Leading with Wonder National Title I Conference February 2015 U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) Office of State Support (OSS)

Leveraging Resources to Improve Outcomes for All Students U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and Office of State Support (OSS) February 2015 Lisa Pagano Christine Pilgrim Dan Schreier Jamila Smith

 Overview of the Office of Special Education’s final report on Leveraging Federal funds  Examples of how Federal funds can be leveraged to improve student outcomes  Share future steps the Department plans to take to further support State and LEAs Session Objectives U.S. Department of Education3

 Leverage points  Short term -  Technical assistance  Awareness of updated regulations  Information Clarification & dissemination  Long term –  Student data reporting & accountability Leveraging Federal Funds Focus Group U.S. Department of Education4

Leveraging Resources Braided Funding Financial assistance from individual funding streams to States, local governments and other pass-through entities is coordinated by all stakeholders so each individual award maintains its award-specific identity Blended Funding Financial assistance from individual funding streams to States, local governments and other pass-through entities is merged by all stakeholders into one award and each individual award loses its award-specific identity U.S. Department of Education5

6 Leveraging Resources: Schoolwide Programs

“A schoolwide program is a comprehensive reform strategy designed to upgrade the entire educational program in a Title I school; its primary goal is to ensure that all students, particularly those who are low achieving, demonstrate proficient and advanced levels of achievement on State academic achievement standards.” Designing Schoolwide Programs Non- Regulatory Guidance, pg. 2, March 2006, lead/account/swp.html U.S. Department of Education7 Schoolwide Programs

To operate a schoolwide program, a school must:  Conduct a comprehensive needs assessment to determine how students are performing academically and what factors are contributing to poor performance.  Develop a comprehensive schoolwide plan that describes the strategies the school will use to meet the needs identified through the needs assessment.  Annually evaluate the implementation of, and results achieved by, the schoolwide program and revise the plan, as necessary, to ensure continuous improvement. Comprehensive Needs Assessment U.S. Department of Education8

 Positive behavioral supports or school climate interventions (e.g., improve attendance, counteract bullying)  Advanced coursework preparation (e.g., intensive summer school courses, after-school tutoring)  Improvements to a school’s kindergarten literacy curriculum  Hiring outside partners to support the school’s leadership team Using Title I, Part A ARRA Funds for Grants to Local Educational Agencies to Strengthen Education, Drive Reform and Improve Results for Students, at guidance/titlei-reform.doc (which also applies to regular Title I funds) Uses of Title I Funds in a Schoolwide program U.S. Department of Education 9

 The following are examples of turnaround and reform- related activities for which schoolwide program schools may be able to use Title I funds to:  Prepare low-achieving students to participate in advanced coursework (e.g., Advanced Placement and/ or International Baccalaureate classes).  Hire outside data experts to build capacity to analyze student data more effectively.  Extend time for teachers to review data and identify interventions that can better meet the needs of students. U.S. Department of Education10 School Turnaround : Title I Schoolwide program

 LEAs seeking to support a professional development activity for teachers on college- and career-ready standards to improve student academic achievement in low-performing Title I schools could generally focus on Title I, Title II, and IDEA, Part B as possible funding sources.  Title II, Part A - a wide variety of PD activities  IDEA, Part B - PD aimed at ensuring regular education teachers have the knowledge and skills to support the children with disabilities in their classrooms Professional Development: Title I Schoolwide and other Federal programs U.S. Department of Education11

 As part of a comprehensive plan in a Title I schoolwide program school, Title I funds can be used to transition to schoolwide blended learning or personalized learning models.  Title II, Part A : LEAs can hire coaches or help schools tailor professional learning to the needs of individual educators.  Title III, Part A : Improve instruction for ELs by acquiring digital learning resources.  IDEA, Part B : Specific assistive technology devices and services, identified by the IEP team as needed by an individual student. U.S. Department of Education12 Digital Learning: Title I Schoolwide and other Federal programs

Blending Title I and IDEA funds in a schoolwide program has been permissible since IDEA’s reauthorization in 1997 Blending Schoolwide and IDEA funds U.S. Department of Education13 Blending is permissible as long as students with disabilities, included in such schoolwide programs:  receive services in accordance with a properly developed Individualized Education Program (IEP); and  are afforded all of the rights and services guaranteed to children with disabilities under IDEA 34 CFR § (c)

U.S. Department of Education14 Leveraging Resources: Coordinated Early Intervening Services (CEIS) 34 CFR §

Coordinated Early Intervening Services (CEIS) is a set of coordinated services for students in kindergarten through grade 12 (with a particular emphasis on students in K-3) who are not currently identified as needing special education or related services, but who need additional academic and behavioral support to succeed in a general education environment. 613(f) of IDEA; 34 CFR § (a) Leveraging Resources: CEIS U.S. Department of Education15

