M AY 2011

2010 Board of Education
Greg Meyers, President
Paula M. Harris, First Vice President
Carol Mims Galloway, Secretary
Anna Eastman, Assistant Secretary
Michael L. Lunceford
Lawrence Marshall
Harvin C. Moore
Manuel Rodríguez Jr.
Juliet K. Stipeche
Terry B. Grier, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools
Sowmya Kumar
Assistant Superintendent for Special Education
Houston Independent School District
Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center
4400 West 18th Street
Houston, Texas 77092-8501
Website: www.houstonisd.org
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It is the policy of the Houston Independent School District not to discriminate on the basis of age, color, handicap or disability, ancestry, national origin, marital status, race, religion, sex, veteran status, or political affiliation in its educational or employment programs and activities.
Continuous Improvement Continuums Assessment Page 2 of 11
Houston Independent School District, Special Education Department

Baseline Assessment of the Continuous Improvement Continuums developed by Education For The Future
On April 15th, 2011 members of the Houston Independent School District ’s Special Education
Department held a focus group to determine how well the department is performing on the Special Education
Continuous Improvement Continuums developed by Education for the Future . Education for the Future
Initiative is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to build the capacity of learning organizations at all levels to gather, analyze, and use data to continuously improve learning for all students.
After the group rated the departments performance on each of the 7 continuums (see Figure 1 .) a series of next steps was developed to help guide the department forward on each continuum. This report addresses the ratings and next steps for each Continuous Improvement Continuum.
5
4
3
2
1
0
Information and Analysis Student Achievement Quality Planning Leadership Professional Learning Partnesrhip Development Continuous Improvement and Evaluation
GOAL Approach Implementation Outcome
Figure 1.
Current Staff Perceptions on the 7 Continous Improvement Continuums
Continuous Improvement Continuums Assessment Page 3 of 11
Houston Independent School District, Special Education Department

NOTE: The Continuous Improvement Continuums are being redone to improve readability.
Continuous Improvement Continuums Assessment Page 4 of 11
Houston Independent School District, Special Education Department

Special Education staff rated the department a 2 in Approach, 2 in
Implementation, and 2 in Outcome with respect to Information and
Analysis.
Next Steps:
Staff agreed that the following needs to happen at the department level with respect to Information and Analysis :

Provide professional development on using the Microsoft Office
Suite (Excel and Access) to collect, analyze and report on data.
 Develop a written, systematic process for entering, analyzing, disseminating, and using data across the department.
 Determine what data is available for analysis.
 Conduct benchmark and trend data for all available data elements.
 Determine which data gaps in terms of data availability and develop plans to collect the required data.
 Increase collaboration and access within the Special Education
Department and other departments using online protocols.

Develop protocols to ensure integrity of all data sources is maintained.
 Ensure all decisions are data driven using multiple sources of data
(triangulation) when possible.
Quarterly Benchmarks
5
4
3
2
1
0
GOAL
2nd Qtr
Baseline
3rd Qtr
1st Qtr
4th Qtr
Continuous Improvement Continuums Assessment Page 5 of 11
Houston Independent School District, Special Education Department

Special Education staff rated the department a 2 in Approach, 2 in
Implementation, and 2 in Outcome with respect to Student Achievement.
Next Steps:
Staff agreed that the following needs to happen at the department level with respect to Student Achievement:
 Define standards for accessing the general education curriculum in each setting on the continuum of placements.
 Determine what data is available and what data needs to be collected in relationship to student standards to help inform the decision making process.

Ensure alignment of curriculum, instruction, instructional materials, assessments, and specialized instructional strategies to the standards for each placement.
 Coordinate with Teacher Development Specialist (TDS) Program to ensure that all teachers working with Special Education students receive the training necessary to implement the department’s initiatives.
 Coordinate with Leadership Development Specialist (LDS) Program to ensure that the department’s leadership staff, and campus administrators receive the training necessary to implement the department’s initiatives.
 Help teachers write effective IEPs – development and documentation
– through professional development, campus support, and utilization of the EasyIEP system.
 Assess student perceptions about meeting their needs for learning, safety, and teacher access and other elements as determined by a focus group.
Quarterly Benchmarks
3
2
1
0
5
4
GOAL
2nd Qtr
Baseline
3rd Qtr
1st Qtr
4th Qtr
Continuous Improvement Continuums Assessment Page 6 of 11
Houston Independent School District, Special Education Department

Special Education staff rated the department a 3 in Approach, 2 in
Implementation, and 3 in Outcome with respect to Quality Planning.
Next Steps:
Staff agreed that the following needs to happen at the department level with respect to Quality Planning:
 Reformat the Program Improvement Plan (PIP) to align directly with depatment goals and objectives. The PIP should include at a minimum: o Vision o Mission
 Measureable Goals and Objectives

Activities

Resources

Evaluation

Timeline

Responsible Parties
 Ensure resources (staffing, resources, materials) are allocated or otherwise available to execute the PIP.
 Determine how each activity is going to be measured or evaluated and when it will happen (timelines).
 Develop a plan to communicate the initial PIP and quarterly progress reports to all stakeholders to increase input, feedback, and buy-in.

