Georgia Deaf Education Achievement Forum Improving Student Achievement: Literacy and Conceptual Accuracy

Georgia Deaf Education Achievement Plan Mission Goals Current Situation Strategies to Achieve Goals Actions

Mission of the Georgia Department of Education Lead the nation in improving student achievement

Georgia Deaf Education Achievement Plan: Goals Improve the literacy levels of students who are deaf and hard of hearing to those of their grade-level peers.

Goals - continued Increase the number of qualified Educational Interpreters and Teachers of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing serving students within Georgia’s schools. Ensure that students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing receive a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive, communication-rich environment.

Georgia Deaf Education Total P-12 enrollment (’03-’04) = 1,513,521 D/HH enrollment = 1,754 (GA = 0.12%) (US = 0.14%) –State Schools = 250 (approx.) –Metro-Atlanta = 500 –Outside Metro-Atlanta = 1,000

Service Providers Teachers of the D/HH = 250 –Fully Certified D/HH = 235 Educational Interpreters = ??? Interpreters with required credentials (regardless of employer) = 125 –Of these, within Metro-Atlanta= 95 –Of these, outside Metro-Atlanta= 30

Data Collection A goal that cannot be measured is only a slogan. Alan Coulter

Least Restrictive Environment Common Assumption: “The Least Restrictive Environment for all students is in the Regular Education classroom with non-disabled peers.”

LRE: Definition To the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities, including children in public or private institutions or other care facilities, are educated with children who are nondisabled (IDEA, 1997)

Strategies to Achieve Goals Literacy –Scientifically-Based Reading Research –Reading First D/HH Struggling Reader Institutes –Georgia’s Choice Comprehensive School Improvement Model Literacy, Mathematics, Leadership –Professional Learning Communities

Strategies to Achieve Goals Qualified Personnel –Educational Interpreters Focused, long-term support structure Mentor Program Professional Learning Communities

Strategies to Achieve Goals Qualified Personnel –Teachers Improving Literacy Communication Skills Technology Professional Learning Communities

Least Restrictive Environment Georgia’s Performance Goals Federal Requirements Assumptions Unique Communication Needs Court Decisions Language Challenges

Georgia Deaf Education Achievement Plan: Actions Focus actions on improving literacy Professional Learning Communities Ongoing Data Collection Communication Technology

Mission of the Georgia Department of Education Lead the nation in improving student achievement

Georgia Deaf Education Achievement Forum Improving Student Achievement: Literacy and Conceptual Accuracy