Special Education Assistance for Charter Schools in Arizona Arizona Department of Education November 2006

Assistance from ADE-ESS ADE-ESS Program Specialists offer assistance and support to all charter schools throughout the year ADE-ESS Program Specialists offer assistance and support to all charter schools throughout the year –onsite visits and phone consultations –individualized trainings –resources –follow-up to corrective action (e.g., complaints) Program Specialists monitor for procedural requirements Program Specialists monitor for procedural requirements –provide assistance for close-out during the following year Outreach training opportunities for all PEAs, including charter schools Outreach training opportunities for all PEAs, including charter schools –all trainings presented at sites throughout the state Outreach training opportunities targeting charter schools Outreach training opportunities targeting charter schools Website Website

Assistance from ASBCS Arizona State Board for Charter Schools provides technical assistance related to statutory and contractual obligations Arizona State Board for Charter Schools provides technical assistance related to statutory and contractual obligations –new applicants –all charter schools –parents –members of the public –other agencies Website Website

Collaborative Partnership AZ State Board for Charter Schools (ASBCS) and AZ Dept. of Education-Exceptional Student Services (ADE-ESS) have positive working relationships AZ State Board for Charter Schools (ASBCS) and AZ Dept. of Education-Exceptional Student Services (ADE-ESS) have positive working relationships Both agencies strive to provide consistent information to charter schools Both agencies strive to provide consistent information to charter schools –each agency provides support and resources in specific areas ESS and ASBCS work to bring schools into compliance and utilize available sanctions when necessary ESS and ASBCS work to bring schools into compliance and utilize available sanctions when necessary

Collaborative Partnership In Action ASBCS Include a special education component in the application Include a special education component in the application Require ESS training prior to signing contract Require ESS training prior to signing contract Sanctions for non- compliance Sanctions for non- complianceADE-ESS Provide the scoring criteria for the application component Provide the scoring criteria for the application component Provide the mandated training Provide the mandated training Monitor compliance Monitor compliance

Charter Training Purpose is to provide introduction to basics of special education within a short period of time Purpose is to provide introduction to basics of special education within a short period of time –gives participants many resources Designed for new charter schools that will open in August Designed for new charter schools that will open in August Annual day-long session in June or July Annual day-long session in June or July Charter holder and special education administrator required to attend Charter holder and special education administrator required to attend Variety of topics by different speakers Variety of topics by different speakers –topics range from special education process to data collection Opportunity for charter holders to meet ESS staff members and charter mentors Opportunity for charter holders to meet ESS staff members and charter mentors

Charter Mentors Purpose of program is to support new charter administrators during first months of operation Purpose of program is to support new charter administrators during first months of operation –facilitates their understanding of and implementation of special education requirements Provides 20 hours of free mentoring services Provides 20 hours of free mentoring services Services offered from August through December Services offered from August through December Mentors Mentors –follow a checklist of duties –tailor assistance when needed –have leadership and special education experience Charter administrators have responsibilities Charter administrators have responsibilities –participate, communicate with mentor, keep appointments, evaluate mentor

Charter Schools’ TA Needs Networking with other charter schools Networking with other charter schools –charter administrators’ organizations –special education administrators’ organizations –other support organizations Sharing of resources and information Sharing of resources and information

Charter Schools’ TA Needs Free technical assistance Free technical assistance –training for staff and parents –mentors –lending library with access to training videos –lending library for assistive technology devices –online documents and forms –Q and A forum Encouragement and understanding to problem solve Encouragement and understanding to problem solve –small charter schools have different needs as compared to large charter schools

Resources Charter schools and organizations Charter schools and organizations Arizona State Board for Charter Schools Arizona State Board for Charter Schools ESS ESS –special education listserv –program specialists Assistive Technology Unit (ESS) Assistive Technology Unit (ESS) –consultants, information, trainings, resources, lending library PINS (ESS) PINS (ESS) –parent consultants who provide consultation, information, training, and resources to parents –enables parents’ active participation in special education process

Resources SUPPORT Cadre (ESS) SUPPORT Cadre (ESS) –peer consultants –for a variety of needs, ranging from skill improvement for a specific role/position to behavior management for an individual student SELECT SELECT –online courses –academic credit can apply toward teacher certification –e. g., courses offered for cross-categorical certification ESS online resources ESS online resources –AZ-TAS documents –monitoring documents, monitoring alerts

Arizona Team Jason Archuleta, Academic Affairs Specialist Jason Archuleta, Academic Affairs Specialist Arizona State Board for Charter Schools Arizona State Board for Charter Schools Cyndi Bolewski, Director, Tucson Office Cyndi Bolewski, Director, Tucson Office Arizona Department of Education-Exceptional Student Services Arizona Department of Education-Exceptional Student Services Sue Douglas, Administrator Sue Douglas, Administrator Mesa Arts Academy Mesa Arts Academy Founding Member, The Arizona Foundation for Educational Choice Founding Member, The Arizona Foundation for Educational Choice Ann Peschka, Charter Governing Board Member, NCLB Committee of Practitioners Member, and Charter School Consultant Ann Peschka, Charter Governing Board Member, NCLB Committee of Practitioners Member, and Charter School Consultant Founding Member, The Arizona Foundation for Educational Choice Founding Member, The Arizona Foundation for Educational Choice