Consultant Log Data Entry Review Special Education Improvement Consultant Meeting Hello, My name is Dana Desmond. I’m a Program Analyst with the Office of Special Education   The Purpose of this presentation is to demonstrate the new and Improved Consultant Logs. The current system collects quite of data, however, it is very difficult to get meaningful information out of the system. Not to mention the amount of time it takes for consultants to long the data. So the decision was made to develop a new system. This system is designed to take some of the guess work out of entering the log data, as well as generating more consistent data across all regions. This is done by providing drop-down options throughout the system based on selections you make. In addition, you will have many more user resources going forward and with your input over the next year, these resources can be even better. Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education January 5, 2016

Definitions Review Consultant Logs Definitions! A highly requested resource. In the past, there was a bit of confusion regarding what constitutes planning, communication, and collaboration verses, coaching and technical assistance. In developing the logs, I worked closely with the consolidated contract team to make sure these activities are clearly defined and are 100% consistent with the logs. We want to make sure everyone has the same understanding of the activities and expectations for each activity.

Planning, Communication, and Collaboration Occurs when: RPDC staff work together through informal discussions regarding specific problems pertaining to their work or development of new ideas to address specific issues related to their work . RPDC staff work with building staff to communicate about program events, expectations, or to plan training or coaching activities. RPDC staff work with program staff (DESE, contractors) to communicate about program events and/or implementation expectations/issues. Facilitating, networking, and communicating with leadership teams, staff, coaches, parents, and community. Occurs when: RPDC staff work together through informal discussions regarding specific problems pertaining to their work or development of new ideas to address specific issues related to their work . This may include, but is not limited to, RPDC staff working together to coordinate an event or to review data from an event, school, or the state. This does not include making copies of learning materials, packing of training materials, etc. RPDC staff work with CW building staff to communicate about CW events, expectations, or to plan training or coaching activities. RPDC staff work with CW staff (DESE, CW contractors) to communicate about CW events and/or implementation expectations/issues. This would not include Shared Learning, program area meetings, or meetings between CW staff and RPDC Directors. Facilitating, networking, and communicating with leadership teams, staff, coaches, parents, and community. Common Questions: All of these about connecting with others. What about the time spent preparing to deliver a training or coaching? For example, reviewing a schools data in preparation for coaching a data team. Or, reviewing/studying/practicing training content in preparation for delivering a training. These planning activities could be done alone—not in a group/communication/collaboration setting. So this would need to occur outside the monthly RPDC meeting because the meeting would be coded as “Meeting” instead of PCC?? May have to define informal as the contrast to agenda-driven, scheduled meetings.

Meeting Includes: Shared Learning program area meetings regional staff meetings state committee meetings. Other (requires text entry of the training title) Includes, but are not limited to, Shared Learning, program area meetings, regional staff meetings, and state committee meetings. Other is an option but will require text entry of the training title. Common Questions: Does it need to specify….is structure and has an agenda? Would site visits to RPDCs be a meeting? I would think so because it is structured with an agenda. It wouldn’t be the 3rd bullet above. For example, the 3rd bullet above would be a call to Ginger about expectations and budget.

Administrative Work: Administrative work is the day-to-day office work. Entry of Consultant Log data, Checking and responding to correspondence Making copies of learning materials Packing of training materials. Administrative work is the day-to-day office work. This includes, but is not limited to Entering Consultant Log data, Checking and responding to correspondence such as email and voicemail, making copies of learning materials, and packing of training materials.

Training Two Activity Types Training/Professional Development – provided Content provided to the school Training Coaching Technical Assistance Other (Description required) Training/Professional Development – received Content received for own professional development First, we have combined Training/Professional Development, since these are virtually interchangeable. In the future, we will just use the term Training, but for the first year, we included the term Professional Development to get everyone transitioned to common language across all regions. In addition, we have broken Training/PD into two categories to more clearly reflect the activity that is occurring. We now have: Training/Professional Development – provided This is content being delivered to a school or group Training is then broken out even further to include the different types of activities. Training Coaching Technical Assistance Other (Description is required). Again use caution when choosing to use Other Then we have Training/Professional Development – received This is any content received by you for the purpose of your own professional development

Training/(PD) –provided Training Teaching new information by using evidence-based training methods and materials, incorporating adult learning strategies, and including formal or experiential instruction to meet a pre-established learning objective. Examples of when training occurs includes, but is not limited to, when new information or skill needs to be learned, there is a gap in skills or knowledge as indicated by a needs assessment or self-assessment. We will now talk about the definitions for each Training/PD – provided activity in more detail Training is the…

Training/(PD) –provided Coaching Coaching reinforces and enhances skills already learned. Coaching may include, but is not limited to, facilitating and modeling the generalization of new and emerging skills to the school setting; solidifying new skills and abilities following training; supporting successful implementation of new skills to school settings; enhancing competencies to implement with fidelity; developing local implementation capacity and sustainability through gradual release; barriers are impeding the successful implementation; and, facilitation of a self-assessment and reflection through questioning techniques related to a skill already learned. Coaching …. READ SLIDE We would expect to see a very close mirroring of Training and Coaching, meaning, for coaching to happen, we would expect that training on that topic would have occurred first.

Training/(PD) –provided Technical Assistance Technical assistance is brief and does not go as in- depth as coaching. Technical assistance may include, but is not limited to, providing information to address a specific question or concern; problem solving specific problems or barriers; connecting staff to available resources; ensuring implementation practices are aligned with the DESE’s best practices; supporting the application of evidence-based practices; when an implementation dip occurs; and to ensure implementation practices are technically sound. Technical Assistance… These are things that are issues or questions that arise that may or may not be related to a training or coaching topic. As it states, it is brief and usually not a formal setting.

Training/(PD) –provided Other Used only when the activity does not fall in one of the other training categories Will require a description be entered Use sparingly We also have an Other category, but again use this when it does not fall under Training, Coaching, Technical Assistance.

Training/(PD) – received Training provided to RPDC staff for the purpose of professional development for RPDC staff. Training/PD-received does not include regional staff meetings, program area meetings, committee meetings, shared learning, or other meetings required by DESE. Training/PD-received may include, but is not limited to conferences or workshops attended for the purpose of RPDC staff professional development. This is Training received by the consultant for the purpose of his or her own PD. It does not include common meetings. There is a section for that elsewhere in the logs.

Review of Sample Data Handout

Tips Training Hrs Coaching Hrs PCC Hrs Travel Hrs Providing or Receiving Initial Delivery of Material Coaching Hrs Coaching/Technical Assistance provided Follow-up activities after Initial Training of content PCC Hrs Specific Project or Networking (on- or off-site) Travel Hrs Actual Travel Time Log under Administrative Activities

Remember Administrative Activities (other than travel hrs) In the office General Work Not easily logged as separate events logged under PCC Hrs Training/PD – Received Does not include regional staff meetings program area meetings committee meetings shared learning other meetings required by DESE Training/PD – Provided Must include at least one building/participant

Questions? Please contact the Office of Special Education at dana.desmond@dese.mo.gov or 573-751-0186 If you have any questions, concerns, thoughts or ideas, don’t hesitate to contact me. I can be contacted at dana.desmond@dese.mo.gov or at 573-751-0186. Thank you, and have a great day.