Root Cause is Critical to Improvement! 2015 Leadership Conference “All In: Achieving Results Together” Root Cause is Critical to Improvement! Barbara L. Troolin, Ph.D., Director Carolyn J. Cherry, Ed.D., Part B Data Manager Minnesota Department of Education Sandy Schmitz, Ph.D. Tri Tran, B.S., Analyst University of Minnesota, Systems Improvement Group

Session Agenda Minnesota and our SIMR Using focus groups to help determine root cause Shared Learning Next Steps Discussion

Minnesota: Land of… More than 10,000 lakes and 857,000 students The Mississippi Headwaters…and Mall of America 11 Tribal Nations and 120+ spoken languages Mary Tyler Moore, Betty Crocker…and Prince 150 charter schools and over 128,000 special education students Inventions (oxygen mask, scotch tape and zubazs)…and foods like Spam and Lutefisk

MDE State Identified Measurable Result Statewide 6-year Graduation Rate for American Indian and Black students with disabilities (SWDs) Statewide data shines a light across Minnesota 6-year rate allows us to tell a story not reflected in other federal and state reporting

MDE State Identified Measurable Result Statewide 6-year Graduation Rate for American Indian and Black students with disabilities (SWDs) Graduation aligns with other state initiatives American Indian and Black SWDs have chronic lower graduation and higher dropout rates that other student groups with disabilities

Why Focus Groups to Help Determine Root Cause? Quantitative data doesn’t tell the whole story Identifying areas over which we have control and influence Using data from multiple sources to determine best choices for evidence-based practices

Focus Group Overview Two focus groups in each of four pilot districts District Administrators 30 participants 1.5-2 hour sessions Student with Disabilities American Indian and Black SWDs for whom graduation had been delayed 26 participants 1 hour sessions

Open-Ended Evaluation Questions Topics included: Most significant factors for low graduation How districts engage families How data are used Current initiatives to improve graduation District capacity and needed MDE support What districts need to do in the next 5 years

Administrator Comments Coded into 21 categories Topical Areas included areas around: District Professional Development and Initiatives Cultural Competency and Awareness Special Education Processes, Funding and Placement Student and Family Perspectives and Engagement

Topic: Most Significant Factors Categories accounting for 71% of responses: Cultural awareness Changing Demographics Transition & Career Consequences of SPED placement Engagement & Retention Parent Support

Topic: How Districts Engage Families Categories accounting for 67% of responses: Parents & Families – district has large dependence on cultural liaisons & district equity offices Cultural Awareness District Initiatives – few aimed at students who are Black or American Indian with disabilities

Topic: How Data are Used Categories accounting for 52% of responses: Types of data collected – no evidence of data collection efforts specifically relating to students who are American Indian or Black with disabilities District initiatives usually left to specialized units

Topic: Interventions When Progress is Not Made Categories accounting for 53% of responses: District initiatives Low Expectations Data collection to identify at-risk students

Topic: District Initiatives to Improve Graduation Categories accounting for 51% of responses: Collaboration with American Indian Community Cultural awareness – Shared responsibility

Topic: District Capacity & Needed MDE Support Categories accounting for 34% of responses: Partnering with teacher preparation programs Putting efforts into recruiting diverse special education teachers MDE could provide more trainings MDE needs to increase involvement in racial equity work

Topic: Next 5 Years Categories accounting for 50% of responses: Professional Development and Training Cultural Awareness Leadership and Systemic Issues

Student Focus Groups Students used ‘district’ and school’ interchangeably Some questions had to be reframed for students so they were clear on what was being asked Comments were coded into 3 “themes”

Student Focus Groups: Contributing Factors 11/26/2017 8:06 AM Student Focus Groups: Contributing Factors 18 © 2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, Windows Vista and other product names are or may be registered trademarks and/or trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries. The information herein is for informational purposes only and represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation as of the date of this presentation. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided after the date of this presentation. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.

Student Focus Groups: Things District Needs to Change 11/26/2017 8:06 AM Student Focus Groups: Things District Needs to Change 19 © 2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, Windows Vista and other product names are or may be registered trademarks and/or trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries. The information herein is for informational purposes only and represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation as of the date of this presentation. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided after the date of this presentation. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.

Student Focus Groups: Student and Family Engagement 20 © 2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, Windows Vista and other product names are or may be registered trademarks and/or trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries. The information herein is for informational purposes only and represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation as of the date of this presentation. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided after the date of this presentation. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.

Shared Learning Pilot Partner District Meetings and Report Sharing MN Association of Special Educators- Spring Best Practices Conference Agency and Stakeholder Communications 21

Next Steps—Phase II Additional Focus Groups, Data Gathering Teachers, Staff Parents District Level Data—Deeper Dive Determine evidence-based practices based on data 22

Discussion Question 1 What strategies did your state use, or will your state use, to determine root cause in addressing your State Identified Measureable Result (SIMR)? 23

Discussion Question 2 What external stakeholders or consumers did you include to determine root cause? 24

Discussion Question 3 Based on what you heard today, how will this information inform next steps in your state to make progress on your SIMR? 25

Thank you!!! Questions? Comments? 26