National Center for Homeless Education State Coordinators Meeting 2016

State Plan for the EHCY Program – A one-time plan required in the reauthorization of the McKinney-Vento Act that serves as the overarching guide or blueprint for implementing the EHCY program in your state; includes broad strategies and long-term goals (details for the new State Plan will be forthcoming from ED) Annual Action Plan – Plan to be updated on a yearly basis that includes specific, measurable goals with corresponding activities focused on achieving the goals; includes tasks and timelines in strategic areas; not required by law but strongly encouraged as a good practice

* New level of accountability in educational programs * Data-based decision making * Performance-based accountability * Focus at the last two State Coordinators meetings * One of the federally developed Leading indicators for the EHCY program: * “The number of States that have updated annual work plans based on data from a needs assessment and the establishment of measurable goals that address identified needs.” * Program thinking * A set of strategically aligned activities to move toward measurable goals

* Review data to identify areas of strength and need * State and federal data (LEA-level workbooks) * Input from liaisons, SEA program coordinators, external collaborators, other stakeholders (informally at meetings or interviews or formally in surveys or focus groups) * TA calls (Barrier Tracking) * Review current state-level strategies and activities * LEA training, technical assistance, monitoring * Policy review and revision * SEA program collaboration and coordination * External program collaboration and coordination * Are these the right activities? * Are they effective?

Define Success – Set Goals * Long-term goals (e.g., 5 years) * Relate directly to program needs * Measurable * Attainable * Intermediate goals (e.g., 1 year) * Helpful to measure short-term progress (celebrate small successes or make adjustments to the plan)

* Identify activities targeted toward making progress toward the goals * LEA training, technical assistance, monitoring * Policy review and revision * SEA program collaboration and coordination * External program collaboration and coordination * Plan should be realistic, given time and resources * Be specific * Task and timeline * Calendar of events * Who should be involved * Data and data collection activities

* Planning will * Save you time by prioritizing what’s important * Help create a vision for success with strategic steps along the way * Hold the EHCY program accountable * Help to make a case for more resources * Meet ED’s expectation for data-based decision making and performance-based accountability * You will need to customize the process for * Your planning style * Time and resources * See tips and tools in NCHE’s Guide for Developing an Annual Plan for State-Level Activities

State EHCY Program Annual Planning * When * How * Tips

Purpose: To get a sense of a planning process focused on one of the State Plan requirements (or issue area) * Select a partner (new State Coordinators should make sure they are paired with someone with at least three years of experience). * One partner will ask the other the Questions to Consider and note his/her responses on the worksheet. * The time keeper will signal after 10 minutes that partners should switch roles. * When the time keeper signals after the next 10 minutes, each partner should get the notes for his/her program and spend 20 minutes filling in as much of the information that comes to mind on the back of the sheet. * Debrief.

Interview Design – Back by Popular Demand!

* Write your name and questions on the duplicate forms provided * One question per sheet; two sheets * Take notes during your interviews * Questions can be about the process of annual planning, data review, data collection, or a challenging issue area * Go to a set of chairs facing one another and find a seat * Each person facing will have 5 minutes to ask one question and take notes; then the other person will have 5 minutes to ask one question * After 10 minutes, those closest to the wall will stay; those across will move one seat to the right when the time-keeper signals it’s time to move; each person should have 5 responses to one or more of the questions they asked

* Pay attention to the time-keeper for your group; allow your partner to ask his/her question after 5 minutes; move to a new seat (those of you not closest to the wall) after 10 minutes * Take good notes; make them legible; make sure you provide a copy of your notes to a NCHE staff member at the end of the activity (with your name in case we have questions) * NCHE staff will take copies and compile a PowerPoint presentation for debrief tomorrow morning to share your good ideas