1. Root Cause is Critical to Improvement!
2015 Leadership Conference
“All In: Achieving Results Together”
Root Cause is Critical to Improvement!
Barbara L. Troolin, Ph.D., Director
Carolyn J. Cherry, Ed.D., Part B Data Manager
Minnesota Department of Education
Sandy Schmitz, Ph.D.
Tri Tran, B.S., Analyst
University of Minnesota, Systems Improvement Group

2. Session Agenda Minnesota and our SIMR
Using focus groups to help determine root cause
Shared Learning
Next Steps
Discussion

3. Minnesota: Land of… More than 10,000 lakes and 857,000 students
The Mississippi Headwaters…and Mall of America
11 Tribal Nations and 120+ spoken languages
Mary Tyler Moore, Betty Crocker…and Prince
150 charter schools and over 128,000 special education students
Inventions (oxygen mask, scotch tape and zubazs)…and foods like Spam and Lutefisk

4. MDE State Identified Measurable Result
Statewide 6-year Graduation Rate for American Indian and Black students with disabilities (SWDs)
Statewide data shines a light across Minnesota
6-year rate allows us to tell a story not reflected in other federal and state reporting

5. MDE State Identified Measurable Result
Statewide 6-year Graduation Rate for American Indian and Black students with disabilities (SWDs)
Graduation aligns with other state initiatives
American Indian and Black SWDs have chronic lower graduation and higher dropout rates that other student groups with disabilities

6. Why Focus Groups to Help Determine Root Cause?
Quantitative data doesn’t tell the whole story
Identifying areas over which we have control and influence
Using data from multiple sources to determine best choices for evidence-based practices

7. Focus Group Overview Two focus groups in each of four pilot districts
District Administrators
30 participants
1.5-2 hour sessions
Student with Disabilities
American Indian and Black SWDs for whom graduation had been delayed
26 participants
1 hour sessions

8. Open-Ended Evaluation Questions
Topics included:
Most significant factors for low graduation
How districts engage families
How data are used
Current initiatives to improve graduation
District capacity and needed MDE support
What districts need to do in the next 5 years

9. Administrator Comments
Coded into 21 categories
Topical Areas included areas around:
District Professional Development and Initiatives
Cultural Competency and Awareness
Special Education Processes, Funding and Placement
Student and Family Perspectives and Engagement

10. Topic: Most Significant Factors
Categories accounting for 71% of responses:
Cultural awareness
Changing Demographics
Transition & Career
Consequences of SPED placement
Engagement & Retention
Parent Support

11. Topic: How Districts Engage Families
Categories accounting for 67% of responses:
Parents & Families – district has large dependence on cultural liaisons & district equity offices
Cultural Awareness
District Initiatives – few aimed at students who are Black or American Indian with disabilities

12. Topic: How Data are Used
Categories accounting for 52% of responses:
Types of data collected – no evidence of data collection efforts specifically relating to students who are American Indian or Black with disabilities
District initiatives usually left to specialized units

13. Topic: Interventions When Progress is Not Made
Categories accounting for 53% of responses:
District initiatives
Low Expectations
Data collection to identify at-risk students

14. Topic: District Initiatives to Improve Graduation
Categories accounting for 51% of responses:
Collaboration with American Indian Community
Cultural awareness – Shared responsibility

15. Topic: District Capacity & Needed MDE Support
Categories accounting for 34% of responses:
Partnering with teacher preparation programs
Putting efforts into recruiting diverse special education teachers
MDE could provide more trainings
MDE needs to increase involvement in racial equity work

16. Topic: Next 5 Years Categories accounting for 50% of responses:
Professional Development and Training
Cultural Awareness
Leadership and Systemic Issues

17. Student Focus Groups
Students used ‘district’ and school’ interchangeably
Some questions had to be reframed for students so they were clear on what was being asked
Comments were coded into 3 “themes”

18. Student Focus Groups: Contributing Factors
11/26/2017 8:06 AM
Student Focus Groups: Contributing Factors 18
© 2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, Windows Vista and other product names are or may be registered trademarks and/or trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries.
The information herein is for informational purposes only and represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation as of the date of this presentation. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided after the date of this presentation. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.

19. Student Focus Groups: Things District Needs to Change
11/26/2017 8:06 AM
Student Focus Groups: Things District Needs to Change 19
© 2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, Windows Vista and other product names are or may be registered trademarks and/or trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries.
The information herein is for informational purposes only and represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation as of the date of this presentation. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided after the date of this presentation. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.

20. Student Focus Groups: Student and Family Engagement20
© 2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, Windows Vista and other product names are or may be registered trademarks and/or trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries.
The information herein is for informational purposes only and represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation as of the date of this presentation. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided after the date of this presentation. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.

21. Shared Learning Pilot Partner District Meetings and Report Sharing
MN Association of Special Educators- Spring Best Practices Conference
Agency and Stakeholder Communications 21

22. Next Steps—Phase II Additional Focus Groups, Data Gathering
Teachers, Staff
Parents
District Level Data—Deeper Dive
Determine evidence-based practices based on data 22

23. Discussion Question 1
What strategies did your state use, or will your state use, to determine root cause in addressing your State Identified Measureable Result (SIMR)? 23

24. Discussion Question 2
What external stakeholders or consumers did you include to determine root cause? 24

25. Discussion Question 3
Based on what you heard today, how will this information inform next steps in your state to make progress on your SIMR? 25

26. Thank you!!!
Questions?
Comments? 26