MAASE Focus Areas:

We will align and organize the strategic priorities and work of MAASE to focus on the following elements:

High Quality Student Evaluations

Specially Designed  Instruction

Skilled Staff

Program Evaluation

Through the platforms of:

Association Partnerships

Legislative Action and Advocacy

Professional Learning

Membership Services

EdCamp is an open format where group members share thoughts to help one another in implementation of "real life" practice. These notes reflect the thinking of someone in the group but do not represent an official position on behalf of MAASE. Anyone using this as a resource is encouraged to use their best judgement in interpreting the suggestions.

MAASE EdCamp Format:

Notes:

Clarifying the Problem of Practice:

• Historical perspective: SPPB 13 importance rose about 6-7 years ago from MDE using the NTACT standards (ex: “will” statement, name on invite, separate invite to community agency). Difference between rule and best practice. Guidance often given in Feb/March for review the same spring. About 2 years ago, guidance given regarding box check v. number of items needed. This was a change in thinking from MDE. Only consistency is things change. This frustrated those writing compliant transition IEPs which is not best for kids.

• New guidance to be released this year, how can we proceed until then? Some thoughts on what is coming out - shortened checklist, expected in December

• SLCAPS released in Sept

Solutions:

• Continue with current training

• Perspective is to not get upset when deemed not compliant when they are - calls to MDE to review

• Guidance heads up is to keep doing what you are doing and you won’t have any problems

• Anticipated areas of change - 1 student attending, 5 post-secondary goal, 9 annual IEP goal, 10 student strengths, preference, and interests on checklist

• Reasons for change: Federal eye on Michigan, new staff at MDE

• 3/2 is when available in Catamaran,

• 3/2 to 4/10 data collection

• 4/17 OSE to review IEPS

• 4/20 SLCAPS issued

• 5/15 CAPS issued

• Feds likely noticed Michigan is doing too much, keep doing what we do is more than enough

• Educated guess is next spring is less, pull fewer reviewed

• Processes to review: Transition Coordinator reviews with each district prior to Spring to correct non-compliance before review

  Confidentiality - use initials, password protected documents

• Hold until new checklist arrives - off the table at this time

• How to support teachers who are frustrated -

  • Accept that the ding can be irrelevant to supporting kids so let it go

  • Take the state piece out of it and help them focus on outcomes for kids

  • Have staff talk about student need first, then coordinator revises later for compliance - keep the focus on the student

  • Acknowledge it is a frustrating process, but come back to student, presume positive intent from the teacher, capture it

  • Intent is not not be punitive - change in mindset from MDE (?)

  • Being available for questions, process, and clarity for teachers - they want to do it right

  • Keep building admin in the loop to help support teachers

  • Software has compliance piece building into it (Johnny will…)

• How to do transition planning if case managers do not see the student for instruction?

  • Talk about how caseloads are assigned

  • Use technology to gather input from teacher serving student and student directly

  • Collaborative meetings to share info on students

  • Binder (hard copy) for student with info available to teacher and case manager pulls to get info for IEP - “special ed textbook”

  • Transition Thursday that pulls students together for activities

  • Leadership Hour to collaborate and add flexibility

  • Keep caseload intact year after year to maintain relationship with student and family

• Center Based Programs - similar issues. Start planning at age 14, creative with strategies

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