California Task Force on Special Education

Transcription

1 California Task Force on Special Education Dr. Amy Lambert, Assistant Superintendent Information Report No. 5 September 1, 2015

2 Background On The Task Force Formation LCFF and LCAP made dramatic changes to the school funding model and programs for high needs students. Special Education was not part of these changes. Task Force was formed in 2013 to : Determine why special education is not more successful Suggest things to be changed in both policy and practice to improve services for all children

3 Task Force Members Vicki Barber and Maureen O Leary Burness Executive Directors Carl Cohn Task Force Chair Michael Kirst, President, State Board of Education Linda Darling-Hammond, Chair, California Commission on Teacher Credentialing Educators Teachers (General Ed and Special Ed), Site Administrators, District Administrators, SELPA, County Offices of Education Higher Education Teacher Preparation and Program Research Early Childhood Parent Support and Family Agencies Advocacy Groups

4 Areas Of Study Early Learning Evidence-Based School and Classroom Practices Educator Preparation and Professional Learning Assessment Accountability Family and Student Engagement Special Education Financing

5 Task Force Recommendations One system that serves All children The need for ALL educators to be prepared to work effectively with all students

6 Early Education Increase access to quality programs Improve interagency coordination Increase access to high quality programs Utilize one assessment for early education programs

7 Evidence Based Strategies Ensure Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is understood and established as a key area for PD and implemented in all schools Ensure Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports (MTSS) are developed statewide, supporting RTI for academic, behavioral, social-emotional learning Ensure general education resources are used as early as possible

8 Improve Teacher Preparation Ensure teacher preparation programs prepare teachers in: UDL, MTSS, RTI, positive behavioral interventions and supports, use of data, reading instruction, linguistic needs of English Language Learners (ELL s), digital literacy and instructional technology, and cultural and linguistic competency and responsiveness. Ensure all new special education teachers are authorized to instruct both in general education and in special education.

9 Provide Incentives For Adequate and Ongoing Professional Development Ensure Paraprofessionals and Instructional Assistants are well-trained, and are able to be part of a career pathway to becoming a special education teacher. Provide incentive grants, scholarships and forgiveableloans to help fund inservice and preservice needs.

10 Accountability IEP alignment to Common Core Ensure teachers and schools are accountable for the progress of all students, including students with the most significant disabilities Ensure Statewide assessments are developed and reviewed for effectiveness and accessibility Create a common data-gathering system to record and report on student goals, monitor progress, and evaluate implementation of above

11 More Accountability Create an outcomes-based accountability framework mirrored to state and federal policy to evaluate compliance and performance of schools, e.g., using the LCAP to meet the Results Driven Accountability (RDA) framework Integrate and coordinate state and federal monitoring, data collection, and Technical Assistance, to ensure interagency implementation.

12 Finance View students receiving special education services as Students First Equalize the state s support for Special Education by overhauling SPED financing and holding (LEA s) accountable for meeting students needs, as in the LCAP. Work to increase the federal share of the excess costs of serving Special Education students to 40%.

13 Special Education In The Budget $30 Million for infants $10 million in one-time funds for Data Driven Systems of Learning and Behavioral Support (allocated to 1 or 2 County Offices) $12.1 million for 2,500 additional part day state pre-school slots (with first priority given to children with exceptional needs $6 million to increase State Pre-school rates by 1% (with a training mandate in Search and Serve) $1.9 million in one-time funds to expand alternative dispute resolution $4.7 million to the Office of Administrative Hearings (expand litigation work) $800K to CDE for oversiteand technical assistance of mental health services and the Statewide Improvement Plan