Strategic Plan for the Re-Design of Birch Academy at Mt. Pleasant High School

© 2012 Providence Public School District

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Strategic Plan for the Re-Design of Birch Academy at Mt. Pleasant High SchoolAn Update to the School Board

Office of Special EducationLisa Vargas-SinapiNancy SteveninFebruary ,10 2014

http://www.providenceschools.org/


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Goals For This Presentation

Overview of the DoJ, DoL & CGCS Findings Regarding Birch Vocational School

Provisions of the DoJ Interim Settlement Agreement Overview of the Strategic Plan to Re-Design Birch

Academy Successes, Challenges, Our Future Plans & Goals



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Acknowledgements

Leadership & Support – Superintendent Lusi & Rachel Mellion

Transition Supervisor – Nancy Stevenin

Mt. Pleasant Administrative Team Principal Scott Sutherland

Coordinator of Student Services, Linda Noble and

Vice Principal, Chris Coleman

Providence Teachers Union & Local 1033 (Leadership & Teachers/Teacher Assistants)

Parents and Students of Birch Academy @ Mt. Pleasant High School

State Agency Partners – ORS – BHDDH - RIDE



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Recap of DoJ, DoL & CGCS Findings ADA & Civil Rights violation for segregation of students with disabilities

and not providing services in the most integrated setting;

Operating a sheltered workshop which cultivated & trained students at Birch to only work in a sheltered workshop funneling them to Training Thru Placement (TTP);

No interaction with non disabled peers Paid low wages Not prepared for real world

Labor laws were violated in the operation of Birch’s sheltered Workshop No prevailing wage studies Students were paid an arbitrary rate

.



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Recap of DoJ, DoL & CGCS Findings Lack of curriculum and limited technology;

Transition assessments were not administered resulting in limited to no transition goals & service on students IEPs.

Low to no expectations for students to gain employment;

No opportunities to experience or prepare for real jobs;

IDEA special education processes were not followed: IEP development not aligned to standard Re-evaluation process was not followed Extended School Year Services were not appropriately identified

.



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Provisions of the Interim Settlement Agreement (ISA)

PPSD required to shut down the sheltered workshop All students in Birch target population receive supportive employment

services in integrated settings; All students in Birch target population receive transition and vocational

assessments that will identify student’s strengths, needs and desires for employment;

Employment Planning Teams Consists of Parents, State Agencies, Teacher, Transition Supervisor Students move seamlessly to adult agencies and community based

jobs; Creation and implementation of Career Development Plans; Each student required to complete two 60 day trial work experiences.



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Provisions of the Interim Settlement Agreemnt

• Collect and report monthly data to the DoJ– Provide # and copies of Career Development Plans– Provide # of vocational assessments & vocational objectives– Type & frequency of supportive employment services for each student– Type and frequency of trial work experiences– Professional development & training activities – All in reach and out reach activities

• Monthly monitoring by RIDE – Quality Assurance• DoJ Monitor’s expectation of full inclusive services• To Monitor Services & Compliance of the ISA (Monthly)

• DoJ Monitor – Nancy Gurney• Investigation & verification of data & documentation to verify we are in

compliance.• Provides a Written 90 day and 180 day report for first year of agreement• Also has authority to hire consultants or make the District aware of gaps in

service



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Putting Pieces to the Puzzle together

How do we put pieces of the

puzzle together

Change a 28 year old mind set & culture

Comply with the ISA

Provide the best possible

services to our students

In a very short period of time?

Our Task



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Strategic Action Plan for the Re-Design of Birch

Birch Academy @ Mt. Pleasant High School

The vision for the Mt. Pleasant Birch Academy is to prepare students to become responsible, skilled and effective adults in society by providing rigorous educational opportunities with a direct focus on instruction, transition and career skills, activities and plans in inclusive settings for students to achieve their post-secondary goals.



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Re-Design Committee

Taskforce Administrators Parents Teachers State Agency RepresentativesTask: to develop a detailed implementation plan to enable the students of Mt. Pleasant Birch Academy to be provided with the tools, instruction and experiences to improve their personal achievement and outcomes



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Providence School Department’s re-design plan includes four core areas to enhance our programming and services:

• Integration and Inclusion• Transition Programming and Services• Curriculum and Instruction• Parent and Family Collaboration



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Integration and Inclusion

The goal for integration and inclusion is that the students of the Mt. Pleasant Birch Academy become an authentic part of the Mt. Pleasant High School community. This will enable students with disabilities to participate in classes, extracurricular activities, learn with and befriend their peers.

Relocation of Classrooms

Two classrooms fully integrated for Core English & Math

Unified Athletics

Scheduling of Integration of Art, Gym and Health Electives

Buddy System



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Transition Programming and Services

The goal of transition planning at the Mt. Pleasant Birch Academy is to ensure that students with disabilities gain the skills and access the services needed to be successful in the “real world” and achieve their post-secondary goals.

Supported Employment Services Transition Services Individualized Career Development Plans Vocational and Transition Assessments in integrated setting Collaboration with State Agencies



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Staffing and Leadership

Transition Supervisor Student Services Coordinator Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Highly Qualified Teachers Job Coaches – Community Transition Assistant

Liaison



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Curriculum and Instruction

The goal for curriculum and instruction is to improve the implementation of rigorous curriculum and instruction to meet the diverse needs of students with intellectual disabilities to achieve and progress.

Unique Learning SystemIEP Development TrainingReview of special education processesExtended School Year



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Parent and Family Collaboration

Our goal for successful parent engagement and collaboration is to have an ongoing process that increases active participation, communication, and collaboration between Birch Academy

parents and the school with the goal of educating the whole child to ensure student achievement and success.

• Participation on the Birch Academy Re-Design Team• Local Advisory Committee• IEP & Employment Planning Team Meetings• RIPIN• Communication Forum and Meetings – Superintendent Lusi & Mayor Taveres & Lisa Sinapi• Active Participation on Mt. High School Committees and Programs



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Successes

• Our inclusion programming and Best Buddies Program

• 25 Career Development Plans have been written

• Established collaborative partnerships with State Agencies

• 51 hours of professional development and training to teachers and staff

• 86 In reach and out reach activities

• Integrated work trials for our 2014 exit population

• Changing mindset that our students can be employed and be successful

in integrated employment settings.

“The feeling is that it is now Mt Pleasant as one school and that Birch

is no longer a distinction of segregated educational services.”



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Our Students in Trial Work Experiences



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Challenges

Changing of a culture and a mind set; Safety Concerns of Parents; Investigations by Several Agencies; DoJ documentation and data collection; Graduation Requirements – Barrier to Employment; ISA holds PPSD and State accountable for supportive employment

placements after graduation;

11 students graduating in 2013 – 5 have placements

2 years prior – 21 students –



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Future Goals

• Project Search• Increase work trials for our older students• Expand our inclusive classrooms at Mt. Pleasant• Implementation of the MAPS process with our students• Improved Transition Focus on IEPs• Implementation of Career Development Plans Districtwide• Full Compliance with the ISA• Continued Parent Communication and Awareness• Securing employment before our children exit



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Questions


Documents

Strategic Plan for the Re-Design of Birch Academy at Mt. Pleasant High School