Systemic change will occur as a result of:

• Developing linkages and connections across multiple promising reform practices.
• Establishing ownership and commitment to change by stakeholders by building and expanding on existing successful programs and models.
• Providing support for connecting the various reform efforts to require all participants to build on proven/promising practices to address common goals.

More specifically, systems change will occur through:

• Increased numbers of teachers in critical areas of special education.
• Change in certification and training.
• Distance learning options in rural areas.
• Different approaches to mentoring to retain special education teachers.
• Improved methods of teaching reading and math for diverse learners.
• Development of models to reduce drop-out rate for students with disabilities.
• Internet and teleconference use to assist teachers in working with challenging students.
• State-wide training in the math and reading initiative.
• Training and technical assistance on positive behavior supports and technology to include students with challenging behaviors.
• Parent advisory councils convened to get parent input.
• Change in placements due to statewide training on effective inclusion resulting in change of percent of students in segregated classes.

Project Title:	Preparation of Personnel Partnership A proposal designed to address Missouri’s vision and identified issues by focusing on building capacity of the school districts to recruit qualified personnel and on training teachers in the system on how to work with diverse learners in reading and mathematics. The result will produce better achievement levels and increased knowledge. Additional outcomes will include: a) increased numbers of students with disabilities who graduate with diplomas and decreased numbers who exit school without a diploma; b) systemic change throughout the state in increasing placements in regular education in targeted local districts through individualized training and technical assistance and changes in institutions of higher education.
Primary contact person:	Melodie Friedebach, State Director of Special Education
Address:	P. O. Box 480 Jefferson City, MO 65102
Phone:	573-751-2965
Fax:	573-526-4404
Email:	mfriedeb@mail.dese.state.mo.us
Web site:	http://services.dese.state.mo.us/divspeced/
Date SIG application written/submitted:	October 1, 1998
Round funded:	First
Begin/end dates for funding:	1999-2003
Funded amount /year:	$1,145,000
Who wrote the application?	SEA Staff
Length of application:	Narrative: 120 pages  Appendices: 4  How long are they? 43 pages

 

1. What specific products are planned for development? 

• Mentoring manual focusing on ways to support new teachers in special education.
• Reading and mathematics curricula and training.
• Fact sheets on the evaluation of the project.
• Lessons learned information to be distributed throughout the state.
• Multi-media inquiry-based curriculum for pre-service and in-service professional development.
• Multi-media CD-ROMs will be designed each year on one issue related to teaching strategies for all learners (strategies that enhance learning in reading and mathematics will be stressed) in all school districts.
• Effective tutorial intervention strategies.

2. What interstate connections are planned?

A contractual agreement for study of the accommodation process and how it impacts achievement scores will be made with The National Center on Educational Outcomes at the University of Minnesota. The process is part of The Missouri Assessment Program.

There is a connection with University of Western Michigan's distance learning program in Orientation and Mobility as Missouri participates with 15 students each year.

3. What strategies are planned for service delivery?

• Tuition reimbursement stipends will be provided to paraprofessionals and general educators seeking special education certification.
• Tuition reimbursement stipends will be given to students (priority to minorities and persons with disabilities) who wish to become teachers in special education.
• Materials will be produced to disseminate information about various occupations in the special education field to counselors in the Missouri Career Pathways program.
• A program will be established to enhance paraprofessionals entering IHE to receive certification in special education.
• Three IHEs will receive annual funding to set up an innovative curriculum to be used in certifying general education teachers in special education.
• Tuition reimbursement will be given to 25 students each year who are working toward a Master' degree and certification in speech and language.
• LEAs will be able to apply for funding for school-based internships in specialty areas of critical need (occupational therapy and physical therapy, in addition to the speech/language area) targeting master level students who are not typically required to complete school internships.
• Four teacher organizations will be given grants in the first year to fund a consultant project that will identify key components that would be different for new teachers in special education. One chapter for the master manual will be the result of this study. This effort, a part of the new teacher mentoring project, will continue over the later years to support implementation of activities for mentoring efforts for new special education teachers.
• Funds will be added to the State Mathematics Initiative to increase the number of trainers, materials, resources, and expenses.
• Funds will be added to the Eisenhower reading initiative to increase the number of trainers, pay a portion of materials and other related expenses.
• Single school districts or multiple district consortia that have been part of the Missouri Accelerated Schools Project may apply for funding to address reading and mathematics in ways best for their particular schools. Training and opportunities to enhance teaching strategies will be included. Parent training will provide the opportunity for them to learn how to use data and conduct a needs assessment. They will partner with schools to make recommendations for improvement.
• Twenty schools will be awarded grants (after competitive application process) to identify ways and implement how to address challenging behaviors in students with disabilities in their schools.
• Ten A+ high schools will receive funding to tailor a program to the needs of their school that will focus on maintaining students with disabilities in their schools.
• Technical assistance and training will be provided to through the use of current technological resources.
• Parent advisory councils will be established at each local implementation site.
• Ten grants will be available for inclusive education training for districts that have higher numbers of students in self-contained classrooms so that systemic change can become a reality.

