programming for the Deaf– Stakeholder group

• Funding– Stakeholder group– Plan for change – now 1.9% of the regular education

allotment vs. 2.3%

Significant Disproportionality• Data for Identification and Placement determinations are

being analyzed• Goal: Determinations completed by the first week of April

• Discipline Data –

- Due to reporting issues, a valid State average rate could not be calculated for the 2013-14 data used to determine significant discrepancies.

- All LEAs on the Warning and Significant Disproportionality lists for Discipline in the Spring 2014 (2012-13 data) will be placed on the Warning List in the Spring 2015.

Significant Disproportionality (cont.)

• Discipline Data (cont.) – - In the Spring 2016, 2014-15 data will be used

together with 2011-12 and 2012-13 data to make determinations about significant disproportionality.

- If your LEA is on the Spring 2015 Warning List, you are encouraged to use up to 15% of IDEA funds for CEIS.

Behavior Support SectionJoe Simmons, Section Chief

Behavior Support Section

Region -3 Consultant Correy Watkins

Region-5 Consultant Renee Bynum Banks

Region-4 Consultant Rhonda Harrell

Region -2 Consultant Lisa Taylor

Region -1 Consultant Osmond Lister

Content/ Professional Development Consultant

Angel Batts

Section Chief Joe Simmons

Budget & Finance Consultant

Keashia T. Walker

Data/ Evaluation Consultant Cayce McCamish

Communications & Visibility Consultant

Laura Winter

Region-8 Consultant Julie Weatherman

Region-7 Consultant Felicia Goodgion

Region-6 Consultant Jennifer Phelps

Program Assistant ~Vacant~

“When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion”

Professional Development Schedule• March Behavior Institute:

Moving Forward Together: Connecting the Dots

Incorporating Mental Health in a Multi-Tiered System of

Support

• Behavior Support Summer Institute 2015:– July 27-30, UNC-G Elliot Center– Mental Health for All– PBIS Trainer Institute (current trainers will receive

revised and updated Module I)– Team Initiated Problem Solving (TIPS)– PBIS Modules

Professional Development Schedule

*PBIS Modules and PBIS implementation provide training and information to support all students in a school, at all three tiers and beyond.

The three tiers include school-wide, classroom, and individual students. http://www.pbis.org/school

Students served with PRC 29 funds are included in the school-wide continuum of supports.

Discipline Data Summary Spreadsheet

• In order to be considered an “Implementing” PBIS school,

and in order to apply for PBIS State Recognition, schools

must submit their Discipline Data Summary Spreadsheet to

their Regional Behavior Consultant by July 1, 2015.

• This could be a one time event for a school, or a school

could utilize the functions of the spreadsheet to look at

monthly patterns and trends in data.

• Instructions, rationale, and the spreadsheet are located here:

http://pbis.ncdpi.wikispaces.net/Discipline+Data+Summary+S

preadsheet

PRC-29 and PBIS

Budget

EC Delivery Team (CECAS)

EC Delivery Team

• Quentin Parker• Vickie Humphreys• Ashley Herring• Carolyn Hammond• Jane Cottingham• Michael Johnson• May Gu

EC Delivery Team

CECAS Trainers/Support•Pat Smith Regions 1 & 2•Jennifer Sims Regions 3 & 4•Khalilah O’farrow-Boulware Regions 5 & 6•Ilona Ketting Regions 7 & 8

CECAS HelpdeskLorie Randolph

CECAS Webinars

• CECAS Daily Users– First Wednesday of each month– Information for login/registration on CECAS website

• Third-Party CECAS users– Second Wednesday of even months (February,

April, etc.)– Information for login/registration on CECAS website

Policy, Monitoring & AuditCarol Ann Hudgens, Section Chief

Policy, Monitoring & AuditMonitoring Consultants

• Marie Massengill– Regions 1 & 2

• VACANT– Region 3

• Glendora Hagins– Region 4

• Terri Hayes– Region 5

• Anne Monterosso– Region 6

• Patti Cox– Region 7 & 8

Policy, Monitoring & AuditDispute Resolution Consultants

Melvin Diggs

Arianna Dunne

Bill Elvey

Leigh Mobley

Policy, Monitoring & AuditIndicator 8: Parent Survey

• Arrive in LEA- any day now!!

