An Overview April 2012

Why What How Where When Who ?

WHY – Federal and State Policies ESEA/ IDEA 2004 Improved Student Outcomes Policy 2510 Policy 5310 Policy 2512 Policy 4373 Policy 2419

WHY – WVDE Policies

WHY – Purpose of SPL The West Virginia Support for Personalized Learning (SPL) framework is a state-wide initiative that suggests flexible use of resources to provide relevant academic, social/emotional and/or behavioral support to enhance learning for ALL students. SPL is designed to improve outcomes for students with a variety of academic and behavioral needs.

Core Principles of SPL Effective leadership at all levels is crucial for the implementation of SPL. Positive school culture provides the foundation on which all instruction occurs and all students are engaged in learning. Collaboration among educators and families is the foundation of effective problem-solving and instructional decision-making. Ongoing and meaningful involvement of families increases student success. Student results are improved when ongoing academic and behavioral performance data are used to inform instructional decisions.

Core Principles of SPL ALL Students can learn and achieve high standards as a result of effective teaching. ALL students must have access to a rigorous standards-based curriculum and research-based instruction. Intervening at the earliest indication of need is necessary for student success (Prek-12). A comprehensive system of multi-level instruction is essential for addressing the full range of student needs. ALL members of the school community must continue to gain knowledge and develop expertise in order to build capacity and sustainability.

WHAT – Six Essential Components of SPL Leadership Improved Student Outcomes School Climate and Culture Curriculum and Instruction Teams and Processes Assessments Family and Community Partnerships

Leadership State Guidance Document Self-assessment tools Website providing professional development materials and resources RESA Providing Professional Development Facilitating sharing and building consensus Forming Regional Leadership Team District Developing leadership roles Defining and communicating criteria used to make decisions Providing professional development Acquiring and disseminating relevant resources School Supporting team problem-solving Developing a plan to strengthen essential components of SPL Managing time and schedules to focus on identified needs

School Climate and Culture Positive school climate consists of three primary domains: Engagement Safety Environment A positive school culture exists when key elements of a positive school climate are in place. A caring school community Instruction in appropriate behavior and social problem-solving skills Effective academic instruction

School Climate and Culture Practices Defining and consistently teaching expectations of behavior for students, parents and educators Acknowledging and recognizing students and adults consistently for appropriate behaviors Monitoring, correcting or reteaching behavioral errors Engaging teachers in a collaborative team problem-solving process that uses data to guide instruction Including families in culturally-sensitive, solution-focused approach to supporting student learning

Teams and Processes Problem-Solving Team Composed of teachers (general and special educators), specialists, parents and school level administrator Plans intensive instruction for students Promotes shared responsibility for student learning Collects and reviews data Evaluates responsiveness to intense instruction

Problem-Solving Process Teams and Processes Problem-Solving Process

Problem-Solving Process Teams and Processes Problem-Solving Process Team Members Steps in the Process School Level Administrator Meeting Facilitator Recorder Time Keeper Parent Persons with Expertise in: Data Customized Instruction Academic/ Behavioral Community Resources Progress Monitoring Identify and Define Needs What is the Problem? Analyze the Problem Why is the Problem Occurring? Develop a Plan What are we going to do about it? Implement and Monitor the Plan How will we monitor progress? Evaluate and Adjust the Plan Did it work?

Family and Community Partnerships Effective partnerships include: Parents Families Students Community Members Educators Indicators of effective partnerships: Sharing information Problem-solving Celebrating student successes Central to effective partnerships is the recognition of shared responsibility and ownership of student challenges and successes.

Family and Community Partnerships Key Roles Collaborate with teachers regarding identified need Share information about child and family as appropriate Support student learning at home Attend Problem-Solving Team meeting Partner in instructional planning and progress monitoring

Assessment Purpose of Assessment Identify strengths and needs of individual students Inform problem-solving process Inform instruction and necessary adjustments Evaluate the effectiveness of instruction at different levels of the system (e.g. classrooms, school, district) Inform educational decisions

Assessment Types Screening/Interim Purpose: Inform determination of risk status and indicate need for additional support and/or assessment Formative/Classroom Purpose: Determine response to instruction and indicate direction for most appropriate instructional adjustments Progress Monitoring Purpose: Determine if students are making progress toward specific skills, processes and understandings and inform school-wide action plans Diagnostic Purpose: Assist teachers in adjusting the type and degree of scaffolding, in differentiating instruction, and in picking up patterns of strengths and weaknesses Summative Purpose: Inform the system and provide a longitudinal view of curricular strengths and weaknesses

