Part 1 I have also attached all resources for youPost an outline of a plan to
address the changes needed in the Grand City community with a focus on
your specialization (my specialization is special education). Include the following in your plan:Identify 2 or 3 of the most significant issues to address within
your specialization. I have already selected these for you. (1. Grand City reporting an increase in the special education population over a 5 year period from 9% to 20% of students needing additional
resources and support in the learning environment (Laureate, 2017a). 2.Lack of trained staff – Grand City had a major influx of students requiring special accommodations and resources which requires trained special educators (Laureate, 2017a).)Provide a rationale for your selected issues,
explaining how addressing each might make a meaningful impact on
educational and community change in Grand City. Be sure to support your
rationales with specific reference to the city’s education and community
data Based on your specialization (special education), identify 4 or 5 action steps you
would initiate to implement a plan for change based on each of the
issues you identified. Explain how both quantitative (e.g., community data) and
qualitative data (e.g., information from stakeholders and community
members) will inform your decisions with regard to your action steps for
change in your specializationThis is example of how it should look: Mayor
Keller of Grand City has developed a task force of community
stakeholders to work together to promote needed educational and
community change. However, there are specific changes related to my
specialization of early childhood education that need to occur. The
following is an outline of the plan needed to address the changes that
will improve Grand City’s early childhood education system.
Most Significant Issues
Lack of Affordable, Quality Daycare and Preschool
Data-
Only 43% of children in Grand City attend preschool before entering
kindergarten (Laureate Education, 2016b). If we target this area, then
young children could receive Rationale-
If children could receive quality daycare and preschool services then
they would likely be more prepared for Kindergarten which would help
close achievement gaps and potentially reduce the number of students
needing special education services. Lack of Adequate Special Education Training and Staff
Data-
the number of students requiring special education services has
increased over the past five years (Laureate Education, 2016b) while the
number of special education staff and training has not (Laureate
Education, 2017a). Rationale-
Providing educators with the knowledge and training needed to better
support their learners should improve test scores, attendance, as well
as graduation rates (long-term improvement). Initial Action Steps
Survey
parents and families in the community to assess daycare/ preschool
needs (number of children they would enroll, number of hours they would
require childcare, affordable cost, transportation, etc.) Meet
with daycare and preschool operators to discuss the need in the
community for affordable daycare/preschool. Seek both quantitative and
qualitative data from daycare and preschool centers to analyze costs
(Cost per child, spending per child, overhead costs, etc.) Create
a daycare/preschool task force of stakeholders to research federal and
state programs that could help reduce the cost of daycare and preschool.
Seek assistance from programs that will meet the needs of the Grand
City community. Survey
education staff to determine special education needs, concerns, etc.
Develop a team of special education and general education teachers to
discuss survey data regarding what is and is not working with the
current special education situation. Reed (2015) suggests that often
times school systems wanting to improve are quick to adopt ready-made
programs prior to evaluating things that are and are not working within
their system and because of this, these programs often fail. Special
Education Director and School Administration– high-quality special
education training provided to administration and staff who work with
children receiving special education services (including but not limited
to general education teachers, paraprofessionals, and counselors) Special
Education Director and School Administration – observations (with
useful feedback) of special education settings and services being
provided undefinedBoth
quantitative and qualitative data will be utilized to inform decisions
with regard to my action steps. Data collection and analysis must be
ongoing throughout the process of implementing the action steps. Reed
(2015) states that data should be used to makeall
decisions and strengthen the systems that are directly affecting early
childhood education. Action steps and initiatives must match the
strategic focus and if we find that they do not then we must remove them
from the plan (Reed, 2015). Using
quantitative data such as student test scores, student achievement on
Kindergarten entry exams, and student growth can all be used to
determine if the changes being implemented are producing the results
desired; while qualitative data such as stakeholder opinions and
suggestions will also be used to guide the action steps. Using this
mixed method of data collection, we can ensure that we are integrating
the data to create the best possible outcomes for our community
(Pekdogan & Akgul, 2017). undefinedPart 2 A brief explanation of
your specialization and the action plan you outlined in your Module 2 Discussion 1 post. The members of your hypothetical, cross-specialization team you
will need to collaborate with to help initiate the change process you
outlined in Module 2 Discussion 1. Explain why you selected these
specific individuals and how their expertise will support needed changes
in your specialization. Reminder: The members of
your hypothetical team may be represented by individuals already on the
Grand City task force and/or from a different specialization area in
your own district or locale. Two evidence-based strategies for working collaboratively with your
team members. Be sure to explain how the strategies will establish
buy-in from your team and support meaningful change for your
specialization and the Grand City community. How you will use on-going data to inform collaborative decision
making and make continued positive changes within your specialization.
