Strategic Initiatives for AA-SECAC – Up-date 10/2008
The following targeted strategic initiatives were identified through analysis of the results of the Spring 2006 Special Education Needs Assessment Survey, review
of 2003-2008 MSA data for the Special Education subgroup, and consultation with AACPS Division of Special Education
Strategies/Activities
Timeline
Person(s)
Responsible
Status
Met
Revised
Not Met
Resources Required
Secondary Special Education
 Improve middle school programs/support for special education students
On-going
 Continue to expand placement options
On-going
 Review and improve program/practices pertaining to transitions and
articulation at all levels
 Recognizing capacity needs for expanded FLS/Autism programs
 MacArthur enhancement
07-08 School Year and Ongoing
Secondary Special Education
Coordination/Director of Special
Education
Budget/Funding
FY ’09 Budget Priority
X
Established 08-09
X
Compliance
 Monitor school based IEP development and IEP implementation and
strategies by school based Department Chairperson and IEP clerks
On-going
 Transition CAP closed by MSDE on September 20, 2007
7/07-9/07
 Monitoring of Student Participation in the IEP team process
o Baseline:
- MS – 66%
- HS – 90%
On-going
Legal Issues
Coordinator/Secondary Special
Education Coordinator/Tienet
Office
X
Supervision
 Monitor recently modified vocational training and preparation programs
On-going
Transition Specialist
 Enhance outreach to all stakeholders, especially AACPS staff, regarding post
secondary educational opportunities
On-going
 On-going Transition Training scheduled for all High Schools
On-going
Transition Specialist/Secondary
Special Education Coordinator/
Director of Special Education
Training/Resource Development
1
PD Funding
Curriculum Writing Funding
 Provision of a Transition Training Series (Collaborative Presentation with
Partners for Success)
On-going
Initiatives
 Focus on TEAM Teaching Initiative – training on all 6 modules
 Developed/Implementing LRE Grant in North County
 Developed/Implementing MSDE Transition Grant – focus on Vocational Assessment
 Developing Transition Grant Expanding Vocational Teaching/Coaching in
partnership with DORS (Due Feb. 2008)
 Focus on Technology
o SMART Classrooms
o Portable Labs
 Exploring Computer-based Curriculum
 Exploring Public/Private Bridge with DDA for Secondary-age Center students (class
option)
 Development/Dissemination of a Transition Brochure
 Expand Transition initiatives through success, career awareness, student
participation in the transition process and resource alignment beyond entitlement as
a means to focus on graduation pathway
o Seamless Transition Grant
o Career Awareness Assessments to support the development of appropriate and
relevant Transition Plans
o Expansion of Transition Facilitators
o Development of an alternate graduation/credit proposal
o Collaborative re-institution of credits at CAT-N and CAT-S
07-08 Priority
Met in the
majority of the
Secondary
Schools
07-08 School Year
X
07-08 School Year /
Developed a new grant
proposal for FY ‘09
Grant Awarded:
Implementation 08-09
On-going
Transition
Specialist/Secondary
Special Education
coordinator/Director of
Special Education/Center
Leadership Team
X
X
Grant Writing
Budget-Funding
ROI Time/Outreach
On-going
Planning Stages with
Providence
07-08 School Year
08-09
X
Secondary Special
Education Coordinator/
Director
Grant Writing
Organization/Structure
 Expanded IEP Facilitator and Clerk positions
07-08 School Year
 Initiated non-teaching DC/Instructional Coach framework
07-08 School Year
 Included Vocational Teacher/Coaches within the 2009 Budget
2
08-09 Priority
Transition
Specialist/Secondary and
Elementary Special
Education Coordinators
X
X
x
Budget-Funding
 Re-deployed existing staff from Glen Burnie High School to Meade High School to
transition/vocational outreach positions

Collaboratively Plan and Convene DC meetings with Curriculum Coordinators
 Focus on Articulation
o Student Service/Curriculum and Instruction Meeting – December 2007
o Curriculum and Instruction Planning – January 2008
o Special Education Conversations – January 2008
 Develop and open a Division Storefront / National release of Special Education
publications
o Bridges Curriculum
o BASIIC Guide
o TEAM Teaching Guide
o Handbook (?)
