2007 Fall Administrators Conference Grants, Scholarships, Resources and Services The Oregon Special Education Recruitment & Retention Project

2007 Fall Administrators Conference Objectives for the Session Become familiar with: Goals and objectives of R&R project Various grant/scholarship programs available (current and planned) and how to apply. Various resources and technical assistance available and how to access them. Various free services available and how to access them. Status and a brief update on recruitment and retention study. Q&A

2007 Fall Administrators Conference Overview of project and funding source Collaborative effort – ODE and TRI Funded through the State Professional development Grant (SPDG) and currently just starting second year. Intended to improve the recruitment and retention of high quality special educators in Oregon.

2007 Fall Administrators Conference Project Goals To recruit qualified individuals into the profession and into Oregon job openings. To retain and support special educators To collaborate with IHEs to increase Oregon’s capacity to prepare and place special education personnel. To conduct on-going studies for ODE to inform statewide efforts in the recruitment and retention of special educators. To promote, manage and evaluate R&R efforts.

2007 Fall Administrators Conference To recruit qualified individuals into the profession and into Oregon job openings. Support recruitment efforts of school districts and ESDs. Support recruitment of individuals into the profession through school district and ESD “grow your own” efforts.

2007 Fall Administrators Conference To retain and support special educators Support local school district and ESD beginning special educator induction programs. Build/support administrator capacity to support and retain special educators Build/support mentor capacity to support and retain special educators. Provide web-based information and TA to support the development and retention of special educators.

2007 Fall Administrators Conference To collaborate with IHEs Coordinate efforts to increase capacity of Oregon special education preparation programs. Disseminate and promote preparation programs options in Oregon.

2007 Fall Administrators Conference To conduct on-going studies for ODE Disseminate findings from 2001 and 2007 R&R studies with recommendations for policy and practice. Conduct and disseminate other studies as directed by ODE

2007 Fall Administrators Conference To promote, manage and evaluate R&R efforts. Promote R&R project services and resources. Effectively and efficiently manage the project to assure accountability to ODE and USDOE. Evaluate project outcomes to support continuous improvement and assure accountability to ODE and USDOE.

2007 Fall Administrators Conference Overview of Scholarship Programs SLP Scholarships Part of a “Grow Your Own” strategy. Update on SLP Scholarships  Master’s Program through Nova SE University in Florida  Oregon Cohort started Fall Semester, 2007  19 Cohort Members – Hillsboro, Centennial, Harney Co., Newberg, Douglas ESD, Umatilla-Morrow ESD, Crook Co., Willamette ESD, S. Coast ESD, Oregon City, and Salem-Keizer. Future Cohort  ODE still working on plans for implementing HB 3141, which will provide support to a Cohort of SLPA’s and possibly another, smaller Nova Cohort for Fall 2008.

2007 Fall Administrators Conference  7 rounds of competition  Awarded $158,290 to 33 grantees in school districts and ESD’s. Eligibility  Identified R&R as a priority  CSPD Plan  SPI Plan  High percentages of non-certified special educators  Special Educators or related service personnel identified as area of shortage Purpose  Develop capacity to support personnel to obtain endorsement/certification. Overview of Scholarship Programs Special Educator Scholarships

2007 Fall Administrators Conference Application Process  Applications for Round 8 will be due later this Fall.  Complete 4 page ODE application  Address five application criteria How do I get an Application?  Look for Grant Competition ‘Request For Proposal’ in the mail sometime in October.  Sign up on the page going around to have an application packet sent directly to you.  Questions? Contact Torry at Overview of Scholarship Programs Special Educator Scholarships

2007 Fall Administrators Conference

R&R Survey Results 1: Descriptive Results of Recruitment and Hiring Process Experiences 2: Important Factors in Accepting a Job Offer 3: Descriptive Results on the Incidence and Helpfulness of Induction Activities 4: Descriptive Results on the Incidence and Helpfulness of Initial Support Activities 5: Descriptive Results on the Incidence and Helpfulness of On-going Supports and Working Conditions 6: Some Reasons Why People Left Their Previous Job

2007 Fall Administrators Conference

The Job Seeker Listing (JSL) is a free service provided to job providers. To view resumes from our Job Seeker List: your request to Bernie Samples along with: Your name Agency address Phone number Upon verification, qualified agencies will receive an containing instructions for viewing the JSL on-line JOB Seeker Listing

2007 Fall Administrators Conference Information & Referral Web Content: or Phone: General Jobs Clearinghouse (503) Scholarships (503) Mentoring TA (503) Website (503)

2007 Fall Administrators Conference R&R Study Update Replicate studies  Identify effective recruiting strategies  Identify effective interview/hiring procedures  Identify effective induction activities  Identify effective initial support  Identify effective on-going supports  Identify factors associated with possible attrition from the profession

2007 Fall Administrators Conference R&R Study Update First round of recruitment last spring  Sent out recruitment letters to districts and ESDs  Received responses from 30 agencies  Identified 132 newly hired special educators  Received completed surveys back from 55 (42%)  Preliminary analyses completed Second round currently underway  Sent recruitment letter to all non-responding agencies  Have received responses from an additional 15 agencies  Identified an additional 161 newly hired special educators  Second round surveys sent.

2007 Fall Administrators Conference R&R Study Update Effective Recruiting Strategies How people find jobs - advertising open positions What is attractive in a job – what to highlight Interview and hiring processes Differences by respondent demographics? Differences from 2001?

2007 Fall Administrators Conference R&R Study Update Effective Induction Activities: Orientation Important activities Prevalence Differences by respondent demographics Differences from 2001

2007 Fall Administrators Conference R&R Study Update Effective Induction Activities: Initial Supports Important activities Prevalence Differences by respondent demographics Differences from 2001

2007 Fall Administrators Conference R&R Study Update Working Conditions to Support Retention: Effective Ongoing Supports Important considerations Prevalence Differences by respondent demographics Differences from 2001

2007 Fall Administrators Conference R&R Study Update Other Considerations Biggest sources of support Biggest needs for support Factors related to attrition

2007 Fall Administrators Conference Q & A