4. What partnership strategies are intended?

LEAs and IHEs will partner to establish the internship program designed to attract master level students in critical need areas. Three IHE will be funded each year to set up an innovative curriculum that will be utilized to certify general education teachers in special education. Specialized centers and IHEs will conduct training and provide technical assistance, information, resources and support. They will also collaborate to establish distance learning sessions. Several groups will sponsor workshops and support the mentoring program. Parents will partner through special projects and parent councils. Community groups will be involved in the dissemination of materials, information and support in several of the specific focus efforts.

5. Who are the partners?

• Local Education Agencies.
• Institutions of Higher Education.
• Missouri Parents Act (M-PACT).
• Regional Professional Development Centers.
• Center for innovations in Special Education.
• Autism Resource Center (ACCESS).
• Center for Technology for Special Education.
• Planning Council for Persons with Developmental Disabilities.
• Consortium on Inclusive Schooling Practices.
• Missouri Speech and Hearing Association.
• Missouri Teachers Associations (MSTA, MNEA, AFT).
• Learning First Alliance.
• Michigan's OSERS program.
• Missouri Commission for the Deaf.
• State Reading Initiative.
• State Mathematics Initiative.
• Accelerated Schools.
• A+ High Schools.
• Institution of Higher Education (IHE)/Center for Innovation in Special Education (CISE)/Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Coalition.
• SUCCESSLINK.
• Missouri School Board Association.
• Principal Association.
• OT/OP Organization.
• Regional Professional Development Centers (RPDC).

6. What types of contracts or subgrants are intended to partners, LEAs, IHE, PTIs, and others (including lead agency under Part C)?

• Center for Innovations in Special Education (Funding to coordinate teleconference training and website bulletin board, consultants and for loan material).
• Missouri State Teachers Association, Missouri /National Education Association, and Missouri American Federation of Teachers (Funding to support the mentoring program).
• UMKC (Funding to conduct evaluation activities).
• MPACT (Funding to conduct advocacy and other training needs).
• IHEs (Funding to support development of new models to train teachers and multi-media resources and tuition reimbursement programs).
• LEAs (Funding to support approximately 60 local improvement grants).

7. How will resources be pooled with other resources?

• Funds will support the SIG grant where activities complement and supplement Missouri-funded programs. They include:
  • Project Access, Part B.
  • Center for Special Innovations in Special Education, Part B.
  • Technical Center for Special Education, Part B.
  • Regional Professional Development Centers.
  • Accelerated Schools.
  • A+ Schools.
  • Distance Learning Sites.
  • SUCCESSLINK.
  • Reimbursement Program for General Education Teachers to be certified (All are part of Outstanding Schools Act.
  • MSTA/NEA/AFT Mentoring Program.
  • Part B targeted funds.
  • Foundation for the Improvement of Education.
  • Math and Reading Initiative.
  • OSA and Eisenhower Monies.
  • M-PACT, OSERS/OSAP.
  • Planning Council for Developmental Disabilities and Partnership in Policymaking.
  • Administration on Developmental Disabilities.
  • Project Directors and Management Team and a variety of other state and federal funds.