1. EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS System Improvement Project: Supporting Inclusive Practices December 4, 2012

2. Louisiana Believes 2 LOUISIANA BELIEVES. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS Jenna Conway – Early Childhood Executive Director Cindy Ramagos – Part B 619 Preschool Coordinator Christine Duay – Lafayette Parish School System Director of Early Childhood (Birth to Five) Ginger Walker – Lafayette Parish School System Resource Coordinator 2

3. Louisiana Believes 3 LOUISIANA BELIEVES. BACKGROUND AND BENEFITS OF INCLUSIVE PRACTICES 3 Background: Children with disabilities served in a variety of settings Inclusion of children with disabilities in regular preschool settings has dramatically improved Majority of services often provided outside the classroom setting Benefits: Greater progress on meeting developmental goals Services integrated during daily routines and activities Better generalization of new skills Advantages for classroom teachers and interventionists

4. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

5. Louisiana Believes 5 LOUISIANA BELIEVES. PURPOSE OF INCLUSION RFA Increase the number of inclusive settings Increase the number of children served in inclusive settings Increase the percentage of time that intervention services are provided in the regular early childhood program Greater developmental progress in the children with disabilities 5

6. ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS AND FUNDING

7. Louisiana Believes 7 LOUISIANA BELIEVES. Eligible Participants and Funding 7 The 17 school districts participating in the Early Childhood Network Pilots (Cohort 1) Applicants will work with other early childhood programs that include: Childcare, Head Start, Public and private PreK and Kindergarten, etc. and The Coordinating Partner of the Community Network Pilot Funding amounts: Up to $20,000Up to $30,000Up to $50,000Up to $75,000Up to $97,000 Cameron Iberville Point Coupee West Baton Rouge Lincoln-Jackson- Union Ascension Lafayette Rapides Orleans-RSD Caddo Calcasieu Ouachita-Monroe City St. Tammany

8. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

9. Louisiana Believes 9 LOUISIANA BELIEVES. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS 9 NARRATIVE Completion of Application for Funds (narrative) – – Statement of Need – Goals and Objectives – Expected Outcomes – Description of Activities – Resources Requested – Impact of Coordination – Evaluation Plan – Consortium Agreement Outline has full details for writing the narrative Maximum of two (2) pages Resource Page (link in application) Due March 28, 2014 for April BESE or April 18, 2014 for June BESE

10. Louisiana Believes 10 LOUISIANA BELIEVES. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS 10 BUDGET PACKET (due on April 4th for April BESE or on April 25 th for June BESE) Cover Sheet Fiscal Assurances Budget Detail and Summary Allowable Costs −Stipends and grants for overtime −Costs associated with providing new slots for children with disabilities −Community self-assessment of inclusive practices −Workshops and trainings related to inclusion and service delivery models −Presenter and consultant fees −Indirect Costs HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: – Inclusion Institute (May 2014 or May 2015) – Inclusive Classroom Profile Training (September 2014) Unallowable Costs −Subsidizing existing slots for children −Materials/supplies not related to workshops and/or trainings −Out of State Travel (excluding travel indicate above) −Equipment

11. Louisiana Believes 11 LOUISIANA BELIEVES. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS For April BESE approval – Section A (Narrative) of the project application is to be submitted on Friday, March 28, 2014. – Section B (Budget Packet) of the project application is to be submitted on Friday, April 4, 2014. For June BESE approval – Section A (Narrative) of the project application is to be submitted on Friday, April 18, 2014. – Section B (Budget Packet) of the project application is to be submitted on Friday, April 25, 2014. For information on the narrative section, contact Cindy Ramagos at cynthia.ramagos@la.govcynthia.ramagos@la.gov For information on the budget section, contact Brad Standige at brad.standige@la.govbrad.standige@la.gov Submit applications via email to LDEGrants@la.govLDEGrants@la.gov 11

12. SELECTION CRITERIA/REVIEW PROCEDURES

13. Louisiana Believes 13 LOUISIANA BELIEVES. SELECTION CRITERIA/REVIEW PROCEDURES 13 All applications and budgets will be reviewed by LDE Staff Allocations will go to BESE in April or June depending on when your application submitted. OTHER REQUIREMENTS: Project Reports of Grant Activities

14. RESOURCE PAGE

15. Louisiana Believes 15 LOUISIANA BELIEVES. RESOURCE PAGE 15 Data – District Preschool Settings Trend data since 2004 and data on Service Locations for last three years – Current District data on where services are provided for children in regular early childhood settings – Current District placement data of children who transition from Part C or who enter with an initial IEP Websites −Inclusion Institute −Inclusive Classroom Profile Training −SpecialQuest −Inclusive Practices and Service Delivery Models

16. Louisiana Believes 16 LOUISIANA BELIEVES. 16 LAFAYETTE INCLUSION PROJECT

17. Louisiana Believes 17 LOUISIANA BELIEVES. LAFAYETTE INCLUSION PROJECT CRITICAL ACTIVITIES: Ensuring Successful Outcomes Committed support at the district level (Superintendent, School Board) Building community relationships through initial Special Quest community team Created community vision and mission statements for Early Childhood Inclusion in Lafayette Parish Completed the Community Perceptions of Inclusive Practice Tool to identify areas of strength and target areas for improvement Formed committees and action plans based on CPIP results Build community awareness through Early Childhood Coalitions, Child Center Director Meetings and Non-profit Child service agencies Monthly updates/checkups with core team (liaisons) Provided several Professional Development opportunities for School System, Head Start, Childcare Centers and Non-Profit Agency personnel 17

18. Louisiana Believes 18 LOUISIANA BELIEVES. LAFAYETTE INCLUSION PROJECT BIG PICTURE: What Lafayette Has Achieved Increased the number of students receiving Special Education and related services in inclusive settings from 59 in 2011-12 to 115 currently Increased the number of Childcare Centers where students receive Special Education and Related services from 0 in 2011- 12 to 25 in 2013-14 Partnered with Louisiana State Department of Education to develop Early Childhood Inclusion For ALL Children in Louisiana booklet 18

19. Louisiana Believes 19 LOUISIANA BELIEVES. LAFAYETTE INCLUSION PROJECT IDENTIFYING AND ADDRESSING CHALLENGES: Acceptance and trust for delivering services in private centers Administrator and teacher buy-in to develop additional inclusive settings Changes in makeup of Self-Contained classrooms Need for additional staffing Delivery of services becoming more teacher centered in inclusive settings 19

20. Louisiana Believes 20 LOUISIANA BELIEVES. LAFAYETTE INCLUSION PROJECT NEXT STEPS FOR LAFAYETTE: Creating site-based inclusion teams for sustainability Continue to offer inclusion themed Professional Development for child care centers Expanding inclusive settings within the school system Continue to use CPIP process to assess and plan Explore options to provide more inclusive settings for Kindergarteners 20

21. Louisiana Believes 21 LOUISIANA BELIEVES. LAFAYETTE INCLUSION PROJECT CONTACT INFORMATION: Lafayette Parish  Christine Duay  cmduay@lpssonline.com cmduay@lpssonline.com  Ginger Walker  glwalker@lpssonline.com glwalker@lpssonline.com LDE Early Childhood  Cindy Ramagos  Cynthia.Ramagos@la.gov Cynthia.Ramagos@la.gov 21

22. Louisiana Believes 22 LOUISIANA BELIEVES. 22 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS