Developing Readiness to Implement a Scaleable Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) Exploration and Adoption 8:30AM – 12:00PM June 27, 2012 Steve Goodman

Stages of ImplementationFocusStageDescription Exploration/Ado ption Decision regarding commitment to adopting the program/practices and supporting successful implementation. InstallationSet up infrastructure so that successful implementation can take place and be supported. Establish team and data systems, conduct audit, develop plan. Initial Implementation Try out the practices, work out details, learn and improve before expanding to other contexts. ElaborationExpand the program/practices to other locations, individuals, times- adjust from learning in initial implementation. Continuous Improvement/R egeneration Make it easier, more efficient. Embed within current practices. Work to do it right! Work to do it better! Should we do it!

Exploration/Adoption Big Ideas Districts explore/adopt implementation at a district level District are responsible for implementation supports (e.g., coaching, training) Not all schools need to ultimately implement (but plan for over 60% in district) Consensus/commitment from central administration Agreements Work to develop implementation plan Develop leadership/implementation support teams Large districts will invest in model demonstrations

Exploration/Adoption Is MTSS the right thing for us to do? Identifying Need Determining Fit Examining Evidence Can we do it the right way? Resource Availability Assessing Readiness Capacity to Implement

Practice Selection Is it the right thing to do? Identifying Need Determining Fit Examining Evidence

Identifying Need

Does the MTSS practice address identified student need? Does the MTSS practice address a staff need? Does the MTSS practice relate to an identified need within the school improvement process? Does the MTSS practice address needs broadly (across many individuals, multiple settings)? Is there community support for addressing this identified need?

Cost of Behavior Problems 1,792 office discipline 15 minutes per incident = 26,880 minutes = 448 hours/8 days= 56 days lost instructional time

Determining Fit

Is the MTSS practice aligned with school/district values and culture? Is the MTSS practice compatible with the educational philosophy of the school community? Is the MTSS practice compatible with priorities identified by the school improvement process related to student performance? Would the MTSS practice fit within the current organizational structure? Are there other programs that may compete with the proposed MTSS practice?

Alignment with District Mission The Grand Haven Area Public Schools are committed to the expectation that all students will learn. It is our obligation to provide each student in our community a positive environment for learning so they will experience success and realize their fullest potential. This school district accepts the responsibility to work in partnership with the community to provide an excellent education that will prepare all learners for the challenges of a changing global society.

Alignment with District Goals 1.All students will be connected to an extra- curricular or co-curricular activity 2.Provide all students with relevant learning experiences that result in success. 3.Design and implement a rigorous curriculum, with aligned instruction and assessment strategies, pre K Develop organizational structures that support relationships and learning. ✔ ✔ ✔

Examining Evidence

We embrace explicitly the proposition that effective practice and popular practice are very likely two different things. Doug Reeves

Examining Evidence Do school personnel have the necessary skills required to: –Examine research or scientific evidence? –Analyze and use data to make decisions? –Understand effect size, efficacy and effectiveness information? Is there sufficient evidence to suggest that the program or practice is successful with students/staff like us? Is there sufficient evidence to suggest that the program or practice is successful in settings like our (given similar resources)?

Take a moment to discuss with a colleague... 1.How do you know if an intervention is research based? Your Turn

NCLB Defines Scientifically Based Reading Research as: (A) applies rigorous, systematic, and objective procedures to obtain valid knowledge relevant to reading development, reading instruction, and reading difficulties; and (B) includes research that: –(i) employs systematic, empirical methods that draw on observation or experiment; –(ii) involves rigorous data analyses that are adequate to test the stated hypotheses and justify the general conclusions drawn; –(iii) relies on measurements or observational methods that provide valid data across evaluators and observers and across multiple measurements and observations; and –(iv) has been accepted by a peer-reviewed journal or approved by a panel of independent experts through a comparably rigorous, objective, and scientific review. (20 U. S. C. § 6368(6)) Understanding Scientifically-Based Instruction adapted from B. Harn, 2010

