Virginia Tier System of Supports (VTSS): The NCPS Journey Presented by Keren Plowden-Director of Special Programs Jaime Ibarra-School Psychologist Belinda Rippon-Data Coach

Think of RtI as a Journey to Wally World Six Years and Counting!!!

Our Journey: Professional Development December 4-5, RtI Institute by Virginia Department of Education January 30, Invited Dr. Jenkins to NCPS (RtI overview for staff) April 1-2, 2008-RtI Institute by Virginia Department of Education April 30, 2008-Invited Dr. Jenkins to NCPS (Local Norming Training) July 7-11, 2008-Initial Pilot School Training by VDOE September 9-11, 2008-Second Annual Carolina’s Innovations in Education Conference

School Year October 3, 2008: How to begin school implementation for all pilot schools October 21, 2008: Team Building November 19, 2008: Universal Screening January 29, 2009: RtI models and using data February 26, 2009: Progress monitoring April 1, 2009: Nationally known RtI experts April, 2009: Visited two elementary schools in Wilmington, North Carolina April 30, 2009: Closing the gap June 23, 2009: RtI and Special Education planning for upcoming school year.

2009 to 2011 School Year December 1-2, 2009: Building a Context for Excellence April 21, 2010: RtI Decision Making June 21-22, 2010: Math and RtI September 27-29, 2010: Fourth Annual Carolina’s Innovations in Education Conference March 1-2, 2011: RtI in Wichita Public Schools April 6-7, 2011: Overview and Fidelity of RtI June 27-28, 2011: Implementation of Middle and High School and a Continuum of Behavioral Support July 19-21, 2011: Aligning your RtI process workshop

2011 to 2012 School Year October 28, 2011: Symposium: Making the Connection with Higher Education November 29-30, 2011: Leadership: Realizing the Moral Imperative January 31, 2012: Progress Monitoring – Measure What You Treasure March 8-9, 2012: Integrating Academic and Behavior Instruction April 23-24, 2012: Developing and Sustaining Evidence- based, Formal and Informal Communication Strategies Within and Without the Organization July 12-13, 2012: Process Evaluation: Is it working?

2012 to 2013 October 23-24, 2012: Explicit Instruction: The Key to Increasing Academic Engaged Time February 11-12, 2013: Under the VTSS Umbrella: Process Integration and School Schedules April 9-10, 2013: The Problem-Solving Process and Interventions for a Continuum of Services July 16-17, 2013: Middle and High School and Evaluation

The Trip is a Long Way!

Plan, Plan, Plan!! Five Year Implementation Guide (See Handout #1) “Why aren't we flying? Because getting there is half the fun.” Clark Griswold.

VTSS DO’S!!! Decided which progress monitoring tool to use for data management AIMSWeb Work with school administration to establish a 45 minute block within school schedule for intervention (Power Up): Developed master schedule The identified VTSS team was available to provide staff development and answer questions on an individual basis Identified resources available

CAUTION!!! Be sure to have building level administration take the lead early on. Rusty Griswold: “Dad, this isn't the car you ordered.” Clark: “Settle down Russ. Ed, uh, this is not the car I ordered.” Clark Griswold: “Children, after this is all over your father might be going away for a little while.”

VTSS DO’S!!! Universal Screening Established “Swat” team of examiners approach Organization of materials (copying, timers, etc.) Training of examiners (Inter-rater reliability according to testing procedures) Determine dates for when assessments will be given Master schedule implementation Implementation of master schedule initiated with a staggered rollout for power up. Make time for data analysis Form Power Up groups and define responsibilities at each tier in grade level team meetings

DONT’S Whoa! Changed Master Scheduled on October 12, “This is crazy, this is crazy, this is crazy!” Clark Griswald

VTSS : On the Right Path Followed more closely five year implementation plan Began training high school staff Implemented use of a virtual data wall (*See Handout 2) Data coaches at each elementary school Presented to school board VTSS team and data meetings were more solidified Increased building capacity Created a flow chart (*See Handout 3)

: Smooth Sailing Improve fidelity of implementation Progress Monitor weekly (reading) and monthly (math) (*Handout 4) Master schedule continues to support intervention time District VTSS Handbook updated to include Continuum of Services (*Handout 5) Non Negotiables (*Handout 6) Administrators in charge of CST (*See Tips) Increase parent awareness of VTSS (*See Parent Contact and Brochure, *Handout 7)

Keep Your Eyes Open: Don’t Put the Fundamentals of RtI in Jeopardy!!!

: Changing Lanes!!! School district adopted a new reading curriculum which impacted the master schedule District shifted focus to teaching SOL skills to all students including Tier II students. Tier III student’s continued to receive Power-Up with research based intervention program, but not Tier II students. Changed our Universal Screening assessment to MAP from AIMSWeb in December of Increased use of data walls.

: Benefits of “Policing” the process Increased focus on SOL grades, which impacted the delivery of research based interventions to our Tier II and Tier III students from K to 2. Maintained the data meeting process and used multiple sources of data to drive decisions Continued to monitor Tier II and Tier III students Continued to work on identifying our Tier II and Tier III interventions Building administrators shared ownership with data teams to problem solve which increased ownership of VTSS at the school level

Where there is change, there is resistance Be open to staff input Teacher Perception of VTSS video

School Year Implement with fidelity VTSS manual Continue PD on intervention tools Hold consistent VTSS leadership team meetings Piloting new intervention tool (Brain Train) Plan for sustainability after school year Rolling out of Positive Behavior and Interventions Supports (PBIS) and alignment with VTSS. Establishing PBIS teams at each school and provide training in conjunction with TTAC and VDOE. Begin PD on behavioral screening and progress monitoring Increase shared responsibility

TIPS to Avoid Detours Be proactive with new leadership Schedule and ensure VTSS leadership meetings occur regularly Present to School Board as early as possible Ensure fidelity of implementation is addressed early in the process Be sure to have building level administration take the lead early on. Use a structured data meeting process Keep consistent within the district Plan for intervention materials in advance (e.g. summer)

LET'S LOOK UNDER THE HOOD NCPS data in action (*See pictures and handout #8)

You Will Get There, But….

Northampton County Public Schools Keren Plowden (ext. 2011) Cell Jaime Ibarra (ext. 2012) Cell Belinda Rippon (ext. 6043)