• Survey window closes as of April 3, 2015.

• Reports to NCDPI by June 1, 2015.

• Reports out to LEA by June 15, 2015.

Policy, Monitoring & AuditSummer Institute

• Monitoring: What to Expect When It’s YOUR Turn!

• Dispute Resolution: Growing to Capacity at the Local Level

Program Improvement & Professional DevelopmentPaula Crawford, Section Chief

Consultants

Cindy Cooke

Mary Keel

Laura Britt

Elizabeth Gibbs

Vacant

Vacant

Literacy

Region 1

Region 2

Region 4

Region 6

Region 7

Region 8

Consultants

Strategic Planning (& Math)

Melissa Towery Susan Laney Region 3 & 4

Regions 5 & 6Personnel Development

Tom Holahan (Math Regions 1 & 2)

Math & Leadership Development

Matt Hoskins (Math Regions 7 & 8)

2015 State Personnel Development Grant Proposal

• Due 2-13-15• Submitted 2-12-15• Should hear last of April / first of May

• March 24-26

NC SIP Spring Network Meeting

Celebrate!

15 years: A Fantastic Foundation for the Future

NC State Improvement Project Current (SPDG) Goals

1. Improve basic skills performance of students with disabilities2. Increase the percentage of qualified teachers of students with disabilities 3. Increase graduation rates and decrease dropout rates of students with disabilities4. Improve parent satisfaction and involvement with,

and support of, school services for students with disabilities5. Improve the quality of teachers’ instructional competencies

NC State Improvement Project Proposed (SPDG) Goals

• Goal 1NC SIP staff will increase their capacity to

provide leadership, professional development, coaching, and supports to participating districts, teachers, and families on leadership and effective reading, math, and content literacy instruction.

• Goal 2District and building administrators will have the

skills to develop, implement, and evaluate district plans that support the improvement of core content instruction and achievement of students with disabilities in their districts.

NC State Improvement Project Proposed (SPDG) Goals

• Goal 3Teachers and administrators will have the skills

to effectively implement research-based reading, math, adolescent literacy and co-teaching instructional practices for SWD in the K-12 classroom, which will lead to increased student engagement, student generalization of skills, academic achievement, and family engagement.

• Goal 4Pre-service teachers and in-service

administrators enrolled in partnering IHEs, will have the capacity to effectively implement and support research-based reading, math, adolescent literacy, and co-teaching for SWD.

Professional Development

• Reading & Math Foundations

• Co-teaching for Teachers and

Administrators • Content Literacy

Continuum (CLC)• Coaching • Implementation

Science

• State level sessions

• ~60 LEAs have participated

• 25 individuals are ‘badging’

• 6 best practice LEAs

• Embedded in all that we do

mobilizing National Educator Talent Transition to Teaching (mNET)LEA Benefits

• Increase # of Special Educators

• Teacher retention in LEA (commit to teach 3 years)

• Support Lateral Entry or Teacher Assistants with 4 yr. degree

• Content value added PD

Participant Benefits• PRAXIS preparation• Online weekly coaching• Self-paced online high

quality professional development

• $3,000 total over 3 year period (supplemental tuition reimbursement or stipend)

Pathway 2:Instructional Resources205 Teachers

Cindy Cooke = 3 ELA

Melissa Towery = 4 Math

Vickie Norris (retired) = 3 ELA

Tom Holahan = 23 UDL ELA & Math

Other Sections = 6 UDL reviewers

Regional Administrative SupportSherry Thomas, Assistant Director

Regional Administrative Support

•State Performance Plan Coordinator– Dr. Nancy Johnson

•State Implementation Specialist and Data Analyst– Heather Reynolds

•Regional Consultants– Regions 1 & 2 Regi Bolen– Regions 3 & 4 Barbara Scriven– Regions 5 & 6 Jennifer Cash– Regions 7 & 8 Karen Broome

