Regional Task Force Groups Prepared Summary of the 2005 – 2006 Final Reports for Initiative #5 NY Higher Education Support Center for SystemsChange Syracuse University September 2006

Regional Task Force Groups  6 of 7 Regions actively engaged & funded  Regional liaisons and co-liaisons coordinate efforts  Regional TF membership may include IHEs, SETRC, RSSC, Teacher Center reps, LEAs, parents, community members and IDEA organizations

Regional Task Force Groups  Regional participation may be different than engagement at Statewide level  Regional members participating in Statewide activities (initiatives, study groups, leadership groups, Learning Communities) provide feedback to regional colleagues  Share common goals

Goal 1:  To plan and implement quality inclusive teacher preparation programs, or to enhance the quality of those already implemented; and

Goal 2: To engage in and to support the professional development efforts of selected high need schools in the seven regions of New York State.

Long Island – Goal 1:  A study of the inclusive education practices of Long Island SIG school districts: Amityville, William Floyd, Roosevelt, Central Islip, and Freeport  the study will inform current and future teacher preparation programs

Long Island – Goal 1:  Summit for Administrators of high need schools to share information about inclusive practices and inform teacher preparation programs

Long Island – Goal 2  NYIT continued a 4 year partnership with Central Islip Union Free Schools  NYIT continued four year partnership with Wyandanch  A new partnership between NYIT and Amityville.

Long Island – Goal 2  Hofstra has continued the 4 year partnership with Amityville  Hofstra developed a partnership with Roosevelt  New Partnership between Molloy College & Copiague UFSD

NYC – Goal 1:  Sponsored a conference, “Creating an Inclusive Environment for All Students,” at Pace University in New York City  Increased interaction among IHEs re: the issues in designing & implementing inclusive teacher preparation programs.

NYC – Goal 1:  Engaged Related Service participation in Task Force  Engaged preservice teachers and preservice OT providers at the Conference  NYCTF created electronic resources for regional use including a directory and weblinks

NYC – Goal 2:  Increased the visibility of the NYCTF throughout the public school system and the school community.  Over 500 people attended the conference. Over 100 people were turned away.  TF members Parent to Parent arranged for Theater of Dreams (student) performance at conference

NYC – Goal 2:  30 schools were nominated by Parents of Inclusive Education (PIE) and by members of the NYCTF to receive certificates for schools reaching for excellence in inclusion.  17 schools completed a brief questionnaire that provided qualitative and quantitative data on their inclusion programs.  SEQA presentation on new IDEA regs

Hudson – Goal 1:  Focused on strengthening the inclusive perspective of regional adolescent teacher education programs offered by task force college/university members:  summer 05 and 06 initiative forums & regional meetings  the high level of regional participation at the “Think Tank” on inclusive adolescent education.

Hudson – Goal 1:  Infused feedback gathered from classroom practitioners and new pedagogy for inclusive and differentiated instruction  New courses at Mt.St.Mary’s, Dominican, SUNY New Paltz  Increased TF membership and invigorated participation by IHEs

Hudson – Goal 2:  Yonkers high school with Iona College Partnership  The Mt. Vernon partnership with Pace University, Manhattanville College and College of New Rochelle.  Peekskill School District and Marymount College Tarrytown Partnership.  The Newburgh School District and Mount St. Mary College.

Hudson – Goal 2:  Worked closely with SETRC and RSSC for training opportunities (data analysis) and staff development efforts  Participated in School Improvement Grant Meetings to promote further collaborations  Shared experiences with TA networks and districts re: inclusive adolescent programs.

Midstate – Goal 1:  Strengthened relationships with RSSC, SETRC and SEQA  Infused UDL into teacher preparation programs  Engaged preservice teachers in Inclusion Conference (UDL presentation)  Strengthened inclusive teacher preparation programs with information about field practices vs. optimal situation inclusive placement

Midstate – Goal 2:  Reached consensus re: the attributes of quality inclusive schooling  Visited and documented inclusive practices in regional schools:  Levy Middle School - Syracuse City School District  Blodgett Middle School - Syracuse City School District  Herman Avenue Elementary School - Auburn City School District)  Developed a report with LEAs describing the implementation of inclusion in schools visited

Midwest – Goal 1:  Added St. John Fisher College and Roberts Wesleyan College to Task Force membership  Collaborative ongoing professional development activities re: inclusive education and teacher preparation  Paula Kluth in Spring 2006

Midwest – Goal 1:  Engaged more arts and sciences colleagues  Sponsored a regional co-teaching initiative used at University of Rochester, Houghton College, Nazareth College and St. John Fisher  Future co-teaching initiatives will support community members and parent advocates to co-teach at IHEs.

Midwest – Goal 2:  Consortium of IHE’s worked collaboratively with SIG schools  Clyde-Savannah  Rochester City  Alexander School Districts  Continued active participation with regional network agencies to support professional development efforts in other high needs schools

West – Goal 1:  Conducted a seminar for IHE TF members and other IHE representatives on IDEA 2004, to upgrade faculty working knowledge of federal and state changes in the legislation for integration into course content  Co-sponsored our second annual regional summit, “Making Connections…Regional Promising Practices” with the SIG Center of Upstate New York for IHEs, LEAs, TA Networks, and BOCES

West – Goal 1:  Engaged with Office of Disability Services staff to enhance post- secondary opportunities  5 regional IHEs presented research & practice information at Inclusion Conference in Rye Brook, NY  In-progress on review of our regional UDL initiative implementation.

West – Goal 1:  Assessed the induction supports available to pre-tenure faculty in the region’s inclusive teacher preparation programs, through the administration of an online survey that extended to statewide involvement. Final data analysis and results generation early Fall, with a planned 12/06 refereed article submission.

West – Goal 2:  Continued partnerships in the Buffalo CSD, Jamestown CSD, Dunkirk CSD through the efforts of Buffalo State College, Niagara University, and SUNY Fredonia.  FSU recruited a district representative from Silver Creek CSD to participate in the Adolescent Inclusive Education Think Tank

West – Goal 2:  Continued to dovetail other-funded efforts, to address these systemic needs.  TLQP activities with high-need schools via Niagara U and Fredonia have been conducted with key staff of the regional TF  The Young Inquiring Scientists project funded under SED Math Science Partnership funds (awarded to Dunkirk CSD) conducted its Year 2 activities in partnership with TF reps from both FSU and BSC.

Summary Analysis  Continued creation and enhancement of inclusive teacher preparation programs  Documented, studied and supported inclusive education in regional schools  Increased partnerships with high need schools for the purpose of improving student outcomes and developing teaching skills for inservice and preservice educators

Summary Analysis  Increased awareness of NYSDOE priorities  Increased engagement with TA Networks  Increased congruence of purpose, goals and methods for LEAs, IHEs, TA networks and partners