Programs can be categorized into two groups: Scientifically proven —meaning scientific results have already been published in peer-reviewed journals using the previously described scientific rigor –Right now only 5% or less of the available research evidence on school reform strategies have clearly demonstrated effects (National Clearinghouse for Comprehensive School Reform, 2003) Research-based —meaning the methods, content, materials, etc. were developed in guidance from the collective research and scientific community –“There is an abundance of promotional literature that is often presented as “evidence.” Buyer beware! Work to the highest standard possible.” (National Clearinghouse for Comprehensive School Reform, 2003) The responsibility is on each educator to examine and look for evidence before the money is spent and the program imposed on children Understanding Scientifically-Based Instruction adapted from B. Harn, 2010

Understanding Scientifically-Based Instruction Resources of Different Groups that Have Reviewed a Range of Reading Programs: –Oregon Reading First –Florida Center for Reading Research –The What Works Clearing House has reviewed math programs and is in the process of reviewing reading programs Resources for Research-Based Approaches –Peer refereed scientific journals such as Learning Disabilities Research & Practice, Exceptional Children, Journal of Learning Disabilities, etc. –University of Texas at Austin adapted from B. Harn, 2010

Practice Selection Can we do it the right way? Resource Availability Assessing Readiness Capacity to Implement

Resource Availability

Do we have the necessary fiscal resources will be needed to implement? Do we have the necessary personnel resources needed to implement? Do we have the necessary technology resources needed to implement? Do we have the necessary data and information resources needed to implement? Do we have the necessary training and coaching resources needed to implement? Do current practices require change, adjustment or elimination?

Assessing Readiness

Is there a commitment to the practice ? Has that commitment been assessed and quantified? Do we meet personnel requirements regarding implementation readiness? Do we meet organizational requirements regarding implementation readiness?

Doing the same thing but expecting a different result

How to Use the Data to Get Buy-in: for District and Building Level Staff Share visuals (graphs) on a regular basis The visuals are a powerful tool: –To let staff know the extra work they are doing is paying off –To show specific areas that may need a more intense focus Emphasize the “Team” process

Challenges to Obtaining Commitment Reasons for making changes are not perceived as compelling enough Staff feel a lack of ownership in the process Insufficient modeling from leadership Staff lack a clear vision of how the changes will impact them personally Insufficient system of support

Possible Solutions to overcoming commitment challenges Develop a common understanding Enlist leaders with integrity, authority, resources and willingness to assist Expect, respect and respond to resistance (encourage questions and discussion) Clarify how changes align with other initiatives Emphasize clear and imminent consequences for not changing Emphasize benefits –Conservation of time/effort –Alignment of processes/goals –Greater professional accountability Stay in touch with peer leaders during the change process- create constant source of feedback!!

Central Considerations Who are the stakeholders (internal & external)? –Who will be participating in implementation? –Who will be impacted? –Who is in a position to facilitate/hinder implementation?

Central Considerations How and by who will information be shared and reinforced? –Inservice? –Staff meetings –Public meetings? –Newsletters? –Other?

So, begin to think about… Who needs to be on board What information they need How to communicate that information How you’ll know when you have consensus Don’t let perfection become the enemy of good!

Strategies to Develop “Commitment” Use the existing database Conduct staff surveys Develop an “election” process for the moving forward

Use the Existing Database Where behaviors are occurring (i.e., setting) What types of behaviors are occurring What types of consequence was delivered to discipline students When problems behaviors occur most frequently How many discipline referrals, suspensions, and/or expulsions occurred last school year How many faculty are absent daily Other (loss of instruction time, student absences, etc.)

How to Use the Data to Get Faculty Buy-in Share visuals (graphs) with faculty on a regular basis The visuals are a powerful tool: –To let staff know the extra work they are doing is paying off –To show specific areas that may need a more intense focus Emphasize the “Team” process

Time Cost of a Discipline Referral (Avg. 45 minutes per student per incident) 1000 Referrals/yr2000 Referrals/yr Administrator Time 500 Hours1000 Hours Teacher Time250 Hours500 Hours Student Time750 Hours1500 Hours Totals1500 Hours3000 Hours

Instructional Days Lost (August-March)

Average Referrals Per Day Per Month

Conduct Staff Surveys Staff surveys are an efficient way to: –Obtain staff feedback –Create involvement without holding more meetings –Generate new ideas –Build a sense of faculty ownership

