1. 2016 Utah Transition Institute Developing Improvement Strategies

2.  The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines strategy as a “careful plan or method for achieving a particular goal usually over a long period of time” and “an adaptation or complex of adaptations (as of behavior, metabolism, or structure) that serves or appears to serve an important function in achieving evolutionary success”.  Synonyms for strategy include: blueprint, design, game plan, master plan, project, and scheme. STRATEGY ≠ ACTIVITY What is an “improvement strategy”?

3. Before Identifying Strategies:  Finalize data and infrastructure analysis – What data are available? What do the data mean? – What resources to we have available?  Identify root causes or obstacles – What may be an obstacle for agency collaboration?  Set a measurable goal for improvement – Based on data, what do you expect to achieve?  Identify team members – Who can bring what the information you need to the table? – Who will be impacted by implementing improvement strategies? Before Identifying Strategies:

4.  The expected outcome  What barriers to success have been identified  How the outcomes are aligned with other LEA/agency initiatives  How the priority (goal) was identified, given the needs of the students in the LEA  How existing LEA/agency initiatives can be leveraged to facilitate achieving the goals Team members will need to understand:

5.  Team members will provide input into: – What outcomes would need to be seen to meet the goal – The improvement strategies and activities that would need to be undertaken to address any identified root causes – Prioritization of improvement strategies based on the level of effort, the level of impact, alignment with existing initiatives, and availability of resources – A logical sequence for the prioritized improvement strategies – The implementation of the improvement strategies – The evaluation of the results of implementing the improvement strategies Identify Potential Improvement Strategies

6.  NTACT suggests these capacity building strategies: – Data-based decision making to improve secondary education and transition services – Policy analysis and change, if needed, to ensure policies promote implementation of evidence-based transition education and services – Professional development regarding evidence-based transition practices is provided to a variety of stakeholders to improve transition education and services. – Technical assistance provided to a variety of stakeholders to facilitate implementation and evaluation of evidence-based transition education and services. Potential Strategies

7.  Data-based decision making – Analyze referrals to VR by disability category and school student attended – Compare referrals to VR to completion of eligibility determination  Policy analysis and change – Review LEA policies and practices for work release for students with disabilities – Review LEA work-based learning policies as applied to including students with disabilities  Professional development – Create and send to secondary teachers, an electronic survey designed to identify needed professional development – Create and implement an evaluation process to identify level of implementation of evidence-based practices presented during professional development  Technical assistance – Identify and establish a cross-agency technical assistance team – Identify and train a transition teacher at each high school to coach other transition teachers and paraprofessionals in that school Activities in those areas could include:

8.  The team leader leads  Define team roles  Meet regularly  Communicate freely and often  Respect divergent opinions  Bite off only what you can chew  Measure progress  Celebrate success! Sustaining the Team Momentum

9.  Go back in team formation  Work on developing goals, activities, and improvement strategies.  Take a minute to decide which Learning Sessions team members will attend at 10:40. For the next session…..