 Up-date Special Education Website to enhance stakeholder access/informational
knowledge of the Division
By July 1, 2008
X
On-going
12/07-1/08
X
11/08 / On-going
Division
11/08
Division
January 2008
Division
X
On-going at all grade
levels
Elementary/Secondary
Special Education Offices
Elementary/Secondary
Special Education Offices
x
2007-2008/ On-going
Division
X
See note
Division
X
On-going/ InstructionalBehavioral Strategies
Guide planned for 08-09
Elementary/Secondary
Special Education Offices
 Autism Training
On-going
Elementary/Secondary
Special Education Offices
 Bridges Training
On-going
Social Skills Specialist
 BASIIC Guide Training
On-going
 Modified Curriculum Training
On-going
Professional Development (Across Stakeholder Domains)
Building County Capacity
 Para Educators’ Conference January 2008
 TEAM Teaching Training
 Specialty Site – Disability Awareness
 Introduction to Administrator Workshop Training (fall/spring)
 New Administrator Training (October 2007 and January 2008)
 Challenging Behavior Training
3
On-going
Elementary/Secondary
Special Education Offices
Elementary/Secondary
Special Education Offices
x
Presenter Expertise
 Differentiated Instruction Training
On-going
Elementary/Secondary
Special Education Offices
 IEP Process/Statewide IEP Training
On-going
Legal Issues/Tienet Office
 MSA/HSA – Focused Training (MOD and Accommodations/Modifications)
 OOH School Process Training
 Kurzweil Usage Training
 Alt-MSA Parent Workshop
2007-2008 School Year/
On-going
Spring 2007 – Fall 2007/
On-going as needed
January 2008/ On-going
November 2008
 Modifying Instruction/Instructional Strategies/Specialized Instruction Training
On-going
 DC/Lead Special Education Teacher Meetings
On-going
Division
Elementary/Secondary
Special Education Offices
Elementary/Secondary
Special Education Offices
Division
X
X
X
Elementary/Secondary
Special Education Offices
Elementary/Secondary
Special Education Offices
On-going/ Systemic – Fall
2008
Legal Issues/SAT Office
 Develop and Communicate a Twice Exceptional Service/Support Framework
1/09
Twice Exceptional
Workgroup
 Develop a Learning Guide to support behaviorally challenged and/or emotionally
disturbed students
08/09
Division
 Assess program options for autism and mental health spectrum students
On-going
Division
 Consider class/program placements to maximize opportunities for interaction,
especially social interaction with non-disabled peers
On-going
Division
On-going/ Yearly
Committee
Data Analyst/Transportation
Specialist/Resource
Teacher
x
2007-2008 School Year/
Budget Priority
Director of Special
Education
X
On-going
Division
 How to Administer Assessment Training
Technology Budget
Facilities
 Active and expanded role on County’s ADA Committee
o Priority assignments – Specialty Sites
 Developed a Draft ED Spec. Plan for Phoenix
o Currently assessing creative space use development and additional portable
options to foster enhanced clinical continuum
 Expanded Clinical/Administrative Resources, as needed in Specialty Sites
 Developing community Resource Guide
 Expanding Community Resource Initiative
o Connecting Northeast Region case assessments with North County
4
To be Completed by Fall
2009
On-going/ Northeast
expansion planned for
Budget - Funding
Division
X
Interagency and Nonpublic
Placements Coordinator
X
LMB Partnership Multi-Agency
Commitment
o Working with LMB on Annapolis site initiation
 Submitting Health Department proposal for enhanced Health Assistants for the
Centers
spring/summer 2008
Winter 2008
Director of Special
Education
X
HD Coordination
Preschool/Summer Programs
 Increase in Community-Based Services for Preschool students with disabilities
 Planning for two ECI sites that are integrated for ESY – Summer 2008
 Establish inclusionary options at all ECI sites
o Co-located ECI/Preschool
o Integrated ECI
On-going
Birth-5 Coordinator
X
Planned and will be
implemented July 2008
Director/ESY Facilitator &
Technician
X
Program Planning/ Design
specifications
Birth-5 Coordinator
Initiated Winter 2008
Legal Issues Coordinator
X
Monthly Notifications
Actively Occurring
Legal Issues
Coordinator/Tienet Office
X
Winter 2009
Division
On-going
Compliance Specialist
08-09
Division
Budget- Funding
Systemic Compliance
 Institutionalizing Internal monitoring practices/record review that are aligned to
