WestEd.org Special Education Supports Information System Update Greg Austin, WestEd Director, Health and Human Development Program & Cal-SCHLS System / Presented to the CA Strategic Plan Leadership Team Meeting, June 8, 2011, California Dept of Ed

WestEd.org SE Staff Responsibility Questions Q1. What is your role at this school (Mark all apply): Teacher; Special Education Teacher Q2. Do you provide services to the following types of students: Special Education SESM: School personnel with responsibilities for teaching or providing services to students with IEPs, including general ed teachers who serve students with IEPs, paraprofessionals…other support providers (e.g., speech therapists).

WestEd.org District Report Example All SE Providers vs. Others

WestEd.org State Report Two-year aggregation of data from all districts Disaggregated by SE vs. Non-SE responsibilities Issue: Given 8 column report layout, what is the best approach to disaggregation?

WestEd.org Respondents Core Module Total Respondents:95,000 SE Teachers 6,500 (07%) Gen Ed Teacher w/ SE Services40,000 (42%) Other SE Services17,000 (18%) SESM Module Total Respondents:56,000 SE Teachers 5,700 (10%) Gen Ed Teacher w/ SE Services26,000 (46%) Other SE Services 9,500 (17%)

WestEd.org Main State Findings Results often vary for SE vs. GE Teachers compared with all SE Providers vs. Non-Providers -Level of results overall lower for teachers only Supportive workplace: T 36% vs 37%; All: 39% vs 40% -Group differences often greater Safe for staff: T 39% vs 43%; All 45% vs 46% Welcomes parents: T 41% vs 39%; All 41% vs 42% Students well-behaved: T 65% vs 70%; All 73% vs 70% PD behavior/classroom management: T 45% vs 38%; All 39% vs 38%

WestEd.org Main Teacher Findings: Group Differences Elementary teachers more positive than Secondary Elementary SET more positive than GET -Learning & working environment -Staff collegiality and sense of mission -Student learning readiness & motivation -Adverse impact student behavior -Learning supports Secondary SET often less positive than GET on same indicators as above

WestEd.org Main Teacher Findings: Group differences Across schools SET higher than GET for: -Welcoming parent involvement -Materials reflecting student culture -Need PD for (1) behavior/classroom management, (2) youth development Across schools SET lower for: -Adults treating students (1) fairly, (2) with respect

WestEd.org Findings for SE Teachers Half or more need PD in serving IEP students and meeting SEL/developmental needs Only about one-third strongly agree school positive working place, safe, collegial, have high expectations for students, treat students fairly/respectfully Less than one-quarter strongly agree provides resources to work w/ IEP students But 60% report provides a lot of services for students w/ disabilities or special needs and resources to do job effectively.

WestEd.org Findings for SE Teachers Elem/Middle much higher than High School for doing a lot of service for students with disabilities/special needs (65% vs 46%) Elem much higher than Middle or High School for having resources to (1) do job effectively and (2) work with IEP students (31% vs. 16%; 29% vs. 21%)

WestEd.org SESM Findings: SE Teachers Results become less positive across school types Six highest (30%-36%) strong agreement overall: -Reduces instructional interruptions -Effectively schedules mandated activities -Integrates SE into daily operations -High expectations for IEP students -Provides positive working environment -Climate encourages continued service

WestEd.org SESM Findings: SE Teachers Six lowest (12%-19%) strong agreement overall -Works to minimize paperwork -Sufficient time to collaborate -Alternative modes of communication -Sufficient resources for SE programs/services -Relevant paraprofessional training -Adequate benefits/compensation

WestEd.org SESM SE vs. Other Teachers (Strongly Agree) Integrates special ed into daily operations (35%/35%) Encourages genera/special ed teaming (27%/25%) Participation in decision-making (22%/17%) Has good communication to support IEP students (26%/17%) — biggest difference Service to IEP students shared responsibility (20%/21%) Adequate benefits/compensation (19%/15%) Sufficient resources for SE services (17%/15%) Provides relevant paraprofessional training (12%/11%) Minimizes paperwork (12%/14%)

WestEd.org State Report Issues: Core Eight column limitation Total district results relevant? More specific breakdowns than all SE vs. Others: -SE vs. GE teachers for MS and HS (4 columns) -All SE staff at grade levels for comparison to district reports (3 columns). -Separate reports SE vs. GE teachers and SE Providers vs. Others for MS and HS All SE staff vs. all others by grade level

WestEd.org State Report Issues: Summary Tables Recommendation: Combine agree with strongly agree -Would wash out group differences

WestEd.org State Report: SESM Issues Report separately SE Teachers vs. Other Providers? How handle non-SE respondents? -27% non-SE. Half of all non-SE respondents. Delete? Only four items not SE-specific: Paper work (recommended to delete), paraprofessional training, offers adequate benefits, decision- making (also in Core)

WestEd.org SESM Item Factor Analysis Goal: Summarize and simplify results No factor into originally four categories: -Barriers to service delivery -SE Integration -Students expectations and supports -Personnel supports Two main factors not easily distinguished with several items not factoring well -Sequential factors: Items 7-17 and Option: Explore single SE Supports Index

WestEd.org CASPLT Instrument Revision Recommendations What can we do to shorten, clarify, and simplify the survey — and provide more useful results — without affecting trends?

WestEd.org Integrate all SESM into Core Issues: -Increases survey length for many -Would non-SE providers know answers? Decision-making already in Core (S24) Only add to Core other items more relevant to all staff at local level — disaggregate at state level? -Paraprofessional training (S13), -Supports for teaching diverse students (S15), -State-adopted instruction (S18), -Adequate access to technology (S19), - Adequate benefits to continue work (S21)

WestEd.org Combine SESM & Core Demographics Delete highest level credential and primary service setting (S3 & 4) Keep degree and credential questions (S1 & 2) -Relevance in data use and analysis? -Info available from other sources? Roles: Add Other Service Provider (Speech therapist etc.) -Separate option or add to health aide category?

WestEd.org Other Specific SESM Deletions Paperwork (S7) SE shared responsibility (S12) -Rationale? SE high expectations (redundant from Core) (S14) State adopted instructions materials: delete reference to SE and move to Core. (S18) -Relevant for all?

WestEd.org Create District Response Section SESM questions related to (1) paraprofessional training, (2) alternative modes of communication, (3) adequate benefits. (S13, 16, 21) Encourages enrollment in rigorous courses (q 20) Instructional materials reflect culture (q 21) Issue: Original policy to not differentiate school from district

WestEd.org Revisions to Core CSCS Questions Being reviewed by staff For clarification: -Why delete close professional relations? Drawn from Futernick study Vary wary of changes that might affect trend monitoring

WestEd.org Delete Learning Supports Module Revisions being explored with end-users Why directions deemed confusing? Other options for health-related information? Scale inconsistency is problematic