Tailoring Academic and Behavioral Support
Services for Youth: Introducing the NDTAC
Practice Guide and Learning About Multiple
Education Settings
Introductory Remarks
Simon Gonsoulin
Director, NDTAC
About NDTAC
 Neglected-Delinquent TA Center (NDTAC)
 Contract between U.S. Department of Education
(ED) and the American Institutes for Research
 John McLaughlin
Federal Program Manager, Title I, Part D Neglected,
Delinquent, or At Risk Program
 NDTAC’s Mission:
 Develop a uniform evaluation model
 Provide technical assistance
 Serve as a facilitator between different organizations,
agencies, and interest groups
3
Agenda and Presenters
NDTAC Practice Guide
 Nicholas Read, NDTAC Technical Assistance Team, AIR
Balcom
 Paul Schandevel, Director of Family Services, Children's
Homes Inc.
Question and Answer Session
4
NDTAC Practice Guide: Providing Individually Tailored
Academic and Behavioral Support Services for Youth in the
Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice Systems
Nicholas Read, NDTAC Technical Assistance Team, AIR
CJJR White Paper
6
CJJR Monograph:
Principles and Practices
7
2
1
NDTAC Practice Guide: Individually Tailored
Academic and Behavioral Supports
8
Education Across Multiple Settings
1. Community-Based Traditional
and Alternative Schools
2. Day Treatment Centers
3. Group Homes
4. Residential Treatment Centers
5. Detention and Correctional
Facilities
9
Practices and Strategies
10
Practice 1 Strategies
Practice 1: Collect and Use Data To Identify
Student Needs and Develop Plans
Strategies:
1. Provide a systematic process for using data to
identify, screen, monitor, and make educational
decisions
2. Develop and maintain personal learning plans
3. Share information to facilitate students’ success
and well being
11
Practice 1 Resources
A few resource examples from Louisiana related to Practice
1 include:




State Statute for Student Records Transfer
http://legis.la.gov/lss/lss.asp?doc=79759
Information Sharing Legislation
a. Act 1225 of the 2003 Louisiana Legislative Regular Session (pages
10–13, chapter 14). Interagency Agreements for Information
Sharing Concerning Juveniles
http://www.legis.state.la.us/leg_docs/03RS/CVT10/OUT/0000KTKP
.pdf
b. Article 543 of Louisiana’s Children’s Cabinet, Interagency
information sharing; interagency agreements
http://www.legis.state.la.us/lss/newWin.asp?doc=321979
Student Records Request Letter
http://bit.ly/I9MluY
Individualized Learning Plan
http://bit.ly/JCXckc
12
Practice 2 Strategies
Practice 2: Implement Procedures To Ensure
Smooth Transitions
Strategies:
1. Include transition activities in student PLPs.
2. Establish formal mechanisms for the exchange
of educational data and records.
3. Prioritize and allocate funds for transition
supports and programs.
4. Conduct ongoing monitoring and continuous
quality improvement of transition efforts.
13
Practice 2 Resources
Some facility/program examples exemplifying Practice 2
include:
 Balcom Learning Center (Paragould, AR)
http://childrenshomes.org/index.php/Contact/BalcomLearning-Center/
 The Education Transition Center, Harris County
Juvenile Probation Department (Houston, TX)
http://www.co.harris.tx.us/hcjpd/default.asp
 Los Angeles Crossover Youth Practice Model Site
(California)
http://cjjr.georgetown.edu/pm/cypm.html
*For more information on this and other CYPM sites, contact Macon
Stewart at the Center for Juvenile Justice Reform at
mcb75@georgetown.edu.
14
Practice 3 Strategies
Practice 3: Address Gaps in Academic Skills
and Accelerate Learning
Strategies:
1. Base instruction on functional and curriculumbased evaluation of student needs.
2. Provide tiered academic intervention programs.
3. Use explicit scaffolded instruction.
15
Practice 3 Resources
Some programs successful in addressing students’ gaps in
academic skills and accelerating learning include:
 Transition LEARN Center (Cochise, AZ)
http://cochise.az.gov/cochise_adult_probation.aspx?id=1620%
20&ekmensel=c580fa7b_146_332_1620_4
 Hastings Youth Academy (Hastings, FL)
*For more information on HYA, please contact principal Anthony
Vivian at timothy.vivian@us.g4s.com.
 Success Academy at the Ghazvini Learning Center
(Tallahassee, FL) http://www.glc.leon.k12.fl.us/default.aspx
16
Practice 4 Strategies
Practice 4: Instruct Students in Ways
That Engage Them in Learning
Strategies:
1. Personalize the learning environment and
instructional content.
2. Build conditions and opportunities that
demonstrate to students their success.
3. Provide engaging, interactive, and hands-on
learning opportunities.
4. Engage youth in educational decisionmaking.
17
Practice 4 Resources
Several examples of jurisdictions’ commitment to engaging
students in their education include:



