April's Universal Desk Audit Reminder

As promised, each month, we will focus on 1-2 documents that will be required for the 2016-2017 Universal Desk Audit.  This desk audit will be an examination of documents and records, limited in scope, and conducted off-site, the purpose of which is to determine compliance with state and/or federal requirements.

Impact on our Keystone AEA Schools:  This month we will focus on Physical Activity (Healthy Kids Act) information. Schools will be expected to provide evidence of school/district schedules and/or procedures for an activity contract. What might this look like in your district?  Will you be able to upload the necessary information or do you have it linked to your district website?  All great conversations that should be happening in your building.

Below you will find the documents we've highlighted in previous months as well as a link to the entire list of the 2015-2016 Universal Desk Audit Documents.

• Attendance center and course enrollment data review
• HS Program, grades 9-12
• JH Program, grades 7-8
• Elementary Program, grades 1-6
• School Calendars 
• Annual and Continuous Nondiscrimination Notices
  
• Board Policies for Accessibility and Confidentiality of Student Records and Graduation Requirements 

To view the entire list of 2015-2016 Universal Desk Audit Documents, click

Understanding Assessments: Universal Screening, Diagnostic & Progress Monitoring

It seems like there has been an influx of questions about assessments...not so much with Universal Screening as it seems like we have that off and running, but more so with diagnostic assessments.  I stumbled across a GREAT resource that I'll be using in one of my districts...check it out @ http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/lib/sde/pdf/curriculum/cali/elementary_assessments_4-9-12.pdf

Evidence-based vs. Research Based Interventions

Sometimes I stumble with understanding and explaining the difference between Evidence-based vs Research Based Interventions.  The Iowa Reading Research Center just recently posted an excellent blog you should check out @ http://www.iowareadingresearch.org/blog/evidence-based-vs-research-based-interventions/

Tentative 2016-2017 FAST Screening Windows

TENTATIVE!!

The following are FAST planned screening windows for the 2016-17 school year. We do not anticipate changing the windows, but would still like to call them tentative at this point.

REGULAR SCHOOL YEAR SCHEDULE

	Window Opens	Window Closes
Fall	September 5th	September 30th
Winter	January 16th	February 10th
Spring	April 24th	May 19th

2016-2017 Differentiated Accountability Roll Out

During the 2015-16 school year, the Statewide School Improvement Team successfully completed a pilot of 12 Differentiated Accountability Intensive on-site school visits.  The team received a significant amount of positive feedback and several process enhancements were made.  Now that the pilot process has been completed, we are ready for the statewide roll out during the 2016-17 school year.  

1.     In 2016-2017 we will use 3 of the 5 Healthy Indicator petals with all districts.

a.     Assessment/DBDM, Universal Instruction, and Intensification

b.     Assessment/DBDM and Universal Instruction will be used immediately.

c.     Intensification -  Full statewide implementation by spring.

2.  We believe we can manage a maximum of 5% of districts ( approx. 16-18 school districts) in intensive support, which will also align us with ESSA’s expectation for intensive support.

3.  We will hold a 3-day PD opportunity for targeted schools in the fall of 2016.  This will be the same type of training that will occur in April of 2016.  The intent is to build the capacity of the LEA districts who will not have on-site SSIT visits.  

To prepare districts for this rollout, Mark Crady and Amy Williamson will do a series of Zoom meetings in the spring of 2016.  These Zoom meetings are opportunities to learn and ask questions about the new process.   

Below are the dates, times, and Zoom links.

a.     March 31 - (9-10:30 AM) - What is DA, what we’ve done, what’s happening next year

b.     April 8 - (1-2:30 PM) - Extensive what is happening next year with schedule

c.     April 22 - (1-2:30 PM) - Healthy Indicators and support you might get

d.     April 29 - (9-10:30 AM) - Desk audits - what and when and how to prepare

e.     May 20 - (1-2:30 PM) - Site visits - what and when and how to prepare - it is not bad