Overcoming The Odds Of Implementation In An Alternative Education Setting

CASCWA 2017

Lina Bender & Amanda Thomas

San Luis Obispo County Office of Education

Overview

• Getting started

• Our timeline

• Forward progress in times of change

• Agency Partners

• Lessons learned

MEET OUR PROGRAM

• SLOCOE Community School • 3 sites; geographically placed across the county

• Students ranging from 7-12th grades

• Staffing: • Each site with 2-3 general education teachers

• 1 special education teacher

• 1-3 paraprofessionals

• 1 Assistant Principal

• Shared 1 School Counselor and 1 School Psychologist

• 1 shared Principal

• 1 Mental Health Therapist (agency partner)

• 1 Drug and Alcohol Counselor (agency partner)

• 1 Probation Officer (agency partner)

OUR TIMELINE 2013-2014

Exploration & Adoption

• New Assistant Superintendent of Student Programs and

Services

• Assessment and identification of needs in SLOCOE Alternative Education programs

• Research in PBIS and Restorative Practices

OUR TIMELINE 2014-2015

Beginning Installation

August 2014:

Dr. Sprague workshop for SLOCOE and agency partners

OUR TIMELINE 2014-2015

Beginning Installation

• Fall 2014 – Beginning to establish some Universal components

• Defining School-Wide Behavioral Expectations

• Establishing a data collection/analysis system

• Developing a School-Wide Reinforcement System

OUR TIMELINE 2014-2015

Beginning Installation

• Spring 2015 – Beginning to establish some Universal components

• Defining School-Wide Behavioral Expectations

• Establishing a data collection/analysis system

• Developing a School-Wide Reinforcement System

www.pbisapps.org

OUR TIMELINE 2014-2015

Beginning Installation

• Spring 2015– Beginning to establish some Universal components

• Defining School-Wide Behavioral Expectations

• Establishing a data collection/analysis system

• Developing a School-Wide Reinforcement System

AFTER YEAR 1

“Change is hard because people overestimate the value of what they have and underestimate the value of what they may gain by giving that up.” – James Belasco and Ralph Stayer Flight of the Buffalo (1994)

ARE WE BOUGHT-IN YET?

• Where’s the discipline?

• Why do we reward for what they should already do?

• What’s your background/what are your credentials?

• How are prizes going to change behavior?

• This is too elementary/juvenile

• Probation is the only answer

• Just move them to another site

15% of Staff

ARE WE BOUGHT-IN YET?

• How will we recognize high attendance?

• Wow! [student] has really improved!

• Let’s find a way to better handle transition time.

• Call home because [student]’s test scores went up!

• Let’s adjust lunch routines and see if that helps.

• Kids, make a rap about the Behavior Matrix (teacher and students battle)

• We need accurate data/let’s track those behaviors

• We need Tier 2 interventions. 85% of Staff

AFTER YEAR 1

Staffing

•2 new administrators

•2 new teachers

•2 new paraprofessionals

•1 new probation officer

•shift in coordinator/ psychologist

Process •New SST process

•Adjusted intake/student handbook

Practices •Down with detention

•Discipline/Restorative Practices

OUR TIMELINE 2015-2016

• SWIS training for Administrators

• Finding common availability and tech resources

• Training materials on SWIS

• Practice/Follow up

• Outcomes:

• Data more available at sites

• Finding needs for interventions

• Data keeping/integrity improving

OUR TIMELINE 2015-2016

• Consistency following summer 2015

• Student reinforcement survey

• Weekly “bank accounts” updated by main office

• Sites open student store for purchasing items/activities

• Monthly attendance awards/prizes

• Sites finding other special activities and acknowledgements

• Finding ways to recognize families/bring in parents

Reinforcement

OUR TIMELINE 2015-2016

• Admin using more de-escalation skills

• Looking at renewing staff de-escalation training

• Continue to work away from “Punishment” mindset

• Having students reflect on misbehavior

• Clarifying role of Probation on sites and collaborating with admin

• Continue to work on consistency with classroom management

Consequences/Discipline

• Coordination with Transportation Department

• Established Bus behavior

matrix • Reinforcement & discipline

procedures • Re-train drivers on writing

referrals

OUR TIMELINE 2015-2016 BUS

OUR TIMELINE 2016-2017

• All staff trained/refresher in Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Training

• Introduction to Professional Learning Communities (PLC)

• Incorporating Chromebooks into classrooms

• Updated grading policies

• Introduction to Check-In Check-Out (CICO)

• Utilizing Restorative Practices in disciplinary responses

• Began training and installing PBIS in juvenile court school

PREPARING FOR CHANGES

Staffing

• Declining enrollment – adjustments in staffing

Process • Redefining

teaming and roles

Practices

• Continue improving Tier 1 supports and look to further develop Tier 2 and Tier 3

OUTCOMES SO FAR

• Drop in referrals

OUTCOMES SO FAR

• Increase in attendance

• 2014-2015 - 74%

• 2015-2016 - 78%

• 2016-2017 - 80%

70

72

74

76

78

80

82

14/15 15/16 16/17

Attendance

OUTCOMES SO FAR • Drop in rate of suspension

• 2014-2015 - 32.96%

• 2015-2016 - 20.70%

• 2016-2017 - 14.57%

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

14/15 15/16 16/17

Rate of Suspension

AGENCY PARTNERS

• Included in staff meetings

• Give out reinforcement to students

• Working on relationship at administrative level

• Defining roles and where/how to work together

• Including agency partners in Student Support Teams

AGENCY PARTNERS

• They have access to resources outside of school

• Act as community liaisons and help problem solve for students

• Communication on systems/functions

• Common goal for students

Celebrations • Very strong administrative

support • Much accomplished

quickly • Staff buy-in increasing • Progress increased when

sites took ownership • Reinforcement for staff as

well as students • Advanced planning for

change • Collaboration

• across roles/sites

Critiques • Developing more support

for implementers • Site-based leadership

team roles/meetings to be identified and practiced more clearly

• Difficulty in moving

program quicker than rate of culture change

• Preparing for changing landscape of program

People and Organizations • Dr. Jeff Sprague, consultant

• Email: jeffs@uoregon.edu

• Mobile: (541)521-4450

• PBIS North West Network • http://pbisnetwork.org

• Association for Positive Behavior Support • www.apbs.org

• California PBIS Coalition • https://www.pbis.org/pbis-network/california

• California Technical Assistance Center on PBIS • www.pbiscaltac.org

RESOURCES WE USE

Tools/Data • SWIS Data System

• www.pbisapps.org

• Scanners – Opticon Inc. • 800-636-0090

• www.opticonusa.com • Model # OPN2004

RESOURCES WE USE

CONTACT US

Amanda Thomas Assistant Principal athomas@slocoe.org

Lina Bender School Psychologist/Program Coordinator lbender@slocoe.org