MSDE’s Quality Assurance and Monitoring Standards
o 5 year rotation
o Incorporates CAPs as appropriate
 Expanded Monthly Compliance Monitoring/Revised Action Framework
o Initial
o Annual
o Re-Evaluation
 Provision of a system wide IEP Process/Writing training
 Enhance Regular School Level Communications through Division FACT Sheets
 Meet and/or exceed the State’s AYP/SPP Targets (Performance Standards 1.0, 2.0,
3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 7.0)
o Indicator 1: Increase Graduation Rates
o Indicator 2: Decrease Drop-Out Rates
o Indicator 5: Decrease Percent of children with IEPs aged 6 through 21 served in
public or private separate schools, residential placements, or homebound or
hospital placements (coding practice assessment)/Returnee Plan expectations)
o Indicator 11 Timeline (Percent of children with parental consent to evaluate who
were evaluated within 60 days)
Achievement/Academic Performance
Decision-Making
5
Drop Out Prevention Initiatives –
Budget
 Ongoing Data Analysis/Communication to Schools
o School AYP/MSA snapshots
o State of Special Education
 Planning/Implementing Program Reviews
o Annapolis Middle
o Arundel Middle
o Jessup Elementary
o F. Hebron-Harmans Elementary
o Odenton Elementary
 Developed Plans of Support and/or actively participate in Achievement Steering
Committees (School Improvement Aligned)
 Actively participate in Curriculum and Instruction Initiatives/Project Teams
o Thinking Maps
o Instructional / Program Review Design
o Signature and Magnets
o Integrated Literacy
o Teaching/Learning Cycle
On-going
2007-2008 School Year
Data Analyst/Elementary/
Secondary Special
Education Offices
X
2007-20 School Year/ Ongoing
08-09
Division with C& I
Initiative/Professional Development
 Prioritized TEAM Teaching Training
o DI
o Assessment Limits
o Roles – Specialized Instruction
 Developed/Implementing AYP Grant (OMM-N/OMM-S)
 Implement State Discretionary Grants
o HSA (Hopefully two!!)
o LRE
o AYP
o Technology
o ED Supports
o Alt-MSA
o Transition
o Maryland Seamless Transition
 Developed/Implemented Alt-MSA Grant
 Developing a NPS Academic Acceleration Bridge – implementation 2008-09
6
On-going
2007-2008 School Year/
Submitted MSDE AYP Grant
Proposal for FY ‘09
08-09
2007-2008 School Year/
Submitted MSDE Alt-MSA
Grant Proposal for FY ‘09
Approved/ Currently
Finalizing all Planning –
Implementation 8/08
X
Grant Writing
Budge-Funding
PD-Funding
RIO-Collaboration with University
Elementary/Secondary
Special Education
Offices/Director of Special
Education
X
X
 Developed BASIIC Guide
 Developed Modified Curriculum Guides
 Developing a Kurzweil Text Library
 Re-initiated the Elementary Leadership Academy/Secondary On-going
Summer 2007
X
Summer 2007/ On-going
X
On-going (required a scanner
purchase)
Summer 2008
 9th grade Peer coaching analysis
On-going
 9th grade Advisory analysis
On-going
X
 Implementation of CDM – System Intervention Plans
Pilot Initiated November
2007/ Year 1 with 30 schools
earmarked for 08-09
X
 Explore the expansion of student service roles in the education of all students
(Partnership with University of Maryland)
Grant Written with Dr. Weist
X
08-09
Local Application/
Discretionary Grant – Dr.
Weist/ Director/Division
On-going
Division
By 1/09
Director of Special
Education
o Development of a flow chart of Math Interventions / Supplemental Strategies
08/09
Elem. Special Education
Coordinator
o Finalize the Special Education Blackboard files to enhance professional
development potential for all stakeholders
1/09
Division
On-going
Elementary/Secondary
 Implement a partnership with the University of Maryland
 Increase Student Growth / Academic Performance on State Assessments (Focus
on Differentiated Instruction Support)
o DI – Best Practices Resource Guide
o Development of Modified Academic Achievement Standard exemplars
o Continued development of Modified Curriculum
o Kurzweil Expansion – Access to all students that require Human/Screen Reader
on the IEP (primarily Elementary)
o Instructional Materials Library
o 10/17/08 Rick Wormly Presentation
o Development of a tiered instructional framework (UDL) that will be incorporated
in all new curriculum documents. This new curriculum design will support
differentiated instruction through focused attention to assessment limits,
enhanced concept development and accelerated learning projects.