Be sure to support your explanation with reference to the existing Grand
City data.Below is an example of how it should look Explanation of Specialization and Action Plan
My
specialization is high school science teacher. The action plan I
outlined in my Module 2 Discussion 1 post included the following steps: formation
of a team of stakeholders who have experiences in areas related to the
issues I identified, collection of data to reflect the times each
student enrolled in Grand City High School missed class and why, review
of student suspension data to determine why students were suspended, and
determination of students enrolled in Grand City High School do not
have access to internet at home and what their grades are.
Members of Hypothetical Cross-Specialization Team
Members
of my hypothetical, cross-specialization team I will need to
collaborate with to initiate the change process I outlined in Module 2
include the following stakeholders: high school attendance secretary,
dean of students, graduation coach, the district technology specialist,
and a representative from the primary local internet service provider. I
selected each member of my hypothetical, cross-specialization team
because each person can access data necessary to guide my action plan.
The high school attendance secretary could provide data on the times
each student missed class and why. Knowledge of why students are missing
class, and the frequency of occurrence will show me what primary issue I
should seek to resolve to improve class attendance. Data explaining why
students were referred to the office and suspended could be provided by
the dean of students. I can incorporate strategies for reducing office
referrals and suspensions into my action plan to help increase
attendance and the high school graduation rate after gaining knowledge
of why the referrals and suspensions happen. The graduation coach could
report data in the form of reasons why students are not graduating. I
will know for sure what factors are hindering students from graduating
after receiving data from the graduation coach. The data I receive will
allow me to know what areas I should target to help improve the high
school graduation rate. Data of why specific students do not have access
to the Internet at their homes could be provided by the district’s
technology specialist and the local internet service provider
representative. Knowledge of why certain students are not able to use
Internet at home will allow me to work with the team to develop a plan
to increase at home internet accessibility.
Skills
necessary for collaboration do not appear organically (Morel, 2014). My
actions will provide members of my team with examples of skills needed
for effective collaboration. I will ensure my team members implement
consistent protocols to work collaboratively. Protocols will benefit
collaboration amongst the team because they provide a method for
everyone to be heard when voicing their thoughts, provide certainty, and
provide autonomy (Morel, 2014). The implementation of consistent
protocols will establish buy-in from all members of the team by creating
an environment of trust. Members of the team will feel comfortable and
safe knowing we have a system to ensure everyone will be heard and their
thoughts will be respected. I will create an environment for positive
pressure to evolve by shifting the way I think from a “my” mentality to
an “our” thought process and encourage other members of the team to do
the same when we collaborate as another method to establish buy-in.
Positive pressure is motivational (Fullan, 2016). Fullan (2016) states,
“In our successful cases, we see a deep shift from “my” to “our” (p.
51). I will collaborate quarterly with my team to review new and
pre-existing data. We will assess progress towards current goals and
adjust our action plan according to data analysis. For example, if the
attendance, referral, and suspension rates decrease and the graduation
rate remains 60% (Laureate Education, 2016b), my team will know we need
to adjust our action plan to examine other factors that could influence
the high school graduation rate.
References
Fullan, M. (2016). The new meaning of educational change (5th ed.). New York, NY: Teachers College Press.
Laureate Education (Producer). (2016b). Grand City education and demographic data files [PDF]. Baltimore, MD: Author
Morel, N. (2014). Setting the stage for collaboration: An essential skill for professional growth. Delta Kappa Gamma Bulletin, 81(1), 36–39. doi:1080/00228958.2005.10532081