Regional Administrative Support• SPP/APR

– Submitted in February– Clarification period– SPP/APR will be finalized – SPP/APR and LEA Public Reports will be posted

by June 1, 2015

• State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP)– Submit Phase 1 Plan to OSEP on April 1– Selection Criteria tool will be developed– One Pilot site/Region will be selected for the first

cohort– LEA data and Selection Criteria tool will be used

to determine Pilots

Regional Administrative Support

• Self-Assessments/Practice Profiles– Pilot sites- document due March 20

– Support provided at Regional Meetings, beginning September 2015

• LEA Determination Letters – Issued in late June/early July

Regional Administrative Support• New Directors Leadership Institute

Revision (Traditional LEA EC Directors)

– Workgroup reviewed Competencies– Refreshing activities– Continue a two year cohort– Offer a new cohort each year

• New Directors first• Open to Program Specialist as space allows

• EC Program Director’s Journey: Surviving the Early Years– (Summer Institute 2015)

Regional Administrative Support

•Charter Schools/PRTFs Academy– Summer 2015

– Two locations: East and West

– Address PD needs identified through the recent survey

– Information forthcoming

Sensory Support and Assistive Technology Section

Sherri Vernelson, Section Chief

Sensory Support and Assistive TechnologySection

• Regions 1 & 2 Rachael Ragin DHH

William Tubilleja VI• Region 3 & 4 Sharon Moore DHH

Denise Sample VI• Region 5 & 6 Krista Heavner DHH

Amy Campbell VI• Region 7 & 8 Michele Neal DHH

Amy Campbell VI• Statewide O & M Claire Hakin

Sensory Support and Assistive Technology

• Unified English Braille Code (UEB)– Braille code adopted by BANA

• Includes literacy and math

– Strategic implementation plan• Collaboration and support from variety of

stakeholders• Multiple phases• Multiple training opportunities• Teachers need your support

Sensory Support and Assistive Technology

• Unified English Braille Code (UEB) cont.

– By January 4, 2016, all new materials will be embossed using UEB

– June 2015• Decision Analysis with Stakeholders• UEB only, OR• UEB and Nemeth

Sensory Support and Assistive Technology

• Session Law 2013-119 House Bill 317– Communication Plan Worksheet

• Revised to reflect new requirements w/ stakeholder input

• Required for any student with an IEP who has a confirmed hearing loss

• Regional trainings December 2014/January 2015 – more as needed

• Full implementation February 1, 2015–Easy IEP: active–EC Division website: active–CECAS: working to be active

Sensory Support and Assistive Technology

• Session Law 2013-119 House Bill 317 cont’d.

• Data Collection

–Statewide data tracking system

–Pilot project to collect data

»Union, Alexander, Polk, Pitt, Alamance, Randolph, Cabarrus

Sensory Support and Assistive Technology

• Interpreters– Proposal to SBE to raise the minimum score of a

3.0 to a 4.0 over five years– Training and mentoring component– Written commitments from IHEs to increase focus

in educational interpreting– Current Pilot Project: Cumberland County

• Nationally recognized trainer• Training lead interpreter as coach• Assessment of current skill• Professional Development Plan• Hands-on coaching to support growth

Special Programs and Data SectionTracy Riddle, Section Chief

Special Programs and Data Section

Tracy Riddle, Section Chief• Kelley Blas, IDEA VI B Data Manager• Valencia Davis, IDEA VI B Consultant, Regions 3

& 5• Valerie Herndon, IDEA VI B Consultant, Regions

1,6 & 7• Vivian James, IDEA VI B Preschool Consultant,

Statewide • Antonia Johnson, IDEA VI B Consultant,

Regions 2, 4 & 8• Muhammad Mannan, Statistician, Statewide• Lori Peterson, Special Projects Consultant,

Statewide

Data Consultants

• Test counts & Indicators have been added to CECAS for 2015

• Test April 2015 child count to ensure error corrections are complete prior to submission

