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A Living Record: Updated in March 2005
Background
From 1999 through early 2004, a growing number of States engaged in a peer-to-peer network of State Directors of Special Education and State Directors of Title I (assistance to local districts and public schools that have high numbers or percentages of children from low-income families). In the beginning, they wanted to create ties between these two programs and their funding streams at the State, district, and school levels. As they went on, their reach extended to additional opportunities for improving education for at-risk students. Over five years, the number of participating States multiplied from six to nineteen. These States’ efforts were sponsored and facilitated by the High-Poverty Schools Initiative of the Council of Chief State School Officers, the former IDEA Policymaker Partnership of the National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE), and ultimately The IDEA Partnership in late 2003. These efforts were supported through funds from the federal Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP).
In 2004-2005, these and other States had the opportunity to move into a new phase with an added dimension – involvement with the national professional associations and family organizations that are affiliated with The IDEA Partnership. These strategic collaborations will build on past experience with community building, and create new connections for transformational efforts across education systems. This work continues to be a joint effort with the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO).
This Living Record documents the processes, actions, and accomplishments of the new Title I-IDEA Collaboration Community Renewal as it moves forward to work on the intersections of the No Child Left Behind Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) of 2004.
2004: Meet the Partners
The 2004 Community Meeting: States and Partner Organizations
The June 2004 IDEA Partnership meeting in northern Virginia marked the first time that the original State teams convened with representatives of national organizations that have big agendas around the intersections of No Child Left Behind and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). These included: the American Association of School Administrators, American School Counselor Association, American Federation of Teachers, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Council of Administrators of Special Education, Learning Disabilities Association of America, National Association of Elementary School Principals, National Association of School Psychologists, National Education Association, and the Regional Parent Technical Assistance Centers of the PACER Center's Technical Assistance Alliance.
Officials from the federal Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and the School Achievement and Accountability Program of the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) were active at this meeting. The previous evening, State and organization representatives had met to generate a list of questions on the intersections between No Child Left Behind and IDEA. Their questions were emailed that night to OSEP and OESE. In the morning, their staffs worked on the questions, so that the federal participants were able to respond at lunch on the first day of the meeting.
OSEP’s Regional Resource Centers and OESE’s Comprehensive Regional Assistance Centers were also important participants, and are continuing to strengthen and support Community activities and connections in their regions.
The overall agenda centered on (a) key provisions and intersections of No Child Left Behind and IDEA; (b) examples of successes and challenges in States and districts; (c) contexts and opportunities for cross-stakeholder collaboration; and (d) next steps. Roundtable topics, which participants had identified in advance, were (a) early intervening educational services; (b) parent and community engagement; (c) defining adequate yearly progress among population sub-groups; (d) the "highly qualified teacher" provisions of No Child Left Behind and their implications for special educators.
As part of a plenary session, several partner organizations described how their headquarters and State affiliates could become involved with State teams; opportunities for informing their audiences at State and national conferences; and avenues for spreading information through newsletters and web sites. Many agreed to act as a conduit to connect their affiliates with State Communities of Practice. There were also focused exchanges among State teams and organization representatives.
This meeting was an early step in orienting partner organizations and States to the potentials of working together to improve results for students with disabilities. Several State-partner relationships began as a result. In the summer and fall, The Partnership began a supportive process to bring these interests together.
Agreements
It was agreed that invitations would be circulated to organize the member States of this new national Community of Practice. State teams and their partner organizations would gather at annual meetings, for which The IDEA Partnership would support the cost of registration, hotel, meals, and a variable stipend for travel based on the numbers attending.
Between meetings, Community members would routinely participate in web-enhanced seminars or conference calls for sharing information and for focused consideration of an issue, approach, or program. Emails, listservs, and interactions at The Partnership’s website will also connect States, their teams and partner organizations. Moreover, participants will receive invitations to represent the Community of Practice in related meetings and report back to the full Community, with full expenses underwritten by The IDEA Partnership.
Developments at the Federal Level
Public Law 108-446 was signed into law in December 2004 as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA). Many of its provisions tie it more closely to No Child Left Behind.
