DC SPECIAL EDUCATION CO-OPERATIVE Helping Charter Schools Develop High Quality Special Education Programs

What is the Co-operative?  The Co-operative supports charter schools by providing information, resources, services, and advocating for members at the state level.  First organization of its kind, created by charter school leaders in  Recognized nationally as an innovative model and has been replicated in states across the country.  A true “co-operative”, the DC Special Education Co-operative is guided by its members through the Board of Directors.

Who is the Co-operative?  25 member schools  Each school elects one “director” to sit on the Co- operative’s Board  All staff at member schools can benefit from membership  2 staff members  1volunteer

Members for SY  AppleTree PCS  Bridges PCS  Capital City PCS  Center City PCS  DC Bilingual PCS  DC Prep PCS  Early Childhood PCS  Education Strengthens Families PCS  EL Haynes PCS  Elsie Whitlow Stokes PCS  Friendship PCS  Hope Community PCS  HYDE PCS  IDEA PCS  Imagine South East PCS  KIPP DC PCS  LAMB PCS  Maya Angelou PCS  Next Step PCS  Potomac Lighthouse PCS  SAIL PCS SEED PCS  St Coletta Special Education PCS  Washington Latin PCS  Washington Yu Ying PCS

What do we do?  Compliance and Program Consulting Services  Program/file review and development  Mentoring Special Education Coordinators  Monitoring preparation  Special Education staff candidate searches  Medicaid application support and billing services

What do we do?  Professional Development and Training Services  Annual conference – Jumpstart  ASSIST DC – graduate certificate program with Catholic University  Charter Start-Up in collaboration with FOCUS  Training on topics of interest to members Legal/compliance/policy Program development Staffing Advocacy Working with parents Inclusive practice Special Education Praxis coaching Custom trainings

What do we do?  Advocacy through  Frequent and direct communication with OSSE at policy level program development level professional development level  Testimony at the SEA level The Co-operative organizes/trains members to testify at public hearings Reviews and submits comments on all new and pertinent OSSE policies  Representation on State-level panels and workgroup LRE workgroup & Secondary Transition Workgroup State Advisory Panel for Special Education

What do we do?  Provide Information:  Website – members only sections with tools, resources, articles, forms – all specific to the needs of DC charters.  Bi-weekly newsletter  Policy briefs and updates from OSSE  Group discussion lists for SECs to share ideas and ask questions (SECs and Co-operative staff only).  Helpline – call or the Co-operative anytime with questions about policy, practice, parents, EasyIEP, etc.

How we can help:  Your membership entitles ALL staff at your LEA to access Co-operative resources.  Call/ us when you have a question  Visit the website to find sample forms, policy briefs, articles about lesson planning, and links to other resources  Use the discussion lists to get immediate feedback from your colleagues  Read our notes when you can’t make it to an OSSE meeting  Read our newsletter to stay up to date on policies, events, and get tips for improving your special education practice

Opportunities for Collaboration  Monthly member meetings on various topics  Webinar training sessions  lists  Advisory Groups  Ad-hoc committees to address member needs  DC CAS planning  Non public placements  Special Education Policies and Procedures

Current and Upcoming Projects  ASSIST DC  Cohort 2 possible for Spring 2011  Shared Services  Legal, Related, Sub Pool  Advisory Panels  Early Childhood Special Education, Bilingual Special Education, & Secondary Transition  Listserv Launch  Special Educators  General Educators  SST  Member Meetings  October 28 – Legal Issues & Compliance

CONTACT US www. specialedcoop.org Julie Camerata, Executive Director Monica Lesperance, Program Quality Specialist