Section of ILP/PLP Focused on Academic Accommodations and
Modifications (Louisiana)
http://bit.ly/JCXckc
Section of ILP/PLP Where Youth Approves and Commits to
Plan (Louisiana)
http://bit.ly/JCXckc
Youth Co-Development and Approval of and Commitment to
ILP (Maryland)
http://bit.ly/I9MKxz
18
Practice 5 Strategies
Practice 5: Address Behavioral and Social
Needs To Promote Educational Success
Strategies:
1. Manage student behavior with positive rather
than punitive approaches.
2. Engage the family to gain greater insight into
youth’s behavioral needs.
3. Create a structured learning environment.
4. Align behavior management approaches across
settings and domains.
19
Practice 5 Resources
A few examples of programs effectively addressing
behavioral and social needs in order to promote greater
academic success include:



Positive Education Program’s Day Treatment Centers
(Cleveland, OH)
http://www.pepcleve.org/dtc.aspx
Behavior Management Program (Louisiana)
http://bit.ly/ILnoac
NDTAC Brief: Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports in
Juvenile Justice Settings
http://www.neglecteddelinquent.org/nd/resources/spotlight/spotlight200601b.asp
20
Incorporating the Guide into Practice
 Support strategic planning
 Design professional development
opportunities
 Develop program evaluation criteria
 Develop needs assessment or selfassessment tools for facilities
21
Balcom Learning
Center- A Faith-Based
Organization Promoting
Positive Outcomes for our
Students
Childrens Homes Inc.,
Paragould, Arkansas
Purpose of BLC
 To
provide an alternative learning
environment, where children can work on
emotional, behavioral, social and family
problems as well as get “caught up”
academically in school.
 We focus on providing our students with skills
and opportunities that promote positive
outcomes upon his/her return to the
community school.
(C) 2012 Children's Homes Inc
History



In 1995, it became
obvious that
Children’s Home, Inc.
(CHI) needed an oncampus alternative
learning environment
(ALE)
CHI partnered with
Greene County Tech
in 1996 serving six
students.
Today, we serve
twenty-four students
in grades five
through twelve!
(C) 2012 Children's Homes Inc
Local
Schools
ASU
Social
Work
Dept.
Legal
System
Family
Homes
Arkansas
Departm
ent of
Human
Services
Police
BLC
Donors
Fire
Counseling
Therapeutic
Counseling
Area
Churche
s
Working
Together
Equine
Medical
Services
(C) 2012 Children's Homes Inc
Pygmalion Guidelines
Seeks to Address
 Alternative
Learning Environments
 Nontraditional/flexible instruction methods
 Needs of at-risk students