Survey all stakeholders to identify areas where additional planning is needed.
 Provide training and support the use of shared websites, such as
Google Docs and Google Cloud, to increase collaborationt and quality of all planning efforts.
5
4
3
2
1
0
Quarterly Benchmarks
GOAL
2nd Qtr
Baseline
3rd Qtr
1st Qtr
4th Qtr
Continuous Improvement Continuums Assessment Page 7 of 11
Houston Independent School District, Special Education Department

Special Education staff rated the department a 2 in Approach, 2 in
Implementation, and 2 in Outcome with respect to Leadership.
Next Steps:
Staff agreed that the following needs to happen at the department level with respect to Leadership:

Keep all stakeholders informed of changes to the organizational chart and the leadership structures.

Identify processes and systems for each position and department to ensure continuity of services as the organizational chart is changed.

Revise and communicate department processes and procedures to correspond with organizational changes and firmly redefine roles and responsibilities for each position.

Develop a plan to increase shared decision making utilizing topical study teams and focus groups.

Review and revise communication practices and processes to ensure timely dissemination of action items. Look at using web casts, blogs, and other Internet based protocols to communicate timely information and news.

Reinstate regularly scheduled department meetings to ensure the department remains focused on the PIP.

Continuously monitor and update the special education website.
Quarterly Benchmarks
5
4
3
2
1
0
GOAL
2nd Qtr
Baseline
3rd Qtr
1st Qtr
4th Qtr
Continuous Improvement Continuums Assessment Page 8 of 11
Houston Independent School District, Special Education Department

Special Education staff rated the department a 2 in Approach, 2 in
Implementation, and 2 in Outcome with respect to Professional Learning.
Next Steps:
Staff agreed that the following needs to happen at the department level with respect to Professional Learning:
 Align professional learning objectives with the Program Improvement
Plan (PIP).
 Assess individual and group learning needs disaggregated by area of responsibility (aligned to organizational chart).
 Conduct a special education staff needs assessment, to include department chairs and teachers, to ascertain and plan professional development opportunities.
 Provide professional development on data analysis and utilization, leadership, shared decisionmaking and “Using Data to Improve
Student Learning”.
 Match staff qualifications and expertise with topics of professional development.
 Develop Department Chair Training program.
 Schedule periodic review of professional development opportunities to ensure progress towards meeting staff needs and department goals
Quarterly Benchmarks
5
4
3
2
1
0
GOAL
2nd Qtr
Baseline
3rd Qtr
1st Qtr
4th Qtr
Continuous Improvement Continuums Assessment Page 9 of 11
Houston Independent School District, Special Education Department

Special Education staff rated the department a 2 in Approach, 2 in
Implementation, and 2 in Outcome with respect to Partnership
Development.
Next Steps:
Staff agreed that the following needs to happen at the department level with respect to Partnership Development:

Develop measurable goals for community and parent partnerships.

Survey department staff (Nurses, Social Workers, etc...) to document and share current partnership efforts.

Review the systems that are in place as they relate to partnership development, and develop a corrective action plan.

Host on-going conferences/symposia with professional partners and community members to increase collaboration.

Identify and define the roles and responsibilities of department member(s) in establishing and maintaining partnerships.

Coordinate partnership efforts with other departments within HISD to include district level initiatives.

Develop a plan to improve the parent website, provide accurate and timely information, increase access, and increase visits.

Ensure a Special Education staff member is on every public outreach committee formed by the district.

Have information sharing sessions with PTO/PTA board members.

Develop a District Community Advisory Committee

Hold quarterly parent meetings.

Provide a survey to all stakeholders to collect feedback and suggestions for improving the Special Education Department.
Quarterly Benchmarks
1
0
3
2
5
4
GOAL
2nd Qtr
Baseline
3rd Qtr
1st Qtr
4th Qtr
Continuous Improvement Continuums Assessment Page 10 of 11
Houston Independent School District, Special Education Department

Special Education staff rated the department a 3 in Approach, 2 in
Implementation, and 2 in Outcome with respect to Continuous Improvement and Evaluation.
Next Steps:
Staff agreed that the following needs to happen at the department level with respect to Continuous Improvement and Evaluation:
 Reformat the Program Improvement Plan (PIP) to align directly with depatment goals and objectives. The PIP should include at a minimum: o Vision o Mission
 Measureable Goals and Objectives

Activities

Resources

Evaluation

Timeline

Responsible Parties
 Develop an internal evaluation plan for all processes, systems, and procedures within the department.
 Develop a plan to share the PIP with all Special Education staff to increase collaboration, awareness, and input.
 Continuously monitor, evaluate, and revise the PIP
 Collect, analyze, disseminate and use data to benchmark and monitor progress for each goal of the PIP.
 Ensure all decisions are data driven using multiple sources of data
(triangulation) when possible.
Quarterly Benchmarks
3
2
1
0
5
4
GOAL
2nd Qtr
Baseline
3rd Qtr
1st Qtr
4th Qtr
Continuous Improvement Continuums Assessment Page 11 of 11
Houston Independent School District, Special Education Department