1. Greater City Schools Annual Fall Conference October 2010 Literacy Programs For Urban Students With Disabilities Anne Tafoya PhD, Executive Director of Special Education for Albuquerque Public Schools Melissa Stotts EdS, Instructional Manager of Reading and Learning Disabilities Unit for Albuquerque Public Schools

2. Demographics: Albuquerque Public Schools 141 schools  90 elementary  27 mid schools  13 high schools  + various alternative schools 90,000 students 14,000 students with disabilities  ages 3-21 high mobility

3. Make Research and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Instruction the Priority…

4. Create a Multi-Year Plan  Establish in-district trainers with high levels of expertise to provide professional development for general and special education teachers  Identify specific district supported reading and writing interventions  Target training for specific teachers based on what and who they teach, follow up with refreshers, in class coaching. and online support  Develop a district professional development calendar  Develop principal walk-throughs to increase accountability

5. District Led Initiative A research-based initiative managed at the district level and supported by… Superintendent Winston BrooksChief Academic Officer Linda Sink

6. Establish Specific Reading Unit Establish a Special Education Reading Unit through IDEA funds that focuses on professional development and ongoing technical assistance to K-12 special education teachers and K-2 general education teachers

7. APS Special Education Reading and Learning Disabilities Unit City Center Suite 200 West Special Education Department Vision: Everyone Succeeds! Winston Brooks: Superintendent Linda Sink: Chief Academic Officer Anne Tafoya, Ph.D.: Executive Director Melissa Stotts: Instructional Manager stotts@aps.edu stotts@aps.edu Marian Pino: Secretary pino_m@aps.edu pino_m@aps.edu (505) 855-9960 (office) (505) 855-9971 (fax) The Special Education Reading and Learning Disabilities Unit provides professional development and technical assistance for district supported reading and writing instructional programs to APS special education teachers and primary general education teachers. For more information, contact the Reading Liaison Contact listed below: READING LIAISON PHONE EMAIL CONTACT FOR: Zoe Ann Alvarez 855-9915 alvarez_z@aps.edu Fundationsalvarez_z@aps.edu Janea Menicucci 855-9959 menicucci@aps.edu Sounds Sensiblemenicucci@aps.edu Paula Pompa 855-9915 pompa_p@aps.edu S.P.I.R.E.pompa_p@aps.edu Chris Fox 855-9957 fox_c@aps.edu Wilson & Just Wordsfox_c@aps.edu Claudia Gutierrez 855-9914 gutierrez_cl@aps.edu Multisensory Grammargutierrez_cl@aps.edu Denise Garcia 855-9962 garcia_den@aps.edu Making Connections Interventiongarcia_den@aps.edu Pat Renteria 855-9956 renteria_p@aps.edu PCI Literacy Programrenteria_p@aps.edu Kristian Chapman 855-9961 chapman_k@aps.edu Replenishing Materialschapman_k@aps.edu

8. District Supported General Education Early Literacy Program (Tiers 1, 1B & 2) Wilson Fundations Reading and Spelling Program Training general education classroom, Title I reading teachers, and school instructional coaches Instructional materials for each K-2 classroom Supplementing the core reading instruction

9. District Supported Tier 3 Special Education Instructional Programs Elementary Level InterventionTeachers to be Trained Sounds Sensible Kinder-D and primary special education teachers S.P.I.R.E. Special education teachers serving students grades 1-5 Wilson Reading Systems Special education teachers serving students grades 3-5 Neuhaus Multisensory Grammar and Written Expression Special education teachers serving students grades 1-5 Flyleaf Reading Series Special education teachers serving students grades 1-5 PCI Reading Program Special education teachers in District Autism and Intensive Support Programs

10. District Supported Tier 3 Special Education Instructional Programs Middle and High School Core Replacement for Language Arts/English Classes Teachers to be Trained Making Connections Reading and Writing -- MCI Special education Language Arts teachers grades 6-12 Neuhaus Advanced Multisensory Grammar and Written Expression Special education Language Arts teachers grades 6-12

11. District Supported Tier 3 Special Education Instructional Programs Middle and High School Reading Classes Teachers to be Trained Wilson Just Words Special education reading teachers grades 6-12 S.P.I.R.E. Special education reading teachers grades 6-12 Wilson Reading Systems Special education reading teachers grades 6-12 PCI Reading Program Special education teachers in District Autism and Intensive Support Programs

12. Evidence of Effectiveness Federal IDEA Reading Performance Indicator met for the first time  Spring 2007--16.08 percent of students with disabilities proficient  Spring 2008--18.55 percent of students with disabilities proficient  Spring 2009--20.64 percent of students with disabilities proficient

13. Evidence of Effectiveness Higher achievement in grades K-2 (DRA scores increased in Fundations Partnership Schools, increased SBA reading scores) Fewer referrals to special education in the area of SLD – reading Fewer special education lawsuits

14. Implications for Improving Urban Education When special education students get the specialized instruction needed, they learn to read and demonstrate success in a lesser restrictive general education classroom environment.

15. Implications for Improving Urban Education When teachers are provided with expert professional development, ongoing district support, and research-based materials, student outcomes improve.

16. Implications for Improving Urban Education Parent satisfaction with educational programming leads to student achievement and greater community support.

17. Albuquerque Public Schools Special Education Department 6400 Uptown Blvd. NE Albuquerque, NM 87110 505 880-3700