2011 OSEP Leadership Mega Conference Collaboration to Achieve Success from Cradle to Career 2.0 Improving Student Outcomes: Using Technical Assistance to Facilitate Implementation of Evidence-based Practices Colleen Riley, Director of Special Education, Kansas State Dept. of Education Kerry Haag, Assistant Director of Special Education, Kansas State Dept. of Education Crystal Davis, Coordinator, Kansas Technical Assistance System Network 215/227 repeated -S

Why the Change in Kansas? Increased expectations and accountability requirements Limited resources at all levels Categorical facelifts performed but reliance still exhibited More importantly… Not yet achieving the desired results for students Identified SEA Need: An overhaul of statewide TA system

From…. Kansas Statewide Technical Assistance Resource System (KSTARS) cycle ended Some projects conceived on disability specific statewide personnel needs Research-based & results-based staff development practices in place Degree & expectations for coordination with SEA and other KSTAR providers inconsistent among projects No system for SPP/APR improvement activity data retrieval

To…System Designed for Results State Board goals & policy alignment IDEA SPP/APR indicator clusters a priority Scaling-up supports needed in key areas Family engagement integrated component Beliefs and principles drive state TA system Tiered framework for delivery of assistance Data drives the level of support provided Can enter and retrieve impact of professional development from one access point

Exploration Milestones Summer 2008 State Director forms internal SEA planning team Fall 2008 Guided book study on Implementation Science SEA Staff and current KSTAR statewide providers Small cross project teams met face-face Held conference calls for entire network Stakeholder feedback and planning obtained Studied applications of Implementation Science Reviewed state data Determined areas of need Generated ideas and possible approaches Winter 2009: Subgroup formed and drafts concept proposal for KSDE Special Education Administration – Delivery and organization of TA re-conceptualized – Established the Core Value and Beliefs – Included Levels of Support to be provided – Shared with State Advisory Council, staff, providers

Installation Milestones October 1, 2009RFP released October 13, bidders conference calls October 23, 2009Letters of intent to submit received December 14, 2009Final KSTARS meeting held December 30, 2009TASN Proposals deadline January 13, 2009Proposals paneled & rec for funding February 9, 2010State Board award approval May 21, st Networking meeting held July 1, 2010 TASN TASN Year 1 begins! Start new 5 year grant cycle October nd Networking meeting held October 2011www.ksdetasn.org launchedwww.ksdetasn.org December rd Networking meeting held Feb-March 2011 Mid-year progress meetings held May 5, rd Networking meeting held May 10, 2011Yearly continuation due July 1, 2011TASN Year 2 begins!

Stakeholder’s Driving Questions – How can TA provided to districts (LEAs) change to more effectively support the implementation of evidence-based practices? – How can data be utilized to identify LEA need for support at differing levels of intensity? – How can sufficiently intense supports be provided so that LEAs can effectively implement evidence- based interventions? – How will SEA staff roles & responsibilities be redefined? – How will KSTARs (statewide projects) be impacted?

Standard Principles of Operation Standard Principles of Operation articulate expectations and outcomes for ALL priority areas and across all part of the SES TA System.

Common Approach Capacity building with emphasis on fidelity & sustainability. An emphasis and support for utilizing the principles contained in the implementation research. Continuation and scaling-up to address priority areas. Alignment and coordination regardless of funding stream.

Scaling-Up SPP/APR Cluster 1: Graduation, Dropout, Suspension/Expulsion, Transition Services, and Post Secondary Outcomes Goal: Provide implementation focused supports for districts to improve outcomes for students with disabilities in the areas of graduation/dropout, suspension/expulsion, transition services and post secondary outcomes.

Scaling Up SPP/APR Cluster 2: Assessment in Reading and Math, Reading and Math Proficiency, and Least Restrictive Environment Goal: Provide implementation focused supports for districts to improve outcomes for students with disabilities in the areas of reading and math achievement and providing services to students in the least restrictive environment.

Scaling Up Technical Assistance System Coordination & Evaluation Goal: Scaling-Up the stages of implementation and implementation drivers to build system capacity that support districts’ use of evidence based practices with fidelity in collaboration with SES TASN.

Continuation Multi-Tier System of Supports: MTSS Goal: Continue to build the infrastructure for the MTSS training system that will ensure sustainability.

Who are the TASN Providers? Staff members from: – SEA – State Personnel Development Grant – Education Service Center – Parent Training Information Center – Parent Information Resource Center – Universities (in/out of state) – State schools – Non-profit affiliate

Technical Assistance System Network Vision Evidence-based technical assistance to Kansas school districts is coordinated, based on sound data, and leads to improved outcomes for children and their families. Mission The TASN supports Kansas districts’ systematic implementation of evidence-based practices by establishing and maintaining communication and work alignment among all technical assistance providers in the network.

Purpose of TASN To increase the capacity of districts to implement and sustain the use of evidence-based practices that address priority areas determined by the Kansas State Department of Education Special Education Services Team (KSDE-SES).

TASN Belief System Priorities and resource allocation should, can, and will shift based on state data and other factors. All staff have the knowledge and skills necessary to provide the technical assistance outlined in project proposals and other KSDE directed activities designed to address priority areas. All services provided by TASN are focused on increasing district capacity to implement and sustain the identified evidence-based practices addressed in district improvement efforts. Intensity of TA (TASN resource commitment) is proportionate to district need.

A Tiered System In general, we are working to effectively provide 3 levels of support – Level 1: Available to all districts – Level 2: Available to some districts – Level 3: Available to a few districts

Shared Responsibility

TASN Website – Single Point of Access Common Calendar Resource Depot TASN TA Request System TA Provider Service Tracking

Logic Model Guides Evaluation 29

Examples of Evaluation Measures Completed by TASN providers – Fact Sheet Survey – Year End Update – Fidelity of Implementation Checklist Completed by District staff members – TA Request Site Survey – End of Training Questionnaire – Focus Groups Other state data

Some preliminary results… Not all measures for the system are in place We don’t have a full year of any system measure… In the process of compiling our first year’s system data

SPP/APR Indicator Level Links Individual indicator data collection system development, deployment & training Data analysis Generation of district public reports SPP/APR database & website for report production, writing, and management

Improvement Activity Management Planning – Activity implementation – Impact data collection (who, how, when) Implementation – Monitoring improvement activity progress – Ensuring collaboration and alignment Evaluation – Activity level – TASN System Logic Model tied to indicators

Challenges & Future Directions Refine processes for monitoring state improvement activities. Coordination among providers inside our system and establishing relationships with providers outside our system. Using the data to inform decisions as we refine TA supports. Internal PD for providers