The Virtual Cooperative: Using Technology to Connect Schools to Special Education Resources Susan Fread Albrecht, Ed.D., NCSP Assistant Professor, Department of Special Education Director, Virtual Special Education Cooperative Ball State University November 9, 2006

Who we are Authorization Ball State University LEA for Indiana’s charter schools and the university laboratory school Population 35 charter schools, one laboratory school 951 students with disabilities All eligibility categories except dual-sensory impairment

Joints Services and Supply Agreement School responsibilities for services Day-to-day needs Teachers Curricula Equipment Funding state funds for students with disabilities general funds

VSEC responsibilities for services Administrative oversight Compliance: Federal statutes and state regulations Accountability December 1 student count Grants Funding: federal funds for students with disabilities

Related services Speech/language therapy Occupational and Physical therapies Psychoeducational evaluations Extenuating needs Teacher of Record (TOR): HI, VI Adaptive equipment Transportation to Indiana School for the Blind and Indiana School for the Deaf Residential placements

Using technology (* samples included) Direct communication in administrative procedures Professional development workshops Face-to-face conferencing with staff and parents Screening assessments Multi-site collaboration

Administrative support Case conferences Electronic IEPs Document access, storage, and transfer Website VSEC manual of process and procedures Pillars of Support * iLocker * Advisory Board meetings *

Professional development Live interactive broadcast, live video streaming, and archived video streaming Bi-monthly therapeutic services staff and quarterly psychological services staff meetings * Mini-modules: VSEC and state procedures * Formal methodology training

Direct services: Staff and student support Staff consultation Mentoring Discussion and focus groups Screening assessments To determine the extent of need for more formal assessment Progress monitoring

While “Virtual” in name, the staff members are certainly “visible” in their presence in person and through technology. Innovative uses of technology have streamlined time and travel commitments of the 13 full- time staff members while providing timely and quality services to schools located throughout the state.

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