 CEIS funds may only be used to provide interventions to students who need academic or behavioral support to succeed in the general education environment.  CEIS funds may not be used to provide interventions to students who are currently identified as needing special education and related services. Leveraging Resources: CEIS U.S. Department of Education16

CEIS funds may be used for:  Professional development for teachers and other school staff to enable personnel to deliver scientifically based academic and behavioral interventions;  Direct interventions, such as educational and behavioral evaluations, services, and supports; and  Services aligned with activities funded under the ESEA. § 613(f) of IDEA; 34 CFR § (b) Leveraging Resources: CEIS U.S. Department of Education17

FFY 2009/ SY FFY 2010/ SY FFY 2011/ SY # of LEAs/ESAs required to reserve funds for CEIS due to significant disproportionality 405 (2.7%) 356 (2.4%) 345 (2.3%) # of LEAs/ESAs that voluntarily reserved funds for CEIS 1,597 (10.7%) 1,337 (8.9%) 1,270 (8.6%) # of children who received CEIS during reporting period 1,190,8131,258,9881,008,488 # of children who received CEIS any time in past two school years and received special education and related services in reporting period 135,718180,784149,778 1 Based on preliminary analysis of FFY 2010/SY Table 8 data 2 Based on preliminary analysis of FFY 2011/SY Table 8 data Leveraging Resources: CEIS U.S. Department of Education18

Examples  A district placed behavior specialists in middle and high schools with the highest number of suspensions to help students develop coping and anger management skills and to help teachers identify alternative strategies to address student misconduct.  Although some students showed no improvement with CEIS, the information staff collected while providing CEIS helped staff more accurately identify children who needed special education services. See GAO IDEA: Early Intervening Services (February 2013) Leveraging Resources: CEIS U.S. Department of Education 19

ROLE LEASEAUSDE Clarify CEIS requirementsXXX Develop and implement methods to ensure appropriate use of CEIS funds XXX Establish and implement mechanisms for required reporting XXX Provide technical assistance and training to support appropriate implementation XXX Review CEIS data and evaluate resultsXXX Leveraging Resources: CEIS U.S. Department of Education20

U.S. Department of Education21 Leveraging Resources: IDEA’s Other State-level Activities 34 CFR § (b)

 Voluntary: “States may reserve a portion of their allocations” § (b)(1)  Approximately 10% of each State’s IDEA allocation is available for Other State-level activities  This amount exceeds $1 billion available on a yearly basis Leveraging Resources: Other State-level activities U.S. Department of Education22

State-level activities can be braided with other Federal/State funds for:  Technical assistance  Personnel preparation and professional development and training  Positive behavioral interventions and supports  Technology in the classroom Leveraging Resources: Other State-level activities U.S. Department of Education23

State-level activities can be braided with other Federal/State funds for:  Assist in meeting personnel shortages  Capacity building activities and improving the delivery of services  Alternative programming for children who have been expelled from school Leveraging Resources: Other State-level activities U.S. Department of Education24

Notable Policy Letters/Documents that reference other State level activities:  OSEP Letter to DeTemple For example, if school building leadership team activities are being supported and 10% of the children in the school building are children with disabilities, then 10% of the cost of the building leadership activities could be funded using funds available under 34 CFR § (b)(1). “…allocating some of the funds available under 34 CFR § (b)(1) in a proportional manner would be permissible, along with other Federal and State funds, to the costs of technical assistance and capacity building activities.” Leveraging Resources: Other State-level activities U.S. Department of Education25

OSEP Letter to Batson “… [the] State’s use of Part B IDEA State set-aside funds to fully fund its PBS initiative, which provides professional development, training and technical assistance on positive behavioral interventions to general educators, administrators and support staff, as well as to staff who provide special education and related services to children with disabilities, is permissible.” Leveraging Resources: Other State-level activities U.S. Department of Education26

U.S. Department of Education27

U.S. Department of Education28 Next Steps

 OSEP Memo /osep08-09coordinatedearlyinterveningservices.dochttps://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/memosdcltrs /osep08-09coordinatedearlyinterveningservices.doc.  Implementing RTI Using Title I, Title III, and CEIS Funds: Key Issues for Decision-Makers  Enter “CEIS plans” in your browser to find examples of LEA written plans for using IDEA Part B funds for CEIS and SEA guidance documents Additional Resources U.S. Department of Education29

Thank you! Key Contact Information: Lisa Pagano (OSEP): Christine Pilgrim (OSEP): Dan Schreier (OESP): Jamila Smith (OSS):