Neglected/Physical/Sexual abuse
Disruptive behavior
Attention Deficit Disorder
Truant, Suspended, Expelled from School
Youth in trouble with the law
(C) 2012 Children's Homes Inc
Pygmalion Guidelines
 Appropriate
Staffing
 Training for Staff
 Student Admission
 Resources Designed to meet Individual
Needs
 Record Keeping and Information Sharing
 Collaboration with Other Agencies
 Exit Criteria
(C) 2012 Children's Homes Inc
Curriculum
Keystone
School
Seniors
Apex for
Credit
Recovery
Greene
County
Tech
PACE
Learning
Systems
Arkansas
Framework
Tech
(C) 2012 Children's Homes Inc
Typical BLC Schedule
09:30
10:00
5th Eng.
5th
Read.
6th
Spell.
6th
Read.
10th
US
Hist.
9th
Econ/Ci
vics
11th
World
Hist.
6th
Scien.
5th
Social
Study
8th
Pre
Alg.
7th
Math
9th Eng.
7th
Scien.
10:30
11:00
11:30
12:00
12:30
01:00
01:30
Grief Therapy (M)
5th
Math
6th
Math
5th
Scien.
6th
Social
Sci.
9th Alg.I
11th Alg
II
12th
Alg. III
10th
Geom.
10th
Eng.
8th Eng.
7th Eng.
8th
Scien.
9th
Phys.
Sci.
10th
Bio.
7th
Social
Study
8th
Social
Study
12th
Envir.
Scien.
02:00
02:30
03:00
Independent Living
&New Beginnings
Equine or Vocational Training (T,W)
Processing and Transitions (TH)
Physical Education & Character Counts (F)
Remediation Review
09:00
Remediation Review & Direct Instruction
08:30
Remediation Review & Direct Instruction (MWF)
08:00
Remediation Review
Teachi
ng
Staff
11th
Eng.
Individual Counseling
(C) 2012 Children's Homes Inc
Weekly Activities
Good Grief Group
Vocational Training
New Beginnings
Group
Process Group
Equine
Physical Education
&
Independent Living
(C) 2012 Children's Homes Inc
Equine Assisted Learning
(C) 2012 Children's Homes Inc
Pathfinders
(C) 2012 Children's Homes Inc
Vocational Training
(C) 2012 Children's Homes Inc
Family Homes



Each Family Home is
led by a married
couple.
Youth are taught how
to live in and trust in a
family setting.
Six youth ages 5
though 11 or 10 and
older are placed in
each home.
(C) 2012 Children's Homes Inc
Residential Education
 Education
 Enrichment
 Family-like
Setting
 Family Preservation
 Different from Residential Treatment
 Different from Group Homes
(C) 2012 Children's Homes Inc
Residential Education
 Flexibility,
Freedom and Choice
 Lengths of Stay to Promote Stability and
Community Connections
 Prevention Focused
 Graduate Support/Post-Permanency Services
 Cost Effectiveness
(C) 2012 Children's Homes Inc
Independent Living
(C) 2012 Children's Homes Inc
DISC: Excellence For Learning
Behavior
World View
Personal Skills
(Competencies)
Experiences
Attitudes
and Values
Intelligence
Emoti
onal
Intelli
gence
(C) 2012 Children's Homes Inc
Working Together
(C) 2012 Children's Homes Inc
Character Climb
 Four
Phases One Result: A Young Person
Ready for Transition into Adulthood:




Receiving Phase
Primary Phase
Intermediate Phase
Transitional Living Phase
(C) 2012 Children's Homes Inc
Goal Attainment Scale
Camouflage
Polluted
Clothing
Window
Shopping
Dressing
Room
Fitting
Wearing
New
Clothing
Wearing
New
Clothing
Because
You Want
To
LIST 3
BEHAVIORIAL
EXAMPLES
LIST 3
BEHAVIORIAL
EXAMPLES
FOOLISHNESS
WISDOM
(C) 2012 Children's Homes Inc
BLC Student Improvement 2011-12
(C) 2012 Children's Homes Inc
Conclusion
The Balcom Learning Center is a
faith-based agency that relies on
donors, volunteers, professional
staff, the community of Northeast
Arkansas, Special Programs at
Greene County Tech, Crowley’s
Ridge Academy, and the State and
Federal Departments of Education;
and of course the youth!
(C) 2012 Children's Homes Inc
Contact
Paul Schandevel
Director of Family Services
Mailing Address
Children’s Homes Inc.
5515 Walcott Road
Paragould, AR 72450
Telephone
870.239.4031
Email
pauls@childrenshomes.org
Web Site
http://www.childrenshomes.org
(C) 2012 Children's Homes Inc