• April 2015 child count submission window extended to 4/22/2015

• Trend Data• Enrollment, Drop Out, Graduation,

Performance

Special Projects Consultant

New Special Projects Consultant: Lori Peterson (919) 807-3932 lori.peterson@dpi.nc.gov

Reminders:•Complete Fund Reversion for SSRF and Risk Pool withdrawals or changes•Complete End of Year Report for SSRF and Risk Pool withdrawals •No remaining funds for SSR or Risk Pool•Application deadline for remaining funds is 5/15/2015

Preschool Consultant

• Preschool Initiatives Early Childhood FoundationsEarly Childhood Pyramid project to improve social-emotional outcomes (SEFEL) Early Childhood Transition processEarly Childhood Child Find Program 

• Part C is choosing a SiMr around improving early childhood outcomes for social-emotional development

• Early Childhood/Preschool PD opportunities

IDEA VI B Consultants• Effective April 1, 2015, IDEA consultants will

approve LEA and Charter School 2015-16 IDEA, Part B (611)

• No changes in the approval process for SOPs. 

• There are 15 IDEA Fiscal Monitoring On-site Visits scheduled for 2014-15 including 5 Virtual Site Visits.   

• The first five-year cycle of IDEA Fiscal Monitoring Desk Reviews has been completed. 

• A new five-year cycle will begin in 2015-16 for LEAs, Charter Schools and SOPs.

Supporting Teaching & Related Services Section

Dreama McCoy, Section Chief

NAVIGATING THE STARS!!!!

STARS UNITED

• Perry Flynn, Consultant for SLP

• Lauren Holahan, Consultant for OT/Medicaid

• Laurie Ray, Consultant for PT/Medicaid/APE

• Lynn Makor, Consultant for School Psychology

• Beverly Colwell, Consultant for Intellectual

Disabilities and Secondary Education

STARS UNITED

• Lynne Loeser, Consultant for LD/ADHD

• Ronda Layman, Consultant for Significant

Cognitive Disabilities

• Dana Rusher, Consultant for Autism

• Jenny Eigenrauch, Consultant for Autism

• Rick Powers, Consultant for IDEA

• Dorothy Snyder, Consultant for Deaf-Blind

Extend 1 Testing

• A special thank you to those districts who participated in DLM field tests!!!

• Please make sure students meet the Extend 1 criteria before placing them on this test.

• Parents must be made aware of the ramifications of this course of study.

• Students should not bounce on and off this path to avoid general education testing.

Related Services• Guidance in Determining FTE & Workload for

OT, PT and SLP Staff• Collaboration with DHHS to provide IEP

training for school nurses• Movement-based Instruction course available• Ethics of Special Design course for OTs• Ongoing advocacy re: Medicaid SLP visit

limits• Improving utilization of related service

providers for post-secondary transition planning

Secondary Education

Course Codes• Course code changes allow districts the ability

to create thoughtful and objectives based courses, that are in addition to the Pathway requirement courses and focus on supporting the instructional needs of students in all disability categories.

• When creating courses, keep in mind the pathway (FRC, OCS, ECS) requirements and the students’ postsecondary goals.

Secondary Education

Postsecondary Education Opportunities•The opportunities for postsecondary education opportunities are growing throughout the state for students with disabilities, including those following the OCS & ECS Pathways.•Expectations for these opportunities must begin early.http://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/http://www.cidd.unc.edu/psea/http://www.ecu.edu/cs-acad/stepp/

Autism

• Go to Meeting for AU Teams and EC Directors on May 27 to discuss:

• AU PRC 118 EOY submissions

• Changes in AU Strategic Plan  - will now align with core elements of the LEA Practice Profile

•  AU Problem Solving teams now AU Coaching Teams

Autism

• Approximately 325 teachers completed the two day training on Foundations of Autism.        

• Topics covered included: learning styles, assessment, evidence based practices such as the use of schedules and work systems, and a Behavior Solving Process

• FREE resources for providing PD and support to staff in your LEA:National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorderhttp://autismpdc.fpg.unc.edu/evidence-based-practices Autism Internet Moduleshttp://www.autisminternetmodules.org/ 

See you soon…