Sample Staff Survey Items Check the OUTCOMES below that you would like to achieve at our school…  Increase in attendance  Improvement in academic performance  Increase in the number of appropriate student behaviors  Students and teachers report a more positive and calm environment  Reduction in the number of behavioral disruptions, referrals, and incident reports

What Other Schools Have Found Effective Key staff present SWPBS information at staff meeting, describing benefits (and potential challenges) to rest of staff After the overview at a faculty meeting staff signs on chart paper labeled Yes/No/Need More Information Show sections of the school-wide video

Coopersville Schools Peach Plains Sand Creek Other Examples of Obtaining Commitment

What does 80% buy in mean? Consensus means that I agree to: Provide input in determining what our school’s problems are and what our goals should be Make decisions about rules, expectations, and procedures in the commons areas of the school as a school community Follow through with all school-wide decisions, regardless of my feelings for any particular decision Commit to positive behavior support systems for a full year - allowing performance toward our goal to determine future plans

Your Turn Take this time to write some thoughts on the “Considerations for Building Commitment” worksheet

What if the practice is Mandated? Need to communicate importance of the practice based on selection criteria, Why is this good for kids? How does it improve what we do? What results should we see?

So, as central administration, what are we committing to? Promoting visibility of the project Securing and protecting resources & time from competing activities Providing encouragement and acknowledgement for the team’s efforts

So, as a building administrator, what am I committing to? Attending the trainings and meeting with your team at least monthly. Combining teams and initiatives that have the same focus. Protecting team members and staff from competing initiatives and tasks

So, as a building leadership team member, what am I committing to? Attending the trainings and meeting at least monthly as a team? Using data and information to identify areas of focus and make decisions. Developing steps for implementation of activities and seeing that they are accomplished. Providing ongoing information to staff regarding activities, results, and training opportunities.

So, as school staff, what am I committing to? Implement MTSS practices as directed by the building leadership team Collect information on student outcomes Use data for decision making

Your Turn Are the staff committed to implementation of MTSS for the next 3-5 years?Are the staff committed to implementation of MTSS for the next 3-5 years? Do they know what they are committing to?Do they know what they are committing to?

Capacity to Implement

Do staff members meet the qualifications needed for implementation? Is there a decision making process for selection for staff training? Is there political will and commitment to build capacity? Could capacity to implement be sustained over time? Can we cover cost to build and sustain capacity?

Administrator’s support and active involvement Administrator attends ALL trainings and team meetings. Administrator provides allocation of resources for MTSS implementation Administrator puts time on staff agenda for MTSS updates Administrator actively promotes MTSS as priority, integrates with other initiatives/improvement activities

Administration’s Roles and Responsibilities ALL administrators are encouraged to participate in the process Administrator should play an active role in the school-wide MTSS change process Administrators should actively communicate their commitment to the process Administrator should be familiar with school’s current data and reporting system If a principal is not committed to the change process, it is unwise to move forward in the process

Take a moment to discuss with your colleagues… –Do you currently have capacity to implement MTSS with fidelity? –If a district does not the capacity, how might capacity be leveraged or accessed outside of the local district? Your Turn

Take a moment to look at the communication plan worksheet: Would this be helpful in developing a communication plan for your district?Would this be helpful in developing a communication plan for your district? What might you change on the worksheet to make it more useful?What might you change on the worksheet to make it more useful? Your Turn

Review the examples of both practice selection tools provided to youReview the examples of both practice selection tools provided to you Discuss the following:Discuss the following: –What need within the district should/could be considered using this process? –What practice might you consider to examine using this process? –Review these examples carefully and identify gaps in your local habits around practice selection. –What could be done immediately to improve district procedures around practice selection? Your Turn

Exploration/Adoption Outcomes Central level administration can identify the critical features of the program (e.g., creating a district implementation plan, regularly scheduled meetings to review progress and adjust plan accordingly, provide for coaching/training) A district exploration team which includes cabinet level administrators investigates whether the district has the capacity to support implementation (funding, resources, time, skills) 100% of district staff responsible for overseeing educational program within district are committed to supporting and implementing the program

Are building staff generally paying attention to both student outcome data and fidelity of implementation data? Your Turn

Practice Selection: TOOL TOOL

Please take a moment to write and review your notes Discuss your thoughts with others Your Turn