Organization/Structure
 Collaborating with C and I on mclass Dibels-Rtl MSDE pilot
7
Budget – Grant Writing
 Collaboration with the Reading and Math Offices
o MOI
o Tiered Interventions
o Curriculum Development
o Literacy Committee
o In-service Training
 Initiated Performance Director meetings to discuss individual school needs
 Collaborating implementing Thinking Maps initiative with C and I
 Revised Secondary DC role to Instructional Coach
 Develop a framework/implement a Transdisciplinary Service Model
o Birth-3 Office
o Special Services Office
On-going
Special Education
Offices/Director of Special
Education/Division
Fall 2008/ On-going
X
2008-2009 Implementation at
Bates and Meade Middle
X
2008-2009 School Year
X
Budget – Staffing with increasing
service need prevention
08/09 School Year
Technology
 Focus on Technology and is used in Heightened Achievement and
Diagnostic/Prescriptive Teaching
On-going
 MDK-12 Website/Assessment Limit Support
On-going
 Exploring computer-based Curriculum
On-going
Elementary/Secondary
Special Education
Offices/Director of Special
Education
Budget-Funding
ROI Campaign
Disproportionality
Identification
 Data Analysis
o Established baseline (approximately 25% of AACPS are disproportionate for
identification)
2007-2008 On-going
o Assessing Placement Trends over a two-year period
2007-2008 On-going
o Analyzing the impact of Mobility
2007-2008 On-going
o Tracking Initial identification by school – Tienet
2007-2008 On-going
o Initiatives
- Developed School-based Self-Assessment
- Implementing Disproportionality Grant
2007-2008 On-going
8
Data Analyst/
Disproportionality
Workgroup/Director of
Special Education
X
State of Special Education
Data Analyst/
Disproportionality
Workgroup/Director of
X
o Hired Consultant
- Initiated Site Visits/Self-Assessments
- Integrating CDM and PBIS
MSDE Disproportionality
Grant for FY ‘09
Special Education
(Under SPP)
 Enhanced Screening Tool Development
08-09
Data Analyst/
Disproportionality
 Enhancement of tracking and coding practices
08-09
 Focus on CDM and the “4” Big Ideas
o Recognized by MSDE for the development/utilization of the CDM model as
AACPS’ RtI Model (focus student results and disproportionality)
Presented to the RTI Committee in October
2008
- Presented at the Annual Leadership Conference in September 2008
08-09
X
Workgroup/Director of
Special Education
Grant
Budget
Placement
 Data Analysis
On-going
 LRE Grant Proposal
Data Analyst/
Disproportionality
Workgroup/Director of
Special Education
 Coding Assessments
 Systemic Intervention Plans at Targeted Schools (CDM)
 ED- Re-alignment Project
X
X
X
Discipline
 Data Analysis
On-going
Data Analyst/
Disproportionality
Workgroup/Director of
Special Education
08-09
Disproportionality & CDM
Consultant/ Division
 PBIS Enhancement
 Systemic Intervention Plans at Targeted Schools (CDM)
 Alternative Education Charter Discussions – Coordination
 Implement the State Discretionary Grant related to Disproportionality
Drop-out rate/Graduation
9
Budget Charter Expansion
Curriculum/Pathway Initiatives
 Monitoring the role of the Mentor/Ambassador at the High School level
 Assessing Credit acquisition in AACPS
On-going
On-going/ Proposal
earmarked for Summer 2008
 Collaborating with Maureen McMahon regarding the Signature/Magnet Initiatives
On-going
 Focus on Vocational Training Expansion
On-going
 Exploring Computer-Based Coursework
On-going
 Transition-Based Decision Making (MSDE)
Secondary/Special
Education Coordinator/
Special Education
Director/Transition
Specialist
State/LSS Data
Grant Writing
2007-2008 School Year/Ongoing
Data Analysis
 Analyzing 4-year trend data
On-going
 Analyzing CAT rejections
Summer 2008
 Analyzing Evening HS data
Summer 2008
 Analyzing Graduation Cohort Data
Secondary Special
Education Coordinator/
Data Analyst
x
Summer 2008/On-going
Gap-Barrier Recognition
 Assessing credit impact to graduation – course specific barriers
2007-2008 School Year/
Summer Proposal based on
State trends/practices
Secondary Special
Education Coordinator/
Special Education
Director/Division of C& I
x
NOTE: AACPS Strategic Goals and Indicators incorporated in above. Additionally, “Growth Pattern” targets have been identified for the student group of special education for 2007/08 as
appropriate
10