Update on the Special Education Strategic Plan

April 15, 2016

How we got here

The Four Points: An Opportunity to Collaborate
Next steps

How did we get here?

Creation of role and subsequent charges by the General Assembly

Through a unique partnership between the Delaware General

Assembly and the Secretary of Education, the Delaware Department
of Education (DOE) was authorized to perform a comprehensive,
annual review of special education services within the states public
schools.
In addition, DOE was authorized to create a position to conduct this
review and subsequently create a strategic plan. This partnership was
formalized in the Delaware FY 2015 Budget, Section 307 Epilogue.

PHASE 1: Completed
February 2016
Phase 1 Concepts Completed

May 2015 September 2015

FOUR POINTS creation
May 2015 June 2015
Monthly Oversight Meetings
Quarterly after June

November 2015 January 2016

Drafting Phase 1 Concepts

PHASE 2: Next steps

Public comment 90 days
Fall 2016
Strategic Plan Completed

Community Conversations

Finalize draft for public

comment
Revisions from
public comment

October 2016
Share with legislature

How did we get here?

Year-long listening and learning tour
Met with students, parents, teachers, and administrators as well as
agencies that work with districts to provide special education services

Expert educators

Student and Family Ownership

Student and family centered IFSP/IEP
processes which promote and inspire
growth and student/family advocacy
Robust systems to support family
engagement and collaboration

Long-term Student Success

Coordinated and meaningful student and
family transition conversations that start
at an early age

Education
Collaborative to
Support the
Four Points
A locally controlled strategic
delivery system between all
LEAs that drives leading
professional learning,
educational services, and
technical assistance

Preeminent teachers, therapists,

paraprofessionals, and administrators who
are accessible to all schools, professionally
collaborate, and take ownership of all
students with disabilities
Educator access to leading-edge professional
learning opportunities that improve
instructional practices

Access to Assistive Technology

Educationally appropriate assistive
technologies and system-wide expertise in
the integration of AT into educational
programming

Equal access to programming that delivers

on college and career readiness

Key findings
Improving how we work smarter, not harder to increase outcomes for students with disabilities

Opportunities
Low incidence disability taskforces are vying for the same dollars, with
overlapping recommendations
Where districts are already working together, the impact has been significant
Delaware is one of four states that does not have a legislated education
collaborative

The Mission of an Educational Collaborative

1. Promote equity by providing students and schools access to programs
and services
2. Provide effective programs and services
3. Promote efficiency in the delivery of special education programs and
services
4. Promote cooperation and coordination among school districts, state
agencies, and human service providers
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The Mechanics of an Education Collaborative

Legal framework: Legislated
Governance structure/funding

Governance: Composed of representatives from member LEAs and stakeholders

Bylaws, local control

Programs and services: Almost exclusively determined by LEAs and stakeholders

Board of advisors, Special Education Directors, stakeholders

Fiscal support: Almost exclusively local and state/federal

Catalyst funds, fee-for-service activities, dues
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Next Steps
Questions and Feedback
Framing the conversation with local stakeholders

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