By the End of 2004
- The national initiative on Title I–IDEA collaboration had moved into a new phase through mutual plans for a national No Child Left Behind–IDEIA Community of Practice.
- A number of national associations and family organizations had expressed a vested interest in working with participating States on this agenda.
- State teams and partner organizations had come together for the first time, and linkages began.
- Plans were made for organizing this new national Community and for meetings and communications to share information and advance the agenda.
- IDEA was reauthorized as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, paving the way for generating this Community of Practice.
2005: Formation of State-To-State Communities of Practice
Invitations for State Participation:
Dialogues for Determining Readiness and for Planning
In February 2005, The IDEA Partnership issued invitations to determine States’ commitments to working actively in the new Title I-IDEA Collaboration Community Renewal. As a first step, States may use a Dialogue Guide to stimulate discussion of issues that should be explored across bureaus of the State education agency, across selected local education agencies, and with major stakeholder groups. The Dialogue Guide is designed for in-state preparation for learning with other States in the new state-to-state Community of Practice facilitated by the Council of Chief State School Officers and NASDSE through The IDEA Partnership.
States that hold a dialogue with their stakeholders to plan their involvement will receive a $1,500 planning grant if they agree to share the results of planning with The Partnership.
A Template for Dialogues with Stakeholders
The invitation to States came with an assessment instrument (reviewed by State and local leaders) to stimulate dialogue around issues that should be explored with bureaus of the State education agency, local education agencies, and major stakeholder groups before a State commits to joining the Community of Practice. The assessment included the following questions, plus instruments for recording big ideas, illustrative quotes, and other key points.
Section A. Foundations for collaboration/integration: Information from dialogue with stakeholders or stakeholder interviews
These questions are meant to make underlying beliefs about programs and service delivery explicit to enable informed planning.
1. What traditional role has No Child Left Behind played in improving results for all students?
2. What traditional role has IDEA played in improving results for all students?
3. Given the timelines and the importance of student subgroup performance, what can be gained by having Title I and Special Education work together to improve results for all students?
4. What school district and State data would be useful in understanding the need to improve outcomes for all students, with the participation of Title I and Special Education? Where is that data available? If you choose, also include Title III (language instruction for limited English proficient and immigrant students) and other programs.
5. As school improvement under No Child Left Behind is focused on the school building level, what do Special Education and Title I need to do to build connections with general educators and building administrators?
6. What stands in the way of Title I and Special Education working together to improve results for all students at the school building level?
7. If you could design a collaborative system for Title I and Special Education, what important elements would you include?
8. The provisions of IDEA 1997 permit some use of IDEA funds in more flexible ways for schoolwide programs. Provisions of IDEIA 2004 emphasize early intervening services and suggest some additional flexibility. Although the legislation is new (December 2004) and regulations are not expected until the end of 2005, is there value in a collaborative approach to defining and projecting these potential opportunities at the State level, with local district staff and key stakeholders? If so, what is that value?
Section B. Descriptions of existing efforts
This section is intended to provide some description of the efforts that have been undertaken at the State and local level to build collaborative relationships between Title I and Special Education. These examples may offer insight into beliefs, values, strategies and barriers that could have relevance for a larger effort.
1. Are there policy initiatives within the State education agency that promote collaboration between Title I and Special Education? Describe.
2. Are there policy initiative within the State education agency that impede collaboration between Title I and Special Education? Describe.
3. Are there efforts that are voluntarily undertaken at the local level that promote collaboration between Special Education and Title I? Describe.
4. If there are existing efforts, do funds, staff, and so forth retain their categorical identity? Why or why not?
5. What data are available about existing efforts to build collaboration across IDEA and Title I?
Section C. Projections about collaboration
This section is intended to identify the potential impact points where change may be initiated. It is also intended to identify the key roles, groups, and stakeholders that must be engaged.
1. What data need to be collected and synthesized to show the need for collaboration and set the stage for future work?
2. Given the data, what messages need to be clearly communicated from the State level so that it is more likely that Special Education and Title I work together to meet the benchmarks in No Child Left Behind?
