The Challenges of Building The Challenges of Building CapacityCapacity for for

Implementation Science Implementation Science

in Rural States in Rural States

Michael FergusonMichael Ferguson

VT Department of EducationVT Department of Education

The NIRNThe NIRN

Fixsen, D. L., Naoom, S. F., Blase, K. A., Friedman, R. M. & Wallace, F. (2005). Implementation Research: A Synthesis of the Literature. Tampa, FL: University of South Florida, Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, The National Implementation Research Network (FMHI Publication #231). 

Implementation Research: A Synthesis of the Literature

© Dean Fixsen, Karen Blase, Robert Horner, George Sugai, 2008

The big question is …The big question is …

Does a state with a significant number of rural schools

have the organizational capacity to build

and

sustain an PD implementation science (ImpSci)

infrastructure?

IMPLEMENTATION STAGES

•Exploration & Adoption,

•Installation,

•Initial Implementation,

•Full Operation,

•Innovation,

•Sustainability

Key Elements of Implementation Science

IMPLEMENTATION DRIVERS:

• Competency Drivers

• Organizational Drivers

• Leadership

Key Elements of Implementation Science(Where Consideration of “Capacity” is Must)

Practice SelectionPractice Selection

•Resource Availability

•Assessing Readiness

•Capacity to Implement

“ Can we do this the right way?”

What resources will be needed ??What resources will be needed ??

Fiscal

Personnel

Technology

Data & Information

Training & Coaching

Vermont Public Schools: 393

Number of Students: 99,103

Vermont Elementary Schools:

259

Vermont Middle Schools: 25

Vermont High Schools: 61

Vermont Public School Statistics

Vermont Private Schools: 124

Number of Private School Students:

11,895

Vermont Private School Statistics

CREATING CAPACITYCREATING CAPACITY

Are there certain technical qualifications needed for implementation?

Many areas in VT do not have access to a broadband internet connection.

Is there a decision making process for selection for staff training?

Do you have enough building based staff to EVEN think like this?

• Is there LEA Leadership that will commitment to building capacity? The average stay for building principals in VT is 2.5 years.

• Could capacity to implement be sustained over time?

• What will it cost to build and sustain capacity over time?

4 Supervisory Unions•19 Schools

ViiM By the Numbers

Smallest School= 45 students PK-6

•Largest School = 674 PK-8

•Average school student enrollment= 170

•Total # of students = 3,282

ACSU

LSU

NCCSU

School Name SU Enrollment/Grades

Eden Central LNSU 132 PK-6

Waterville Elem. LNSU 82 PK-6

Johnson Elem. LNSU 236 PK-6

Hyde Park Elem. LNSU 245 PK-6

Lamoille Union Middle

LNSU 272 7-8

Peoples Academy Middle

LSSU 235 6-8

TroyNorth Country 164 K-8

Charleston North Country 89 PK-8

Brighton Elementary North Country93 PK-8

Coventry Village North Country 88K-8

Lowell School North Country122 PK-8

Newport Town School North Country 109 K-6

Newport City North Country 292 K-6

St. Johnsbury ST. Johnsbury 674 PK-8

Salisbury ACSU 95 PK-6

Shoreham ACSU 80 K-6

Bingham Memorial (Cornwall)

ACSU 85 K-6

Ripton Re-entering ViiM in

2011-12

ACSU45 PK-6

BridportBeginning ViiM in

2011-12

ACSU90 PK-6

Common Barriers to Incorporating ImpSci in Vermont

•State /district/ school practices

•Staff lack of access to high quality PD

•Weather

•Geography

•Personal schedules

•SEA capacity 20% cut

•Teachers are often isolated •Disconnected from role models and mentors

•Lack of innovative collegial conversation

•Lack of opportunity to “see, hear and feel” what implementation science might look like in a classroom, school building or district.

Laundry List of ImpSci Challenges in VT

•Sub –contract with content experts to increase capacity at the SEA levelVT DOE has contracted with Beth Steenwyck (MI3) to build capacity for statewide ImpSci technical assistance. VT DOE has also contracted with Margie McGlinchey (MiBLSi) to provide ViiM RtI academic (reading) content expertise to ViiM schools. Margie is also helping to develop “products” for Year 2 & 3 implementation and for ViiM coaches.

Some Solutions to the Challenges of ImpSci in Vermont

•Develop Web based Resources.

VT DOE has developed 2 wiki sites. One is for ViiM schools (What is ViiM) and the other is for ViiM coaches (ViiM coaches corner). The intent is to mitigate access challenges caused by weather, geography and scheduling conflicts.

• Integrate More Distance Technology.

VT DOE will continue to set the benchmark for enhanced Distance Technology integration to support school leadership, educators and coaches in rural areas. Specifically, incorporate “Bug-in-the ear” and tele-practice strategies.

•Strategic Planning.

Over the next 5-7 years the VT DOE SPDG management team will connect the efforts of the SPDG 3 with the future writing of SPDG 4. The power of this planning will support the implementation of ViiM and the integration of FEL ( Foundations of Early Learning- little kids ViiM)