Alignment Across the Ages

1. Alignment Across the Ages The Continuum of Multi-Agency Alignment from Birth to Twenty-One

2. OSEP Disclaimer 2019 OSEP Leadership Conference DISCLAIMER: The contents of this presentation were developed by the presenters for the 2019 OSEP Leadership Conference. However, these contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3 and 3474)

3. Meet the Presenters Danielle Howes Part C Program Administrator, Vermont Department for Children and Families Nancy Mader Director, The LINK Center, Federation for Children with Special Needs Panelists Moderator: Barbara Van HarenAssistant State Superintendent, WI Dept. of Public Instruction Rorie Fitzpatrick Director, National Center for Systemic Improvement (NCSI) at WestEd Kristin Wright Special Education Director, California Department of Education

4. Why Systems Alignment Matters Improved child, family, and student outcomes are waiting! Young children are best served within the context of their families and their communities Students with disabilities are general education students first

5. Session Overview Objectives Approach Present foundational concepts Engagement activity State stories Reflections and reactions Whole group dialogue / Q&A • Define systemic alignment • Learn the contexts for examples of the work • Concretize the concept of alignment

6. What Alignment Means Multi-agency alignment can be described as several or more organizations partnering to achieve shared desired results

7. Why Alignment Matters in this Context Efficiency • Shared resources can go further • Redundancy can be avoided Effectiveness • Early intervention and education supports for children, families, and youth come from multiple systems • No one organization controls all the necessary variables • Contradictory policies, procedures, and practices can be avoided or eliminated

8. What Efficient & Effective Agency Alignment Looks Like

9. Engagement Activity In your organization… • What are some initiatives or projects that either require or would be improved, with good alignment with other agencies? • What is helping with alignment or hindering it in one of these cases? Make some notes on the graphic organizer (2-3 minutes), then talk to an elbow partner for 2 minutes each

10. Concretizing the Concept of Alignment • Let’s get to know the agencies represented today… • IDEA Part C — Vermont Department for Children and Families • IDEA Part B —  California Department of Education • Family Supports — Federation for Children with Special Needs

11. VT Department for Children and Families: Vision and Mission • Vision: Vermont’s Early Childhood Personnel Development system prepares and supports professionals to effectively engage with children, families, and systems to realize the promise of every child. • Mission: Vermont’s Early Childhood Personnel Development system aligns, integrates and coordinates personnel development to equitably prepare, support, and retain qualified personnel across settings and disciplines.

12. VT Part C: Priority Areas • In-Service Personnel Development In-service personnel development is coordinated across early childhood systems and delivered collaboratively. • Recruitment and Retention Stakeholder input annually is gathered and assessed to address discipline-specific shortages. • Collaboration Collaboration leverages resources from multiple agencies/departments to support personnel needs across disciplines.

13. VT Part C: Essential Agency Partners for Collaboration and Alignment • Child Development Division: Child Care, Head Start, Home Visiting, Early Intervention (Part C) • Agency of Education (Part B) • Community College of Vermont • University of Vermont (UCEDD) • Department of Health: Home Visiting, Children with Special Health Needs, Maternal Child Health. • Stakeholders: Child Care & Early Learning Providers, Head Start, Building Bright Futures Council, Home Visitors, Early Intervention, Early Childhood Special Educators

14. California Department of Education: Mission California will provide a world-class education for all students, from early childhood to adulthood. The Department of Education serves our state by innovating and collaborating with educators, schools, parents, and community partners. Together, as a team, we prepare students to live, work, and thrive in a multicultural, multilingual, and highly connected world.

15. California Education Code: Section 33080Purpose of the Educational System “Each child is a unique person, with unique needs, and the purpose of the education system of this state is to enable each child to develop all of his or her own potential.”

16. California Students with Disabilities 795,047 California SWD ages 0-22 were served in the 2018-19 school year. 11.6% of California’s total K-12 student population of 6,186,278 are SWD. 70% of California SWD are also members of additional student groups: socio-economically disadvantaged, English Learners, Foster Youth, and Homeless Youth.

17. California Department of Education – Essential Agency Partners for Collaboration and Alignment • California Collaborative for Educational Excellence • California Commission on Teacher Credentialing • Department of Rehabilitation • Department of Developmental Services • Department of Health Care Services • Department of Social Services • Employment Development Department • Parent Training and Information Centers • California Family Empowerment Centers • California Advisory Commission on Special Education • Numerous California Associations and Membership Organizations • And many more…

18. Federation for Childrenwith Special Needs: Mission Provides information, support, and assistance to parents of children with disabilities, their professional partners, and their communities. We are committed to listening to and learning from families, and encouraging full participation in community life by all people, especially those with disabilities.

19. Federation for Children with Special Needs: Who We Serve • Parents, families, and students • Professionals • Communities

20. Federation for Children with Special Needs: Essential Agency Partners for Collaboration and Alignment • Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) • Department of Developmental Services (DDS) • Department of Elementary and Secondary Education • Community Organizations • School Districts • Special Education Parent Advisory Councils • Family Voices • Family Ties

21. State Stories of Alignment Work

22. Reflections and National Perspectives

23. Dialogue / Q&A

24. OSEP Disclaimer. 2019 OSEP Leadership Conference DISCLAIMER: The contents of this presentation were developed by the presenters for the 2019 OSEP Leadership Conference. However, these contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3 and 3474)