3. What action needs to be initiated at the State level? Who needs to be involved?
4. What messages need to be communicated at the local level? Who needs to embrace the message and help deliver it?
5. What action needs to be initiated at the local level? Who needs to be involved?
Section D. The cross-state community of practice for system collaboration across IDEA and Title I at the state and local level to meet benchmarks in NCLB for all students
This section is intended to clarify the State commitment to learning with other States in a Community of Practice.
1. Has your State been part of the Title I–IDEA Community of Practice in the past five years. If so, who was on your State team?
2. Do individuals on the team still serve in positions related to this effort? If so, have they been invited to share their experiences? If not, who needs to be engaged in the dialogue?
3. After completing this exercise, is there support for joining other States in a Community of Practice? If so, is your purpose to learn what other States are doing or to create an action effort in your State?
Next Steps: Informational and Transformational Involvement
States that plan to pursue dialogue with stakeholders were asked to return their intent forms by March 11, 2005, in order to receive a $1,500 planning grant. By May 2, these States should have completed their dialogue meetings and returned summaries to The IDEA Partnership. In a June conference call, participating States and team members will finalize their opening agenda for addressing common needs across States, as well as issues that are unique to particular States. The first cross-state meeting of the Title I-IDEA Collaboration Community Renewal is scheduled for summer 2005.
Transformational Participation: States that commit to the transformational effort of building a State team and state-based Community of Practice will receive support to participate in the annual meetings of the Community. Between annual meetings, The Partnership and CCSSO will also routinely conduct web-enhanced conference calls/ seminars of one hour for state sharing or two hours for focused consideration of an issue, approach, or program. The Partnership and CCSSO will also facilitate collaboration with the Regional Resource Centers, Comprehensive Regional Assistance Centers, and Regional Educational Labs to align efforts and provide focused, non-duplicative support to the States.
Informational Participation: States that are not ready to fully engage in the action agenda may participate in web-based seminars, conference calls, and other communications to stay informed. The informational participants are invited to move into transformational status whenever they are ready.
Developments at the Federal Level
In January and February 2005, the federal Office of Special Education Programs held 14 meetings in seven regional locations to elicit comments on regulations to be written for the implementation of IDEIA 2004. A second series of meetings will be held in the spring and summer to provide the public an opportunity to comment on proposed regulations. Congress set a deadline of December 2005 for the regulations, although the majority of the law goes into effect on July 1, 2005.
At a March 2005 meeting of its Technical Assistance and Dissemination Centers, the federal Office of Special Education Programs provided 13 outlines that quote sections of the law, by topic. Each outline will become available at OSEP’s website with links to documents that can point to good practice, and that can be used to create dialogue with the field during the period when regulations are being developed. Through its website, The IDEA Partnership will gain broad input, in cooperation with its partner organizations that represent many stakeholder groups. A guide is being prepared for use by organizations, States, and local education agencies to help people understand and discuss the big ideas and substantive changes in IDEIA.
Stay Tuned for Regular Updates!
Links to Additional Information
Meeting the Challenges of No Child Left Behind: The Title I and IDEA Connection – PowerPoint Presentation for the Appalachian Educational Laboratory, February 2005
(Linked Resource)
Links to Information on the Earlier Title I-IDEA Community (1999-2004)
The SHORT Story – Title I-IDEA: A Cross-State Community of Practice on Improving Results for At-Risk Students, 1999-2004
(Linked Resource)
The WHOLE Story – Title I-IDEA: A Cross-State Community of Practice on Improving Results for At-Risk Students, 1999-2004
(Linked Resource)
A Composite of State Initiatives, 2000-2004 – Title I-IDEA: A Cross-State Community of Practice on Improving Results for At-Risk Students
(Linked Resource)
CITATION: IDEA Partnership: (2005, March) A living record – Title I-IDEA collaboration community renewal: The development of the No Child Left Behind-IDEIA community of practice. Alexandria, VA: National Association of State Directors of Special Education. Retrieved from (Linked Resource)
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