Curriculum and Instruction

Curriculum and Instruction CORE Provides foundation of curriculum and school organization that has a high probability (80% of students responding) of bringing students to a high level of achievement in all areas of development/content Choose curricula that has evidence of producing optimal levels of achievement (evidence-based curriculum) TARGETED Supplemental curriculum aligned with CORE and designed to meet the specific needs of targeted group (15%) INTENSIVE Focused curriculum designed to meet the specific needs of the targeted group and/or individual (5%)

Curriculum and Instruction CORE Instruction Utilizes differentiated and scaffolded instruction to meet students’ needs Incorporates small group activities Focuses on the most critical standards and objectives Utilizes evidence from summative and ongoing formative assessment to make instructional decisions Maximizes instructional time Emphasizes 24/7 learning

Curriculum and Instruction TARGETED Support SPL endorses the value of instructional supports at the TARGETED level including: Differentiating, scaffolding and using multi-modal strategies to engage students Providing explicit instruction that emphasizes skill building as well as contextualized instruction that emphasizes application of skills Peer interaction to scaffold student understanding Teacher use of learning progressions within the standards and objectives as guidance for constructing scaffolding Accommodations that affect how a student learns, not what they are expected to learn

Curriculum and Instruction INTENSIVE Support SPL endorses the value of instructional supports at the INTENSIVE level including: Intensified scaffolding and time: suggested to occur 3 to 5 times per week for class sessions of 30 to 60 minutes Smaller groups of similarly-skilled and needs-alike students or one-to-one Most likely to occur outside the general education classroom May occur before, during or after the school day dependent on available resources and personnel. SPL does not promote: INTENSIVE support replacing opportunity to receive instruction in science, social studies, physical education and the arts Isolated skill drill requiring students to independently make generalizations and connections back to the CORE content.

HOW-WHEN-WHERE-WHO – Putting It All Together CORE Improved Student Outcomes TARGETED Progress Monitoring INTENSIVE Problem-Solving Screening

CORE Level – SUGGESTED FOCUS: all students INSTRUCTION: WV Next Generation Content Standards and Objectives and instructional practices that are evidence-based and incorporate differentiated instruction and scaffolding LOCATION: general education classroom ASSESSMENT: screening/interim, formative/ classroom; screening all-beginning, some-middle, end

CORE Level – SUGGESTED BEHAVIOR SUPPORT: effective school-wide behavior supports GROUP SIZE: flexible grouping-students move to groups as appropriate TIME: sufficient time for mastery of content and behavioral expectations GOAL: demonstrated learning of grade-level standards or above

TARGETED Level – SUGGESTED FOCUS: students identified through screening as at-risk or as exceeding grade-level standards INSTRUCTION: targeted, supplemental instruction delivered to small groups LOCATION: general education classroom or other general education location within the school; before, during, after school, interim, summer ASSESSMENT: progress monitoring every 2-3 weeks; diagnostic

TARGETED Level – SUGGESTED BEHAVIOR SUPPORT: specialized positive behavior plans provided/monitored by teacher, specialists, parents GROUP SIZE: small groups of students with similar skills and needs TIME: 15-30 minutes per session, 3-5 sessions per week LENGTH: 9 weeks minimum prior to INTENSIVE GOAL: eliminate gap between present achievement and grade-level expectations and the gap between instruction and what students need

INTENSIVE Level – SUGGESTED FOCUS: students who have not responded to CORE and TARGETED level instruction INSTRUCTION: intensive, supplemental instruction delivered to small groups or individually LOCATION: general education location within the school; may be pull-out; before, during, after school, interim, summer ASSESSMENT: progress monitoring every 1-2 weeks; diagnostic

INTENSIVE Level – SUGGESTED BEHAVIOR SUPPORT: assessment of student behaviors (FBA) and development of specialized behavior plans with teacher, specialist, parents GROUP SIZE: individual or very small groups of students with similar skills and needs TIME: 30-60 minutes per session, 3-5 sessions per week LENGTH: 9 weeks minimum prior to referral GOAL: eliminate or narrow gap between present achievement and grade-level expectations and gap between instruction and what students need

SPL FRAMEWORK: A Quick Reference Guide