Overall Goals
There are three primary goals for the RISIG. The first goal is to
ensure that all students with disabilities are taught by highly qualified teachers.
Specifically, activities implemented as part of this goal will:
(a) assist teacher preparation programs to ensure that teacher
candidates have both coursework and practicum experiences that prepare them
to educate children with disabilities within the context of the general
curriculum. Faculty Academies will be developed at two teacher preparation
centers to facilitate this goal.
(b) recruit and prepare a sufficient number of general education
teachers who have the knowledge and competencies needed to provide quality
instruction to children with disabilities in general education setting.
(c) recruit and prepare a sufficient number of quality special
educators and paraprofessionals who have the knowledge and competencies needed
to collaborate with general educators to meet the unique needs of the
growing population off children with disabilities within the context
of the general curriculum.
The recruitment activities will target several populations of perspective
candidates including teachers who are not fully certified, teacher assistants,
siblings and other family members, high school students from diverse cultures,
and others. An Individualized Planning process and a variety of support
mechanisms will assist these candidates through their preservice professional
preparation.
The second goal of the RISIG is to expand the opportunities available
to children with disabilities to participate in the general curriculum
and to improve the performance of these children on state assessments
and other outcome measures. Specifically, activities implemented
as part of this goal will:
(a) develop the capacity of the 52 schools identified as
"low achieving" to decrease opportunity gaps and performance gaps for
children with disabilities through professional development and school
improvement strategies. Each school that participates in the project
will be involved for three years. During these years, each school will
complete a self study and will develop and implement a School Improvement
Plan (coordinated through their school improvement Team). Each participating
school will receive RISIG funds that can be added to its school improvement
funds t develop an implement professional development activities. Each school
will also receive 8 - 10 days of technical assistance from other organizations
as identified in its School Improvement Plan.
(b) develop Demonstration Schools in which ALL children with
disabilities participate meaningfully in the general curriculum; and use
these schools as professional development sites for teacher candidates
and for practicing teachers from other local schools.
(c) develop a professional development curriculum to be infused
into the School Improvement Plans of the targeted 52 low achieving schools
and other professional development activities.
The third goal of the RISIG is to develop and inform educational
leaders who will facilitate the participation and progress of children
with disabilities in the general curriculum. Specifically, activities
implemented as part of this goal will:
(a) collaborate with the Rhode Island Association of School
Committees and the Rhode Island Association of Scholl Principals to provide
targeted information dissemination to state and local policy makers;
(b) collaborate with the Association of Rhode Island
Administrators of Special Education for local school districts;
and develop a mentorship program to support 6 aspiring administrators
during each year of the project;
(c) collaborate with the Rhode Island Parent Information Network
and other family organizations to develop a cohort of parents in each
targeted local school district who will provide informed leadership to the
Local Advisory Committee and to the School Improvement Team in that district.
The activities of the RISIG will be coordinated through a CSPD Leadership Team.
The Leadership Team, advised by the Partners Group, will set project direction,
will revise activities as indicated by outcome data and project evaluation,
and will administer project personnel and resource. Three "Coordinating
Committees" will have responsibility for implementing the three goals of
the RISIG project. Each committee will have membership from the Partners
Group and from all the stakeholder groups associated with the activities.
Goal 1 will be coordinated through the Higher Education Coordinating Committee
and will be supported by the Coordinators of two Higher Education Faculty
Academies, by a Recruitment Coordinator, and by the RISIG and CSPD Coordinators.
Goal 2 will be coordinated through the Research to Practice Coordinating Committee
and supported by the RISIG and CSPD Coordinators and by several
Master Teacher / Facilitators. Goal 3 will be coordinated through the Leadership
Development Coordinating Committee and supported by the RISIG and CSPD
Coordinators and several partner organizations.
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